what makes a good dancer essay

Essay on Dance

500 words essay on dance.

Dancer refers to a series of set of movement to music which we can either do alone or with a partner. Dancing helps us express our feelings and get active as well. If we look back at history, dance has been a part of our human history since the earliest records. Thus, an essay on dance will take us through it in detail.

My Hobby My Passion

Dance is my favourite hobby and I enjoy dancing a lot. I started dancing when I was five years old and when I got older; my parents enrolled me in dance classes to pursue this passion.

I cannot go a day without dance, that’s how much I love dancing. I tried many dance forms but discovered that I am most comfortable in Indian classical dance. Thus, I am learning Kathak from my dance teacher.

I aspire to become a renowned Kathak dancer so that I can represent this classical dance internationally. Dancing makes me feel happy and relaxed, thus I love to dance. I always participate in dance competitions at my school and have even won a few.

Dance became my passion from an early age. Listening to the beats of a dance number, I started to tap my feet and my parents recognized my talent for dance. Even when I am sad, I put on music to dance to vent out my feelings.

Thus, dance has been very therapeutic for me as well. In other words, it is not only an escape from the world but also a therapy for me.

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Hidden Language of the Soul

Dance is also called the hidden language of the soul as we use it to express ourselves when words fall short. The joy which comes with dancing helps us get over our sorrow and adversity sometimes.

Moreover, it is simply a translator for our hearts. What is most important to remember is that dance is not supposed to be perfect. There is no right way of dancing, as long as your heart is happy, you can dance.

When we talk about dance, usually a professional dancer comes to our mind. But, this is where we go wrong. Dance is for anybody and everybody from a ballet dancer to the uncle dancing at a wedding .

It is what unites us and helps us come together to celebrate joy and express our feelings. Therefore, we must all dance without worrying if we are doing it right or not. It is essential to understand that when you let go of yourself in dance, you truly enjoy it only then.

Conclusion of the Essay on Dance

All in all, dance is something which anyone can do. There is no right way or wrong way to dance, there is just a dance. The only hard part is taking the first step, after that, everything becomes easier. So, we must always dance our heart out and let our body move to the rhythm of music freely.

FAQ of Essay on Dance

Question 1: Why is Dance important?

Answer 1: Dance teaches us the significance of movement and fitness in a variety of ways through a selection of disciplines. It helps us learn to coordinate muscles to move through proper positions. Moreover, it is a great activity to pursue at almost any age.

Question 2: What is dancing for you?

Answer 2: Dancing can enhance our muscle tone, strength, endurance and fitness. In addition, it is also a great way to meet new friends. Most importantly, it brings happiness to us and helps us relax and take a break from the monotony of life.

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153 Dance Topics & Essay Examples

Whether you’re writing about the importance of dance, modern choreography, or weight loss benefits of dancing as a hobby, we can help. In this article, our team came up with some ideas of what to cover in your paper.

🏆 Best Dance Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

✅ most interesting dance topics to write about, 📑 good research topics about dance, ⭐ dance topics to talk about in your paper, 📌 simple & easy dance titles for essay, ❓ dance essay topics and questions.

