Motion Control Dance mission is to Enrich Lives Through Movement and we follow the guidelines of the Wellbeing Act of Future Generations to ensure we promote wellbeing to all our members. There have been studies done on the effects of movement and mental health. You know you should not sit around all day watching television or playing video games. You need to move around to keep limber and to help maintain your overall health. One thing you can do is to dance your cares away.
Here are five reasons to get up and shake your booty.
1. Depression buster
Dancing, whether you are waltzing, rapping, or twirling, has a positive effect on your brain. You release endorphins which help lighten your mood. Moving around can help boost you out of a depressive state. Moving around will lighten your load and dancing is a fun way to move. You can shake out the depression with some good hip moves or feel it flowing out of your body as you lift your arms and pirouette across the floor.
2. Express yourself
Sometimes it is hard for people suffering from mental illness to express themselves and how they are feeling. Dance offers the ability to express innermost thoughts out in the open without any danger of oppression or repercussion. Dancing helps you to feel your way through difficult emotions and anger. Expressing what is bottled up inside can help you become more mentally fit.
3. Help counteract Social Anxiety Disorder
Dancing in front of an audience will help to reduce anxiety disorders. You can dance for an audience and be less likely to get anxious. “Dancing in itself will help you relax and dancing with others in front of a crowd could help give you the strength to fight your anxiety. Dancing can help you grow accustomed to performing in front of people and that can have a positive effect on the rest of your life. You may become less anxious in front of people which will help you in your studies and career.
4. Goodbye isolation
One factor with depression is the feeling of isolation. You may find yourself curling up on your bed and not wanting to leave the house. Or, you are outside, but not socializing. Dancing offers you an excuse to meet other people and to get to know them in a safe environment. Dancing with others can help you break through the wall of self doubt you have built up inside. Motion Control Dance offers classes for all ages and abilities with a motto everyone has a Chance to Dance. If you are comfortable in your class, it may rub off onto the rest of your life and help you re-adjust your emotions and well being.
5. Dance your way to a better mood
Not only does dancing make you happier, it will make you healthier. Dance classes provides with so many health benefits for your mind, body and soul. Whether it be a creative class, a street dance class or even tai chi you can do it both indoors and outdoors. Just being outside and enjoying the fresh air can help your mental health.
Dancing is a phenomenal way to help fight depression, social anxiety, and anxiety in general. Moving around will help you feel better about yourself and that will reflect in how you interact with other people. You should always seek the advice of a medical practitioner if you are feeling depressed or anxious. While dancing will not take the place of medication, it will help improve your mood and get you out and moving.
So start today – take FIVE TO THRIVE 
As dancers, we tend to be extremely focused on our physical health, but taking time to acknowledge the mental and emotional challenges of our field is equally important.
We’ve gathered advice on dealing with some of the more common daily struggles of life as a dancer, but if you or someone you know is facing a more serious issue, don’t be afraid to reach out to a teacher, mentor or someone you trust about getting help.
Stress. Everyone has to deal with it, but too much of it can have adverse affects on your dancing, such as delaying muscle recovery, sabotaging your healthy diet and creating a higher predisposition to injury. Luckily, there are lots of little things you can do to alleviate stress. Journal, meditate, take a luxurious bath, get outdoors—or, for a quick pick me up, try a few core activation exercises. At the end of the day, taking that little bit of time to manage your stress will pay off with increased focus, heightened creativity and healthier, more enjoyable dancing.
Body image. It’s no secret that dancers tend toward perfectionism. When it comes to technique, this trait can serve you extremely well. But since our bodies are our instruments, it can be all too easy to switch from using the mirror as a tool for improvement to seeing only the ways our bodies are less than “ideal.” From there, it’s a short leap to self-deprecation. In both cases, mindfulness can help: Relegate the mirror to checking your placement, not your waist size, and banish self-deprecating comments from your vocabulary. Try going beyond the idea of there being a “perfect body” can not only make you happier as a dancer, but will also enrich the dance world as a whole.
Feeling unmotivated. A life in dance requires consistent, exceptional commitment. And some days you just might not be feeling it. Being aware of how much effort you’re putting into class, reminding yourself of your goal(s) and finding inspiration in other dancers or outside the studio can be just what you need. But you should also check in with yourself to see if there are deeper issues at play—a change of environment or a break to recover from burnout might be in order.
Injury recovery. The pain of not being able to dance is frequently just as bad as the physical pain of being injured. Missing out on performances is disappointing, returning to movements that caused your injury can be frightening and your body might not feel like your own. Know that this is normal, and take care of yourself through your recovery by setting achievable goals, giving yourself time to heal, surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family and reminding yourself of life outside of the studio. You’ll come back stronger and wiser for it.
Friends for Life. While there is evidence th at the physical movement of dance produces positive mental health effects. There’s also evidence to prove that dancing with others helps you feel a sense of connectedness. And often leads to an increase in social activity. In addition, dance classes also lend themselves to an increase in social bonds and friendships amongst dancers, “key factors in improving’ one’s mood and overall mental wellbeing.
Though dancing itself should not replace help from a mental health professional. It is just one of many ways to practice healthy mental health and wellbeing.