• What Is Dance: Definition and Genres Jazz dancing is a unique dance as it consists of dancers interpreting steps as well as moves in their own way.
• Exploring Relationship in Raymond Carver’s “Why Don’t You Dance?” In the story, the author juxtaposes the young couple with the man to highlight the solitary existence of the latter. In contrast to the man, the boy and the girl feel as the people around […]
• History and Development of Dance The art of dancing was connected by Greeks to the idea of harmony and perfection of human body: therefore, dancing ultimately had to be graceful in order to emphasize and not to destroy the natural […]
• Garba Dance, Its History and Specifics: A Traditional Indian Dance The inhabitants of the state believe that the dance dates back to the ancient times of Krishna. I have seen the live performance of Garba at a Navratri festival; both the dance and music were […]
• Dance and Mathematics Relationship Choreographers, in teaching dance techniques, can use knowledge of mathematics, the knowledge is also used to arrange dancers on the stage and control their movements.
• Dance Elements in “Swan Lake” and “Night Journey” Ballets One of the most famous ballet scenes in Swan Lake is the dance of little swans. In terms of choreography and music, it is a good example of art, since each of the three central […]
• Dance Analysis: Social and Cultural Context A study of dance involves connection of ideas between the past and the present with an aim of improving the quality of performance in regards to other social practices that arise from cultural beliefs.
• “Dance of the Dead” by Richard Matheson Although the story mostly belongs to the science fiction genre, its central scene is focused on horror, and more specifically, the horror of the unknown that is emblematic of the dark fantasy genre according to […]
• “The Dance Class” Painting by Edgar Degas In addition to properly chosen techniques and materials, the artist was able to create a story with the past, the present, and the future.
• Traditional Chinese Lion Dance and Its Styles The first performer adorns the head of the lion and the other moves the body of the lion. The Japanese Lion Dance is used in traditional and religious festivals.
• The Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja) Sculpture In the sculpture, Shiva is dancing within a halo of flame, in his right hand holding the damaru, which is a hand drum that made the first sounds of creation, and the agni in his […]
• “Shall We Dance”: Movie Analysis This leads a person to hide their actions and lead a life of secrecy which is uncomfortable to the individual and people that are around.
• Hip Hop Dance The TV shows such as the Wild style, Soul Train and Breakin, Beat Street also contributed in showcasing hip hop dance styles during the early periods of hip hop hype.
• The Ritual Dance Important Elements On the outside, the ritual dance has all the same elements the other types do: the costumes, the music, the patterns are generally recognizable.
• Impact of the Dance as Education The importance is great for every human being to acquire the vital skills which one will be able to carry through one’s entire life, the skills which will enrich the person’s life and will add […]
• History of Samba in Brazilian Society: A Traditional Brazilian Dance The word samba is derived from the Angolan word “semba” which means the movement of the body which is described as the act of thrusting forward the body and which requires the contact of the […]
• Role of Advertising in Launching a New Dance School In order to launch a new dance school in the US, it would be necessary to analyze the market. Since its establishment in 1905, the institution has managed to offer training services to over 800 […]
• Dance Writing in Creative and Studying Processes Eventually, the writing did not only feed the creative process but later on was used as an element of the performance, enhancing the experience of spectators, possibly developing more new treatments for the dance and […]
• Contemporary Dance: Continuity and Inimitability The study is based on observation of literature sources devoted to contemporary dance and our observation of works of contemporary dance, live and on the video.
• Indian Culture: Dances of Rajasthan Diwali is one of the major festivals in the country. Ghoomar dance is also common in the region.
• Lord of Dance This paper looks at the relevance of the image of Shiva to the Hindu culture, and the disparity between its presence in a temple and display in a museum of art, away from the culture […]
• A Generational Dance: How Parents and Kids Relate In summation, it is vital to note that the well-being and development of a child depend on the wholesome relations with their parents.
• Poi Dance as Cultural Performance The theme of this dance is the traditional culture of the Maori people, in particular the expression of joy and gratitude.
• African Dance Taught by Rujeko Dumbutshena In this dance class, from a series by the Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning, Rujeko Dumbutshena teaches how to use the concept of dancing on the clock to learn African Dance.
• Space in Dance Theatre Employing space, a choreographer has an opportunity to establish a connection between the spectators and the performers, thus influencing the perception of the show and emphasizing the core ideas.
• Ballet and Jazz Dance: Styles Description The form and line used in ballet dance underline the stage performance and make sure that the main and secondary performers each have their place. The forms and rhythm in jazz dance reflect the people’s […]
• The Cosmic Dance of Siva Conclusively, the aspect on sex as an element, which contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs lacks enough support to qualify as a fact. Therefore, due to the lack of tangible evidence and a testable hypothesis […]
• The Salsa: Music and Dance Review In the dance perspective, it refers to a dance that tries to communicate the beats found in the salsa music. All these are in an effort to spice up the salsa dance and music.
• Jazz Dance and Its Techniques The modern and ballet dance styles can be also applied to jazz, as the kind of popular dance styles involves a wide range of dance elements.
• Music and Dance as a Part of Our Culture Our family has a unique connection to the dance and music, and how it was used in the family and in social settings.
• Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self With the help of her essay, Walker is able to write her own autobiography of her early years of life. Towards the end of her essay, it is evident that she is a successful woman […]
• Modern Dance in the United States At the beginning of the XX century, American choreographers and dancers contributed to the development of modern dance by adding their ideas and techniques.
• Nostalgic Feeling Among Asylee Immigrants: The Role of Dance The broad phenomenon of acculturation as a process of adjusting one’s values, beliefs, and habits according to the socio-cultural environment of an individual is an extremely complex social issue.
• Argentine Tango Dance for Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Study Hence, over the course of this study, the authors evaluated the effect of the adapted Argentine Tango on the cancer patient’s neurological function.
• The “Bellyache” Dance by Billie Eilish The most identified element of the dance is space and energy, while time is the minor element the audience can recognize. One of the components of dance is time, which dance choreography and performance both […]
• Performance Art: Dance Concept It is recommended to resort to performance art to make the gallery attractive to people and demonstrate its relevance in the modern world.
• Creative Destruction and the Virtual Studio of Sydney Dance Company From his perspective, industrial mutations occur in the form of the revolutionization of economic structures, the destruction of older ways of doing things, and the emergence of the replacing practices or products.
• Interpretive Dance and Costume Design in Enhancing Music and Plays The ballet dancer’s frequent moves increase the intensity of the song’s message with every rhyme and beat as the song proceeds.
• “Shiva as Lord of Dance” (ca. 11th Century): Norton Simon Museum It is evident that the emphasis in the sculpture is put on Shiva, acting as a focal point of the piece. The sculpture of “Shiva as Lord of Dance” emphasizes the complexity of layers the […]
• The Ghost Dance Movement and Its Emergence To conclude, the Ghost Dance was a movement that accumulated the various aspects of American Indians living in the 19th century and delivered their cry for justice and salvation.
• Flamingo or Flamenco Dance This is a very expressive dance in nature and it involves movement of the whole body but more specifically the hands in such a way that the audience can follow and understand the whole dance.
• Case Analysis Article “Shall We Dance?” They both agree on the idea of targeting the boomers because of the role they play in the economy of Canada.
• Flamenco Music and Dance History: Spanish Carte-De-Visite Born in Andalusia The dance is much spread in the world and is considered to be a part of human civilization’s heritage by UNESCO.
• Loïe Fuller: An American Dancer and Actor Fuller recalls that she invented her serpentine dance during her rehearsal for the part in the play. Even when Fuller came to Paris, she met there a young woman who copied her style, and she […]
• “And the Soul Shall Dance” by Wakako Yamauchi and “Silent Dancing” by Judith Ortiz Cofer: Significance of Dancing as Theme There is only one “dancing” character in Yamauchi’s literary work and though the woman is not the protagonist of the short story, the theme of dancing becomes a central one due to the strength and […]
• Dance in the African Diaspora: History and Effects The dances the slaves performed were distinct in that they were against the culture of the slave owners and yet they were blended in with the culture of the slave owners.
• Classical Dance: Term Definition In Plutarch’s work, when Theseus and the other Athenian youths escape from the Minotaur, they participate in a dance of celebration.”The dances of the ancient times are characterized as dances of war or dances of […]
• History of Capoeira in the Brazilian Community: Social Dance and Form of Martial Arts Some of the historical implications of the capoeira include: originally this art was practiced by the underclasses in the Brazilian community. The middle class accepted the art and this led to the unification of the […]
• Jazz Social Dance and Impact on American Culture Jazz is one of the common music genres that define the culture and racial history of the United States. Additionally, the nature of jazz dance was a new opportunity for African Americans to describe the […]
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Its History Alvin Ailey is an American dancer and choreographer, the founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, who made a significant contribution to the popularization of modern dance and the emergence of black dancers on […]
• Artists in Jazz Music and Dance Development The core areas in this study will include; the presentation, the ensemble, the musical instruments, and the memories of the events.
• Art, Dance, Nutrition Studies and Their Benefits For architectures to come up with great masterpieces they have to combine the mechanics of construction and the creativity of Art.
• Flamenco Dance and History of Passion Whenever people think of Spain and the Spanish culture, the first thing that comes to their mind is flamenco the dance of passion and the only way to express the nature of a Spaniard, the […]
• “The Power of Myth” and “Lord of the Dance” Films The setting of the dance when the movie starts is a church and the dancing troupe is led by a clergy this gives the dance a religious association.
• “The World of Dance” Event As we have already stated, the World of Dance is a unique event in the sphere of art that tries to attract the attention of people across the world.
• Ballet Pas De Deux: Dance and Architecture Exhibition The theory of choreology is concerned with the elaboration of the connection between the conscious expression of movement patterns in dance and the principles that guide those movements.
• Dance and Architecture in “Ballet Pas de Deux” Exhibition Therefore, dance and architecture are related due to the fact that both of them utilize space as a ground in which creativity is embodied.
• Beyond Description: Writing Beneath the Surface According to Jowitt, in order to describe a dance properly the writer is to possess a variety of different skills allowing them to select appropriate metaphors, apply correct judgment, draw clever comparisons, and present dance […]
• The Royal Ballet Dance in Covent Garden The event was staged by the house of Royal Oprah with mysterious, exciting, and arduous ballet dance broadcast to the audience.
• Lindy Hop Dance: Development, Events, Figures Besides, all the aspects of this dance are going to be taken into consideration the movements, the music, and its origin, dressing styles of the performers throughout the years, public perception of this form of […]
• The Grass Dance Cultural Importance Historians believe that the Grass Dance emerged during the early years of The Reservation Period among the warrior societies. This explains that the movement of the dance was meaningful to the natives.
• Alvin Ailey’ and Alexander Pushkin’ Views on the Modern Dance In particular, he greatly contributed to the popularization of the so-called modern dance which was developed at the beginning of the twentieth century.
• The Culture of Electronic Dance Music In a bid to realize its aim, the paper discusses the relationship between attending EDM events and the rationality that leads to the consumption of illicit drugs such as ecstasy.
• The CSN Fall Dance Concert Even if a person is informed about some details of the dance concert and the guests, who are going to participate, it is hard to cope with the emotions and attitudes to everything that can […]
• Ghost Dance Religious Movement The circle dance formed the belief systems of the Native Americans and was later given the name the ghost dance. Jack Wilson also known as Wovoka by the Paiute people, was the founder of the […]
• Dancer Alvin Ailey: Techniques and Artistic Choices Alvin Ailey was able to merge dancing techniques which previously seemed to be completely incompatible with one another, and it is one of the major achievements in the history of choreography because such artistic choices […]
• Dance: Alonzo King Lines Ballet Choreography is one of the strongest aspects of the performance. The entire attention is drawn to the dancers and the dance.
• Chicano Folklore: Mexican Folk Dance Some musicians have also supported this subgenre in different parts of the world. This genre also portrays the realities and experiences of many Mexican Americans in the country.
• The Dance Video “Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake 2” The choreographer has also selected the best styles for the dance. This is successful because of the lyrical and comic aspect of the dance.
• Moon – Solo Dance by Yang LiPing It could be defined as a large stage ethnic primitive genre if it was not for the complexity of the hidden innuendoes that the interpretation of the dance suggests.
• The Way of Geisha Dance The way of Geisha dance demonstrates to us the importance of maiko in the traditional Japanese culture. The dance is crucial to the lives of many Japanese women.
• Dance Education and Culture The important elements under discussion for all the dance styles analyzed include, the progression, the uniqueness in steps and the relevance of the knowledge gained to the student.
• Miami Dance Project for Autistic Children For me, what the Miami dance project represents is in line with what is known as the concept of confidence building wherein through the development of certain talents children with autism will begin to have […]
• The Tangs Dancing Business The Tangs spent most of their time running their business as a result, they have no time to refine and polish their sales pitch.
• The Taxi Driver and the Dance With Wolves Films In the film Dance with Wolves, the director seems to be unable to convey the poetry and philosophical inclinations of the colonial masters and the natives of India.
• Survey of Contemporary Dances The aim of this report is to present and interpret the results of the survey on the attitude of people to contemporary dances.
• Arts Education: Music, Dance and Theatre They will be able to identify the role of “telephones” and “telephone” operators in their society. According to Moser and McKay, it is critical for the students to learn how to determine the type and […]
• Capoeira Dance History and Popularity This paper discusses the history of capoeira, how people relate to it in Brazil, where it went after the end of slavery in Brazil and its popularity worldwide.
• Modern Dance by Jiri Kylian On the whole, analyzing the first part of the ballet from the beginning, we have to point out the appropriateness of the absence of sound accompaniment, which leads the onlooker to concentrate on the pattern […]
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• The Differences Between Real Music and Electronic Dance Music
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5 Scientific Steps That Will Make You a Better Dancer

A good dancer can command a crowd. Louis XIV studied ballet as a means to elevate his status and influence, using his dance moves as a political tool. More recently, artists like Sammy Davis Jr. and Beyoncé achieved superstardom because their dance moves augmented the power of their music. Though learning how to dance well may seem dependent in talent, science has a few hints about what can make someone—even you—a great dancer.

Step One: Tap Into Your Core

Basic ways of moving, such as the ability to crawl, stand, and walk, develop when we’re children and become second nature as our brains cement these actions in memory. By age 2, toddlers will attempt bobbing up and down to the beat of a song or try simple dance moves. Coordinating and practicing these grooves begins once we’ve mastered standing with a neutral pelvis —a position in which the head, shoulders, and hips align when viewed from the side with a slight curve in the lower back.

“Not only might [a] neutral pelvis facilitate body movements in general, but it also seems to improve specific action at [the] hip and lumbar spine,” write Clara Fischer Gam and Elsa Urmstom in an article posted on the International Society of Dance Medicine and Science’s website . This alignment stabilizes the core, which supports more dynamic movement.

To find your neutral pelvis, Dance magazine recommends lying on your back with your knees bent, allowing the natural curve of your spine to create a slight space between your lower back and the floor. In this position your hips should not tilt noticeably up toward the ceiling or into the floor; they should remain “neutral,” creating a plane level enough to balance a glass of water.

Step Two: Warm Up

After achieving a neutral pelvis, stay put for some stretching.

One of the simplest ways to increase your body’s range of motion is to generate heat through low impact movement, says Marijeanne Liederbach, director of NYU Langone's Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. This also helps protect against injuries.

"In order for [muscle] to have safe range of motion, it needs to warm up a little bit,” Liederbach tells Mental Floss. Once warm, muscles have more elasticity, which means you can twist and bend with greater ease. Stretching primes your body for more for strenuous activity and reduces the risk of injury.

Step Three: Shift Your Weight

In 2013, researchers in the UK conducted a study in which a group of 48 men and women judged the quality of 30 male dancers’ moves. Their favored traits were bold and varied core movements, like bending and twisting from side to side or back and forth, while incorporating vigorous arm movements. In 2017, the same researchers published a similar study of 39 female dancers, all British university students, that suggested greater hip swings and asymmetric movements of the thighs and arms are considered desirable traits.

"Dance [is] a human behavior that everyone does,” Nick Neave, a co-author and professor at Northumbria University, tells Mental Floss. “We thought these movements would be honest signals—you can't fake them—so they're giving off information about your health, your age, your fertility, [and] your reproductive stages.” (Critics have argued that these findings are arbitrary because the sample sizes of the dancers were too small.)

So, stand up and practice leaning from one leg to another. Try deeply bending your knees or standing tall on the ball of your foot. Then, shake out your arms and legs. It might help to picture one of those inflatable tube people grooving in the wind.

Remember, the more you practice your moves, the more seamless your moves will become. “If people keep coming back to these basic elements of movement, then they can pretty much intelligently progress up to whatever movements they want,” Liederbach says.

As for synchronizing with music, for most of us, following the beat is intrinsic and natural. Being “beat-deaf” is rare, but a 2014 study of two such individuals suggested that some people have more difficulty than others synchronizing movement with external cues, like music.

Step Four: Connect with Other Dancers

Breaking a sweat activates endorphins, which trigger a sense of pleasure and make dancing enjoyable, but there’s also evidence that dancing supports human connection. In an article in Scientific American , neurologist John Krakauer attributes some of this connection to cells called mirror neurons, which cause your brain’s movement areas to activate while dancing and while watching others dance.

“Unconsciously, you are planning and predicting how a dancer would move based on what you would do,” Krakauer writes. So, if you can’t perform a pirouette, watching ballet is still rewarding.

Mirroring movement also is powerful in action. “There is something about doing the same thing at the same time with other people that really bonds us and expands our sense of self,” Scott Wiltermuth, an organizational behavior professor at the University of Southern California, tells Mental Floss. From an evolutionary perspective, it makes sense we would derive pleasure from coordinating well with others: in early hunter-gatherer societies, collaboration meant survival, he says.

Ilya Vidrin, a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre For Dance Research in the UK and a Harvard Fellow, suggests that qualities that strengthen relationships in life, such as the ability to pick up on tonal shifts in voice and subtle shifts in body language, also strengthen partnerships in dance. “It’s clear that just because you’re making eye contact [and] touching … doesn’t mean that you’re connected,” he tells Mental Floss.

Step Five: Be Authentic

According to Judith Lynne Hanna, an anthropologist at the University of Maryland, it’s important to remember that aesthetic attitudes toward dancing vary by personal preference, genre, culture, and nation. For example, flamenco dancers exhibit a strong connection to the ground with rooted footwork, while ballet dancers strive to maintain a lifted frame and elevate the body.

Among the Ubakala, an Igbo group in Nigeria, movement patterns reflect a person's identity. It's common for women of child-bearing age to dance in circular formations, using more fluid movements, while men dance vibrantly in warrior-like patterns. Elders in the group tend to act like dance rebels, however; they often defy gender norms and dance however they like, Hanna says. The ability to connect through movement keeps these dance forms alive.

No matter where you source your style, be yourself. “If people are afraid to look stupid, if people are afraid to fail, then likely they’ll be more afraid to dance,” Vidrin says. There’s no need to fear the unknown on the dance floor.

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5 Qualities of a Great Dancer

One of our online students asked, “I need help breaking down what the vision of a good dancer is – can you help me?”

I want to talk about this because I don’t hear much discussion about this or teachers talking about it in their classes.

So, here are five characteristics that make up a good dancer and for each one I’m going to give you some questions to help you reflect on your own development.

Grab a piece of paper and a pen!

Note: I talk a lot about salsa and social dancing here on Dance Dojo, but in my opinion these characteristics apply to all forms of dance.

1. Skill: Your Vocabulary, Technique and Execution

This is what most people think about when they think of a good dancer. It’s what you do and how you do it.

One way to think about it is are you able to make the hard stuff look easy and make the easy stuff look so cool it looks hard?

Eventually you’ll reach the point where whatever you do that feels good also looks good you don’t have to think anymore, you just express yourself and it’s impressive .

Reflection questions

• What skills am I missing to dance the way I want?
• Watch: How to Practice and Improve 10x Faster
• Watch: How to practice Salsa Without a Partner

2. Cultural Understanding: The Stories Behind the Dance

This refers to your understanding of the significance of the movements you’re doing and the stories behind them. Only then, can make an educated decision on how you’ll interpret and express them.

Questions for reflection

• Do I understand the history of the music I’m dancing to?
• Do I know the creators and the stories behind the moves I’m doing?
• Once you understand how a move is meant to be done historically, think of how you can flip it and make it your own, adding your own personality and style to it.

The goal here is to reduce your ignorance, increase your cultural intelligence and increase your ability of educated self-expression.

3. Style and Character: Exploring Your Tastes and Developing Presence

This is all about realizing and understanding how you like to move to music and feel within the context of the dance you’re doing.

You can be whoever you want. You don’t have to be the same character that you are every day on the street, at work or at home. You can be anyone who you want.

A perfect example is performing on stage. Beyonce is Beyonce every day of the year, but when she gets on stage she’s Sasha Fierce.

For me, when I was an early teenager and I was break dancing there were no studios and teachers to learn from, so I had to find information wherever I could on the internet, a video and then take that knowledge and try to figure things out myself by exploring deeply within myself. I think that’s what’s missing today especially in the social dance world.

A lot of people now just go to studios and classes and copy teachers without thinking on their own, without going inside themselves to ask questions or get creative.

Deeply exploring the stuff you learn from class is how you’ll learn how you like to move, how you react to music. Really going inside and discovering that for yourself will help you develop your own style and personality for dance.

Your style and character are defined by a lot of different choices:

• how you like to dress
• how you carry yourself
• your energy: is it high, is it low, is it confident, calm, tranquil or timid? Maybe your funky maybe you’re really funny. In a partner dance, do you smell good? It’s about the moves you do and how you do them, the energy that you bring to that partner or the people you’re interacting with.

Everyone is in a constant evolution but you’ll realize you’re maturing when you get clear on your tastes, what you like, what you don’t like and why. You start getting more comfortable expressing yourself.

The ultimate test of style and character is this…

Imagine you’re in a theater a giant screen up on stage and you can only see the silhouette of the person behind it if you were dancing there where people know it’s you if you put Michael Jackson behind the screen oh they’ll know.

• Am I just copying my teachers or am I going inside to explore myself, how I like to move, my energy, my personality?

The goal is to discover your tastes, your strengths and your unique way of expressing them.

4. Connection: The Musical and Human Interaction

A simple way I like to think about it is the feeling that you leave someone with or the feeling that someone leaves with you.

There’s three important pieces to this:

Connection to self and being comfortable with yourself. This goes back to the three previous characteristics. Are you comfortable and confident in what you know, who you are and how you like to move?

Connection to the music: your awareness and interpretation of it. aAre you letting the music inspire and guide the fun you’re having with yourself? With your partners?

Connecting with a partner: are you able to take your personal skills, style and way of interpreting the music and mix in a partner? This covers everything from the moves you choose to do, and more importantly, the moves you choose not to do (to match your partner’s skill level and style), as well as the dynamic and interaction you bring to your partner, your level of energy, and your empathy towards them.

Are you taking suggestions from her? Is she taking suggestions from? If you if you make a mistake how are you responding? Are you laughing it off? Is there a light-hearted playful energy? These are the important things with partner connection.

The most important thing to remember is this…

People won’t remember exactly what you say and do but they will remember remember how you make them feel.

That goes for your partners as well as the people watching you.

Amazing dancers take you through the highs and lows of a song, using everything they know to express how they feel inside, often surprising you and themselves in the process while creating a completely unique and amazing experience.

It’s unique because they’ve discovered who they are, how they like to move, and how they like to interpret the music. Only by doing the deep exploration for themselves are they able to then share it with the world.

• When I hear music am I able to just let go and dance?
• Am I comfortable expressing myself to the music that I hear?
• What is easy or hard when interacting with a partner?
• Where am I strong?
• Where am I struggling, and why? and lastly number five

5. Fun is the Key

Yes, training and improving can be difficult, and not always fun, but if the majority of the time you’re not enjoying yourself it could be a clue that your efforts are not coming from the right place.

When you watch an amazing dancer get lost in a song you feel their sense of joy and you get captivated in the moment with them. You feel what they feel because their expression is coming from such a pure place.

So remember why you started all this in the first place, to express yourself from the inside out and have fun.

That’s my quick take on the five characteristics that make a great dancer. I hope these thoughts and questions can help you in your own growth!

What’s Next?

Watch/read: The Process of Becoming a Great Dancer

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124 Dance Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Dance is a captivating art form that allows individuals to express themselves creatively through movement. Whether you are a dance student, a professional dancer, or someone who simply enjoys watching dance performances, writing an essay about dance can be a rewarding and exciting task. To help you get started, here are 124 dance essay topic ideas and examples that can inspire and guide your writing process.

The evolution of dance throughout history.

How does dance reflect the culture and traditions of a society?

The impact of technology on contemporary dance performances.

The influence of ballet on other dance styles.

The role of dance in storytelling.

Analyzing the dance techniques of prominent choreographers.

The importance of dance in physical fitness and well-being.

The portrayal of gender roles in dance.

The connection between music and dance.

The influence of social media on the popularity of dance.

Examining the cultural appropriation in dance.

The therapeutic benefits of dance for individuals with mental health issues.

The role of dance in religious ceremonies.

The challenges faced by professional dancers and how they overcome them.

The impact of dance on self-confidence and body image.

Analyzing the role of dance in musical theater.

The representation of emotions through dance.

The influence of different dance styles on each other.

The portrayal of identity and ethnicity in dance performances.

The role of dance education in schools.

The influence of dance on fashion trends.

The challenges faced by male dancers in a predominantly female industry.

The relationship between dance and architecture.

The impact of dance competitions on the dance community.

The portrayal of social and political issues through dance.

Analyzing the use of props and costumes in dance performances.

The portrayal of love and relationships in dance.

The impact of globalization on dance styles and techniques.

The representation of historical events through dance.

The role of dance in preserving cultural heritage.

The portrayal of masculinity and femininity in dance.

The influence of different dance cultures on each other.

The impact of dance on cognitive development in children.

The challenges faced by dancers with disabilities and how they overcome them.

The portrayal of fantasy and imagination in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of improvisation in dance.

The representation of social justice issues through dance.

The influence of dance on popular culture.

The portrayal of power dynamics in dance.

The impact of dance on social bonding and community building.

The role of dance in promoting diversity and inclusivity.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a work-life balance.

The portrayal of mythology and folklore in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of the choreographer in the creative process.

The influence of different dance techniques on each other.

The impact of dance on brain development and cognitive abilities.

The portrayal of spirituality and transcendence in dance.

The role of dance in promoting physical and mental well-being in older adults.

The challenges faced by dancers in dealing with injuries and how they recover.

The representation of social media culture in dance performances.

The influence of dance on the fashion industry.

The portrayal of dreams and aspirations in dance.

The impact of dance on the tourism industry.

The role of dance in promoting environmental awareness.

The challenges faced by dancers in navigating the competitive nature of the industry.

The portrayal of war and conflict through dance.

Analyzing the use of lighting and stage design in dance performances.

The influence of different dance genres on each other.

The impact of dance on self-expression and individuality.

The portrayal of spirituality and ritual in dance.

The role of dance in promoting social change and activism.

The challenges faced by dancers in achieving work-life balance.

The representation of fairy tales and folklore in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of music in dance choreography.

The influence of dance on body image and self-esteem.

The impact of dance on the rehabilitation process for individuals with physical disabilities.

The portrayal of cultural assimilation and identity in dance.

The role of dance in promoting empathy and understanding.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The portrayal of historical figures and events in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of rhythm and timing in dance.

The influence of different dance traditions on each other.

The impact of dance on stress reduction and mental well-being.

The portrayal of spirituality and religion in dance.

The role of dance in promoting social cohesion and unity.

The challenges faced by dancers in dealing with rejection and criticism.

The representation of nature and the environment through dance.

Analyzing the role of partnering and lifts in dance choreography.

The influence of different musical genres on dance styles.

The impact of dance on body awareness and physical literacy.

The portrayal of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation in dance.

The role of dance in promoting teamwork and collaboration.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a positive body image.

The portrayal of human rights issues through dance.

Analyzing the use of symbolism and metaphor in dance performances.

The influence of different dance movements on each other.

The impact of dance on self-discipline and perseverance.

The role of dance in promoting social justice and equality.

The challenges faced by dancers in dealing with performance anxiety.

The representation of fantasy and mythology in dance performances.

Analyzing the role of breath and energy in dance.

The influence of different cultural practices on dance techniques.

The impact of dance on emotional intelligence and empathy.

The portrayal of cultural diversity and inclusivity in dance.

The role of dance in promoting body positivity and acceptance.

The challenges faced by dancers in managing their mental health.

The portrayal of human emotions and experiences through dance.

Analyzing the use of space and dynamics in dance performances.

The influence of different dance aesthetics on each other.

The impact of dance on social skills and communication.

The portrayal of spirituality and mindfulness in dance.

The role of dance in promoting cultural understanding and appreciation.

The challenges faced by dancers in balancing artistic expression and technical proficiency.

The representation of social inequality and injustice through dance.

Analyzing the use of rhythm and musicality in dance choreography.

The influence of different dance traditions on contemporary dance styles.

The impact of dance on self-esteem and body confidence.

The portrayal of cultural identity and heritage in dance.

The role of dance in promoting emotional well-being and resilience.

The challenges faced by dancers in maintaining a healthy body image.

The portrayal of environmental issues and sustainability through dance.

Analyzing the role of lines and shapes in dance.

The influence of different dance cultures on each other's storytelling techniques.

The impact of dance on cognitive abilities and memory.

The portrayal of cultural appropriation and authenticity in dance.

The role of dance in promoting social integration and inclusion.

The challenges faced by dancers in managing performance pressure.

The representation of dreams and aspirations in dance performances.

Analyzing the use of improvisation and spontaneity in dance choreography.

The influence of different dance genres on body awareness and movement.

The impact of dance on self-confidence and self-expression.

The portrayal of cultural assimilation and diaspora in dance.

The role of dance in promoting physical and mental well-being in diverse populations.

These dance essay topic ideas and examples provide a wide range of options for you to explore and expand upon. Choose a topic that interests you the most and allows you to showcase your knowledge and passion for dance. Remember to conduct thorough research, provide supporting evidence, and present your ideas in a clear and concise manner. Happy writing!

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Essays About Dance: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

If you are writing essays about dance, see our essay examples and prompts below to inspire and guide you for your next essay. 

Dance refers to a sequence of rhythmic body movements, usually in sync with a beat or music. The earliest historical dance records can be found in cave paintings and are suggested to be associated with religious purposes. Today, one can dance for several reasons. It can be a channel to express their emotions and ideas, release energy, conduct a ritual, celebrate a tradition, or simply exercise. 

Check out our round-up of five great essays that can inspire you in writing your piece about dance: 

1. Are Humans The Only Species That Enjoy Dancing? by Jason Goldman

2. ballet and modern dance: using ballet as the basis for other dance techniques by helen kantilaftis, 3. bollywood dance explained by lucy townsend, 4. essay: when i broke up with ballet by stephanie wolf, 5. explained: breaking rules, moves and format by aarish ansari, 1. dance as a passion., 2. types of dances. , 3. health benefits of dancing., 4. preserving traditional dance., 5. the most iconic dance moves of all time. , 6. protecting choreographic works., 7. dance as an expression of culture., 8. animals that dance., 9. dance as a source of livelihood., 10. life values learned from dancing..

“Snowball became famous on the internet when videos were uploaded of the twelve-year-old cockatoo appearing to dance to a Backstreet Boys song. He seems to bob his head up and down in sync with the beat of the song… Could it really be that humans aren’t unique in their abilities to dance?”

The article amusingly explores certain animals that are proven to have a beat for dancing. While videos of dancing animals are a rave on social media, the article reveals that the discovery of dancing animals may have been as early as the time of Charles Darwin. The naturalist discovered and theorized that birds use dance to pick their mates, a process that a study showed is more common in humans than we thought. 

“Ballet is like the mother of all dance techniques. Most Western dance styles today can be traced back to ballet, and its codification has been extremely influential in all styles of dance.”

Ballet can improve one’s musicality, awareness, tempo, strength, and agility. Kantilaftis explains that other dances borrow many techniques and moves from ballet. For example, if you take hip-hop or jazz class, chances are there will be movements that could be enhanced by learning ballet first. The author then provides tips on how dancers can incorporate ballet to enhance their routines and be well-rounded dancers overall. You might also be interested in these essays about color .

“Bollywood dance is easy on the eye. Dramatic facial expressions and cinematic pizzazz mean any viewer, dance aficionado or not, can follow the story. But beneath the fizz is a series of historic symbols and traditions, which originate in India’s numerous traditional dance forms.”

No good Indian film is complete without the famous Bollywood dance. In this article, the author uncovers the symbolisms behind the hand gestures, facial expressions, neck movement, footwork, and vibrant costumes in Bollywood dance. It turns out that each movement and accessory contribute to telling a story with themes ranging from weather to animals and destinations.

“After 12 years of fighting for my dance career, it became clear this was not an injury from which I could bounce back. My body had already been through too much, and I felt fatigued from chasing my dreams. While I had always had outside interests, I was now forced to really look at what life would be like post-dancing.”

A former ballet dancer talks about her heartbreaking story of ending a dance career over two decades ago. The breakup was the inevitable consequence of an irreversible injury, causing emotional shock over a loss of identity. Several years forward, Wolf admits that she remains to grieve over the end of her dancing chapter but continues to find new sources of hope to continue living.

“From the streets of New York in the 1970s to the grand stage of the Olympic Games, breaking has charted a course not many would have thought was possible… breaking has evolved into a proper dance sport, with a fixed set of rules that make for fair competition.”

The article celebrates breakdancing’s breakthrough to be part of the Olympic 2024 as a silver medal event. In addition, the article dives into the signature moves that define breakdancing and judges’ criteria for selecting the winning breakdancers. 

10 Prompts On Essays About Dance

For more essay ideas, take a pick from one of our prompts below:

If you have a passion for dancing, write your story about how you have discovered this passion. Describe what dancing does to your mind and body. Write about your dance style, how often you dance and what kinds of music you love dancing to. If you’re not into dancing but know others who are passionate about this art form, interview them instead. 

Research about the different kinds of dances. There are many popular ones, such as ballroom, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop and jazz. To narrow down the scope of this prompt, pick five that interest you the most. Then, describe each and elaborate on their influence on art, culture, and society. 

Dance can strengthen cardiovascular health, reduce stress and improve balance and flexibility. Cite other physical and mental health benefits of dancing. Explain how each of these contributes to one’s overall well-being. For example, some communities have been promoting dance to fight obesity and strengthen heart muscles. You can also add how your community encourages dance in its health programs. 

Modern dance is so pervasive that it is feared to bump off folk dance from the stage. Recount the ways your country or community is preserving its traditional dances. Describe these dances and provide a brief historical overview of their importance to your country or community’s culture. Finally, think and write about what other efforts should be taken to allow traditional dances to share the spotlight with modern dance.

Many of us have witnessed different dance crazes, from the moonwalk popularized by Michael Jackson to the shimmy dougie and the fierce hair whip. Analyze what makes this dance move iconic enough to bring the whole world to dance to one beat and movement. 

Choreography is protectable copyrighted work. Provide dancers with a guide on how they can best protect the copyright of their dance masterpieces. Outline copyright protection issues, such as cross-border jurisdictions and digital piracy. Then, provide tips on how performers can best enforce their copyright. For example, one way is to register their work at the intellectual property office of their country. 

Waltz across several traditional dances and show how each of these dances helps express a community’s culture, identity, and belief system. Research the kinds of dance that are deeply embedded in a tradition. Describe the movements involved in this dance and how they symbolize the community’s beliefs and ideals. Then, add how communities pass on the dance to preserve it from generation to generation. 

Build on our essay example on dancing animals. List down the animals that studies are found to possess some dancing prowess. Describe their dancing styles and discover the factors that entice them to dance. For example, is dancing for them mere entertainment, or does it serve a more practical purpose, as with birds? 

Find out what the average income of a dancer or choreographer is. Interview dancers and ask about their level of satisfaction with their current income. Dive deep into the barriers that prevent their incomes from rising and what reforms they would like to see in choreographers’ and performers’ livelihoods. You can also write about how entertainment platforms have expanded the industry’s earning opportunities. 

Dancing is not just a skill or a hobby. It could be a way to learn essential life lessons that will help you get ahead and conquer challenging experiences. Enumerate the lessons one can learn from dancing. Discipline, determination, and creativity are just a few. Explain how one develops these traits from dance and why it makes for a great extracurricular activity for children.

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining how you can achieve persuasive writing .

If you’d like to learn more, our writer explains how to write an argumentative essay in this guide.

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Four Ways Dancing Makes You Happier

Are you a dancer? While some of us might answer an adamant “No!” to that question, we were all dancers at some point. In fact, as a three-week-old baby, you were already starting to sync up your movements to the beat of any music you heard. And even if you now identify as a klutz with two left feet, I’ll bet you have trouble staying completely still when you hear your favorite tune.

Dancing is in our bones, and it’s more than just a fun form of entertainment, explain Julia F. Christensen and her colleagues in a 2017 paper . Cave art seems to suggest that humans were dancing as far back as 70,000 years ago, and it serves important functions for us.

Dance transports us into a state of flow where we forget about our troubles, which is good for regulating our biological systems and nourishing our long-term health. At a deeper level, it’s a way of getting in touch with our bodies and our feelings, allowing us to “try on” different emotions and see how they feel.

It turns out dance is a combination of several activities that are each good for us in their own right: exercising, listening to music, and connecting with other people. Remix those into one groovy package, and you’ve got a behavior that has potent benefits for our mental and physical health.

“Dance is an antidote to stress, a way to combat negative emotions, an elixir for the body, mind, and brain,” write Christensen and Dong-Seon Chang—an Argentine tango dancer and swing dancer—in their 2021 book Dancing Is the Best Medicine .

Hopefully, the many benefits of dance will motivate you to get up and move your body, whether it’s in a packed salsa club, at the next wedding you attend, or alone in your living room. Here are four reasons why dancing is good for you, according to science.

1. Dance makes us feel good

More than a decade ago, two local government organizations in Lincolnshire, U.K., partnered to create a program called Dance4Life to promote community health and well-being. Ultimately, they set up over 30 dance classes that attracted nearly 2,000 people.

As part of the program, researchers surveyed 330 people after they had taken about 8-10 weeks of dance classes. The majority of participants agreed that the program helped them improve their well-being and energy and make new friends. Many of them appreciated that dance could help them express themselves creatively and stay fit and healthy.

But the benefits of dance seem to go beyond the boost we get from exercising. For example, in a 2004 study , students spent 90 minutes doing African dance, practicing hatha yoga, or listening to a biology lecture. Based on surveys before and after, both yoga and dance helped reduce their stress and negative emotions. But dance also increased students’ positive emotions, while yoga didn’t have any effect (and learning about biology actually deflated people’s good feelings). 

A study of 133 college students back in the ’80s had similar findings. Here, a single session of dance class gave students a bigger well-being boost compared to a sports class (kayaking, fencing, or basketball) or a regular academic class like biology or literature. Dance made students feel particularly creative, intelligent, healthy, excited, and exhilarated. Compared to practicing sports, the dance students also felt more confident, relaxed, motivated, and energetic.

“Dancing automatically provides me with more strength in all areas of life. I feel my independence and autonomy as well as creativity and security and a strong vitality, love, and gratefulness for all being,” said a 25-year-old woman in another study . “I can accept myself better with all my strengths and weaknesses and can be fond of myself without reserve, without much judgment.”

Dance has two things going for it that exercise typically doesn’t: music and (often) a dance partner. But what if people danced alone or in silence?

In a 2009 study , 22 tango dancers ages 30–56 tried dancing in four different ways: together or alone, with or without music. According to the findings, only regular dancing (with partner and music) boosted people’s positive emotions. The researchers collected saliva samples to see what was going on in the dancers’ bodies, and found different effects: Music helped reduce cortisol, a hormone involved in our response to stress, while dancing with a partner increased testosterone.

Although you can certainly dance alone, many types of dance will find you in close contact with a partner or dancing in a group—bringing along a whole host of social benefits, too.

2. Dance brings us closer together

At dance events, people often mingle and chat before pairing off and heading to the dance floor. And then they experience another key aspect of dance: physical touch, ranging from holding hands to the full-body embrace of blues or tango.

As a 53-year-old dancer in one study said: “The social interaction satisfies my needs for group togetherness, closeness, and body contact. Even though verbal communication fades into the background during dance, we can cultivate friendships within the dancing community, which, to me, are very positive and important.”

Something also happens on a visceral level once we start moving in sync with other people: That physical synchronization can affect how we feel about each other. For example, in a 2016 study , 94 people participated in a “silent disco” where they learned dance routines and danced together wearing headphones with music. While some groups were fully synchronized, grooving with the same moves to the same tunes, other groups learned a different order of moves or danced to different music altogether. Ultimately, people who danced completely in sync felt closer to each other compared to the others.

“Dance may have been an important human behavior evolved to encourage social closeness between strangers,” write Bronwyn Tarr and her coauthors.

Dancing can be a way to connect not just with other dancers but with your culture and community. For example, dance is central to the cultural identity of indigenous tribes—and was banned at certain times in history alongside other indigenous cultural practices. Professor Sean Asiqłuq Topkok founded an Inupiaq dance group in Fairbanks, Alaska, to share his tribe’s traditions with young people, including values like humility, cooperation, and respect for nature.

“Traditional stories, including those conveyed through drumming and dance, can provide a meaningful educational approach for transmitting cultural knowledge, wellness, and identity to youth and future generations,” he writes with coauthor Carie Green in a 2016 book chapter .

Another book chapter from 2019 describes how West African dance to the djembe drum can help African Americans restore a connection to their culture and identity. Dance was also suppressed on slave plantations in the U.S., and reclaiming it alongside a community of other African dancers can help people experience healing amid the current realities of discrimination and racism, argue Ojeya Cruz Banks and Jeanette “Adama Jewel” Jackson.

“Regaining cultural fluency in West African dance can be a critical part of cultural, emotional, and spiritual restoration,” they write.

3. Dance helps with depression

Inspired by the mental health benefits of dance, a specific form of therapy called dance movement therapy emerged in the mid-1900s. It comes in many forms, but clients often use movement to observe patterns in themselves, act out challenges, and express emotion. Research suggests that dance movement therapy can help with depression, trauma, nervous breakdowns, chronic pain, and more.

Even if you don’t do formal dance movement therapy, dancing seems to be good for depression and anxiety all by itself. In a 2012 study , nearly 100 people with depression were split into three groups who learned tango, practiced meditation, or were on a waitlist for six weeks. The classes met for 90 minutes a week. Based on surveys, both tango and meditation helped decrease people’s depression compared to the waitlist group, while tango reduced their stress, as well. Afterward, when researchers offered participants a voucher for tango or mindfulness classes, 97% of the participants chose the free dance lessons.

Women are at risk of depression around menopause, so researchers in China invited women ages 44–55 to participate in square dancing classes. ( Square dancing in China is often done in public spaces for exercise, and is different from the American cowboy tradition.) Surveys found that square dancing five times a week for three months helped decrease depression at a vulnerable time of life for these women.

Again, dance seems to help with depression above and beyond just exercising or listening to music. In a 2007 study , 31 psychiatric patients with depression were split into three groups who danced to music, just listened to music, or rode on an exercise bike for three minutes. The first group danced to “Hava Nagila,” a joyful, upbeat song that involves holding hands and jumping. (The researchers actually chose this dance because there’s evidence that people who are depressed tend to move less vertically.)

Based on surveys, the dancers increased in motivation, coping, strength, energy, and enjoyment, and felt less anxious, tense, tired, and lifeless after just a few minutes of dancing. They also decreased in depression compared to the music listeners and exercisers.

Many people come to dance when they are experiencing hardships in life. On a night when you feel lonely but can’t bring yourself to call a friend, taking a stranger’s hand and losing yourself in the music can be appealing. People interviewed for one study saw dance classes as a lifeline, a secure, stable routine that they could cling to when the rest of life was chaotic and hard.

4. Dance helps us stay young

Joyful seniors dancing in their nursing home isn’t just a feel-good trope for TV; in fact,  a good deal of studies involve teaching dance to older people. In many ways, dancing is the perfect antidote to the challenges of old age, such as declining health, balance, and social connections. And learning dance seems to be good for keeping the brain sharp. 

In a 2007 study , 60 elderly Brazilians took ballroom dance classes for a year. The classes covered a wide range of swing, waltz, salsa, tango, and other styles of music. Based on open-ended questionnaires, people reported that dance improved their balance, flexibility, and coordination, and made them feel playful and relaxed. Not only did dance remind them of their youth, but it also helped them reconnect with Brazilian culture.

Researchers Maristela Moura Silva Lima and Alba Pedreira Vieira observed that the elderly dancers gained a sense of confidence, self-esteem, and elegance over the course of the year. Through dance, “the body may change from being a source of oppression to a source of freedom,” they write.

One condition in particular that researchers believe dance can help with is Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder that involves difficulties with movement, such as rigidity and balance problems, and many patients struggle with depression. In a 2014 study , 37 people ages 50–80 (most of whom had Parkinson’s or were caregivers for Parkinson’s patients) learned dances like the Charleston and the Saturday night fever dance. After 10 weeks of classes, participants were feeling less angry and experiencing more stable moods.

Another small study in 2012 invited a group of people with dementia and their caregivers to participate in 45-minute circle dance classes weekly for 10 weeks. In circle dances, which exist in cultures across the world, people dance individually but hold each other’s hands or shoulders. The classes in this study began with a warmup and then covered four or five different dances.

According to surveys of the patients and caregivers, dancing improved their quality of life in terms of health, energy, memory, and relationships. The researchers also observed positive changes in the group. Dancing seemed to help with people’s mood and concentration, and encouraged moments of warmth and empathy among the dancers.

For the caregivers, “the group helped them to acknowledge the reality of dementia diagnosis and process their feelings of grief and loss as well as see beyond the diagnosis to the person they cared for,” explain Michelle Hamill and her coauthors. “Music, dance, and movement facilitate a (non-verbal) dialogue through which people with dementia and those around them can communicate and connect more effectively.”

Unfortunately, many of us feel awkward when we dance; I know I do, even after 16 years of swing dancing. But self-consciousness doesn’t have to stop us. In fact, in one study , several people who found out they were supposed to dance opted out of the experiment altogether—and ended up missing out on the emotional benefits, which existed even for participants who felt awkward.

Thankfully, there are endless dance styles to try that can fit your personality, culture, and bodily limitations. Whether you’re the first one onto the dance floor or fighting your fears just to stand up, remember: Dancing is your human birthright.

About the Author

Kira M. Newman

Kira M. Newman is the managing editor of Greater Good . Her work has been published in outlets including the Washington Post , Mindful magazine, Social Media Monthly , and Tech.co, and she is the co-editor of The Gratitude Project . Follow her on Twitter!

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Dancers as Athletes

The human body is an amazing machine and in everyday life we use merely a fraction of the muscles and movement permutations available to us. Contemporary dance is one dance genre that constantly explores the movements of the body striving for innovation and originality.

News & Features

Posted on 23 August 2012

Samuel Lee Roberts in Robert Battle’s In/Side, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Photo:  Paul Kolnik

As knowledge about the body increases, dance training improves and the competition for excellence paired with innovation is greater, dancers bodies are pushed to the limits.  The physical ability and disciplines expected of a dancer can be easily related to those of an athlete and increasingly, dance critics are describing dancers as athletic.

So, can we consider dancers as athletes?  Why might some people in the dance profession and in sport be unwillingly to accept this concept?

Firstly, let us consider the definition of athlete; a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.  A dancer must certainly achieve physical agility, stamina and strength in their profession and physical skill must be mastered.  Daily training involves repetition of exercises to achieve the physical attributes necessary to execute movements required of a dancer, however the focus is not on sport or games.  Whilst many dancers will compete in contests and will audition against other dancers for a place in a company the real emphasis in dance is on the performance itself.  There is an element of competition across the dance profession but the reward is a particular role in a company or a promotion from chorus to soloist rather than a gold medal.

Dance critics have described dancers of Rambert Dance Company as ‘elegant and athletic’, Alvin Ailey’s dancers as having ‘athletic beauty’ and the moves of Company Kafig as ‘athletic feats’.  Each company mentioned is known for their very different styles however the common thread here is athleticism which in these instances is seen to refer to physical skill and fitness.  The term athletic when associated with a company will always form an image alongside other adjectives used, as well as the company’s past history.  For example Rambert’s Dancers as elegant and athletic reflects their classical ballet past but still indicates their extreme physical ability.

One might compare the life styles of athletes and dancers and the similarities may be surprising to some. Due to the physical demands placed on the body health, diet and self-discipline are all crucial to both dance and athletics.

The careers of both dancers and athletes are threatened by injury and therefore the conditioning and care for the body are similar.  Exercise models such as Pilates are designed to complement the needs of athletes and dancers alike without making a distinction.  A career in either profession is likely to begin at a young age and end by the time they are 40 due to the extreme physical nature.

The thrust of dance as fitness into mainstream media has made dance popular as a means of keeping in shape.  When an audience member who has experienced dance goes to see a professional company they may appreciate better the skill and physical fitness required to achieve such feats.  When dance critics describe companies as athletic readers may relate to the concept through experience of athleticism at the gym or on the football field.  Dance companies who promote themselves as athletic such as Australian Dance Theatre may find that this connects then to their target market and they draw in new audiences.

With hip hop dance hitting the major theatres it becomes apparent that the ‘athletic feats’ referred to are what make this dance so popular.  It could be argues that the moves that receive cheers from the audience are all about physical virtuoso and little to do with artistry.  However, the hip hop culture demands a certain confidence and flair alongside the physical skill and it is these qualities that make the movements impressive.

Often dancers described as athletic such as Australian Dance Theatre have trained in many different genres giving them powerful muscular physiques and an element of attack in their movement.  In the case of ADT the Artistic Director encourages his dancers to train in capoeira and martial arts alongside dance in order to increase their physical strength and breadth of movement to accomplish the daring physical feats prevalent in the choreography.

Whilst it is clear that the physical attributes of a dancer are similar to those of an athlete, dance is considered an art form and there is much more to the art than physical skill and virtuosity.  Musicality, expression and creativity are often included in the criteria of what makes a good dancer.  In auditions and competitions the technical skill of a dancer can be near to perfect but if they do not have the ability to evoke the viewers and dance with the music then they will not necessarily fulfil the criteria.  Dancers may be feel that if they are described as athletic their ability is being reduced to their physical skill alone whereas it is the joy of dance that will drive a dancer to continue their training at such a pace for so many years.

In many respects dancers are athletes but they are also artists and it is this combination that makes for a stunning emotional and physical performance.

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How To Become A Better Dancer: 5 Tips

by Leon Turetsky 47 Comments

So you want to know how to become a better dancer ?

Here are 5 important tips that will help you improve as a dancer fast:

1. Take Lessons Consistently (You’re not special)

Some people think that they can get good without ever taking any dance lessons…

This is a mistake. Think about everything else you ever learned in your life, did you just wing it? No, you probably took lessons to become good at it. The same goes with dancing. You can take lessons in person or online. For in-person lessons you can do group classes or private lessons. For online lessons you can learn from videos. Check out our online Ballroom dance videos here .

Furthermore, it is important to take the time to find the right dance teacher for your goals, because some are definitely more qualified than others. My recommendation is try out a lesson with several teachers before committing to one specific dance instructor. Read our article on what makes a good dance teacher .

2. Practice Daily At Home/Studio

One of the most important habits you need to adopt is daily consistent practice. No matter how naturally good you are, you need to practice if you want to become a better dancer . Many people assume that just because they take lessons, they don’t need to practice. This could not be further from the truth. It is precisely because you take dance lessons, you need to practice even more to make sure you retain everything you’ve been learning.

Becoming a better dancer requires muscle memory. And muscle memory requires a lot of repetition through practice. So don’t overthink it – simply make some room in your living room, get a mirror and practice the things you worked on at your last lesson/class. Check out our practice guide for Ballroom dancers .

3. Have A Goal

One of the fastest ways to improve your dancing is simply to have a goal to work towards. The goal can be a performance at your studio’s showcase or party. It can also be a dance competition. Even if you don’t want to perform you can still come up with a social dance goal such as “be able to dance comfortably at next month’s party”. Be creative with it as there is no wrong or right goals. The most important thing is to have one and to have a future date that you’re working towards. This will keep you motivated with your daily practice!

4. Feel your body

After you’ve learned the mechanics of the steps and routines, you need to make sure that you let your body “Feel” the movements so that all the steps and styling can really sink in to your muscle memory. You don’t want to be stuck in your head when you’re practicing or taking lessons, you need to be in “your body” to retain the dance moves, and progress faster.

After you got it pretty good, just put on the music and try to feel your body going with the music… This will also add enjoyment to your dancing.

5. Keep yourself inspired

It is critical to work on staying inspired and motivated with your getting better in dancing goal. Life gets in the way, so some days you will be more inspired than others… The key is to figure out some specific triggers that can energize you quickly to get back in the groove, whenever you’re not feeling it.

For example, let’s say you don’t feel like going to your dance practice today. What you can do is watch some videos of your favorite dancers performing your favorite choreography on youtube!

That should get you back on track fast.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

By: Leon Turetsky Professional dance instructor

Related: More Dance Articles & Tips Types of ballroom dances Styles of Latin Dances

March 6, 2011 at 7:38 am

Too few instuctors require the man to be a better leader.

March 6, 2011 at 8:10 am

Can you please expand? The article is on “How to become a better dancer”.

March 2, 2021 at 6:37 pm

hi I would I become a better dancer I have been doing dancing for a while and I would like to get a job as dancer tnx

March 23, 2022 at 11:02 am

Could you please confirm that, when did you write this article and when did you accessed it? I need to write reference in the bibliogaphy in my essay. Thank you in advance 🙂

March 2, 2021 at 6:36 pm

hi I would I become a better dancer

March 2, 2021 at 6:38 pm

that is just dumb jk just kidding

May 9, 2021 at 12:17 am

April 22, 2011 at 6:39 am

I think you are forgetting about the people who just want to be happy social dancers. Yes, you still have to have the amibition and desire to learn, just like with anything. But people who are working (often more than 1 job) and bringing up families can’t solely concentrate on dancing.

April 22, 2011 at 8:31 am

There is nothing wrong with being happy social dancers and still be very serious about learning and practicing. I work with many dancers like that.

April 22, 2011 at 8:50 am

That’s true. But there has to be a balance, and I have seen many drop out because of time objections. People need to understand that they need to practice – just like they need to practice golf and tennis – but it can’t be all consuming.

May 1, 2011 at 5:25 am

As a new social dancer, I think you do need amibition to practice and train enough to become comfortable with basic steps and patterns. Without this, dancing will not be relaxing or fun…to me, anyway.

March 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm

I have been Dancing for almost 10 years now. With the same instructor, they are getting very lazy and nobody seems to be progressing I dont know what to do the good places are REALLY expensive and the rest are just worse than where i am at now. PleAse help!

March 2, 2012 at 3:43 pm

Hi Emily, Where are you currently taking lessons? And what type of dancing do you do?

May 1, 2020 at 5:46 pm

Since the good places are very expensive …. You don’t have to wait for your instructor to give you any tutorials

Just go online and search out latest dancing steps according to your styles of dancing

I hope that helps?

July 9, 2012 at 10:44 pm

Leon: I believe that there are numerous motivations that drive ones interest in dancing and certainly Ambition is primary for anyone planning to make a career of it. Additional factors could include having the free time to practice, having a like minded dance partner available when you are free, having a facility that is close and has adequate space for practice, and having enough money to cover all the expenses for the preceding Talent, physical fitness, gracefulness in my view would all be needed to contribute to the drive to excel at dancing. Gene

July 17, 2012 at 6:18 pm

Amen . to all that, Gene. Also get out there to the dance clubs and dance as often as possible.

November 28, 2012 at 3:43 am

Totally agree with the ambition. However, practice doesn’t make perfect; practice makes permanent. I find it just as hard unlearning a mistake as it is to make a step/move engrained in muscle memory.

September 30, 2014 at 10:42 am

Just wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is simply cool and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.

December 2, 2019 at 12:49 am

thank you passion4dancing for giving me wonderful information

March 23, 2020 at 2:48 pm

It’s good to learn that you should practice after lessons at home to become a better dancer. My wife and I are wanting to put our daughter into ballet classes and we were wondering what she can do to progress quickly. I’ll be sure to tell her to practice after her lessons to retain what she learned.

April 6, 2020 at 8:34 am

I have been in several relationships and Everytime I dance they get upset because I don’t know how to. I’m 25 years old and don’t know how to dance. But I met this girl that I really care about and want to make her happy by learning how to dance properly and smooth to impress her. I haven’t told her that I can’t dance because I think it’s embarrassing because I can’t dance. I work as a pallet jack operator Sundays through Thursdays and I don’t get paid enough to really do anything like taking dance lessons. Some will say that it is just a waste of time. But if you want my opinion I think everyone should know how to dance. It keep the body moving and to where your bones won’t get stiff in your golden ages. What should I do. I live in Evansville Indiana and I would like to learn how to dance to really impress my girl that I just met yesterday.

April 20, 2020 at 2:43 pm

i really need to be a better dancer it has been my dream to be on a company dance team and when i tried out for company i got so nervous i hope i can become flexible and gracefully but how?

June 2, 2020 at 4:00 am

Hello Jazz, Maybe give Ballet and Jazz lesson a go to really improve your technique and practice as hard as you can. Once you are comfortable with the repertoire, give Acrobatics a go too to improve control and flexibility. If unable to do these make sure to dedicate your time to practicing every day to ensure quality results. Hope this helped

November 29, 2021 at 2:55 am

Official_kennedy_waya is 17 years old

May 26, 2020 at 4:15 am

Cool. I think I’m a great dancer so this doesn’t help

June 11, 2020 at 12:29 pm

My daughter is wanting to take some tap dancing classes this fall so that she can learn a new skill and maybe make some new friends in the process. I found it interesting when you explained that it is important to take the time to find a teacher that can help you meet your goals. In addition to having a good teacher, I would imagine that it would be necessary to have the right kind of gear, such as tap shoes.

June 25, 2020 at 6:53 pm

I liked how you mentioned that you should set goals to improve your dancing quicker. My daughter is wanting to learn how to dance and she was wondering how she can improve her abilities quicker. I’ll be sure to tell her to set goals to improve her dancing abilities.

July 16, 2020 at 3:12 pm

I Like Where U Said I Need To Attend Classes Fast.Stay Blessed!

November 8, 2022 at 12:51 am

your not better then everyone else so stop acting like it

September 18, 2020 at 3:10 am

Wao I absolutely loved this article on dancing. I truly love the art and it is wonderful that you share your precious wisdom with us. If you wish to expand and teach other enthusiasts the wonderful skill of dancing, I suggest you checkout our skills exchange platform Kool Stories. Thank you so much for the insightful article 🙂

September 24, 2020 at 1:29 pm

It’s a great point that you need to practice to get better at the dance, nothing else can really help. My spouse and I are trying to get our kids into dance because they are interested in it. We need to look online for a local dance studio that has great reviews and will teach our kids well.

October 2, 2020 at 12:06 pm

THANK You So Muchooo!!

November 8, 2020 at 8:33 am

Brilliant post! I’ve done dance since I was little only starting with ballet and tap then I started doing Street then did alevel dance covering many types. I’m now doing ballet again at 27. I’ve always struggled learning because of my ADHD. I have ALOT of energy which is great for dancing but I’ve always been the one in the class who’s still not remembered the routine after months because my memory is awful. I’m getting there now because of my medication. One comment that has ALWAYS haunted me is when I was 14 I went to one of those teen club nights for under 18s and I let loose when I’m not dancing to a routine, I just go crazy but I remember my friend telling me when we came out that another so called friend was talking about me saying I can’t dance. I don’t understand why she felt the need to personally in mention me and no one else when the others were clearly not great at all. And I have never seen her dance only Bob her head and stand around so I don’t understand why she commented. In fact writing this out now makes me realise how daft of s comment it was and that she knows nothing about dance so why did I ever listen haha.

January 6, 2021 at 6:31 am

I think that starting your article out by telling people they are not special, is actually very pathetic . Thanks anyways tho!

July 7, 2021 at 11:41 pm

It sure was helpful when you said that you should try out a lesson with several teachers before commuting to one specific instructor. As you said, it is important to take the time to find the right dance teacher. My plan is to find an acrobatic class for my 7-year old daughter because she would like to be a good dancer. She is also interested in ballet dancing, and it is important for me to make her feel that I support her goals. I will be sure to do all your tips so I could find a class where I can enroll her before the month ends.

July 17, 2021 at 10:16 am

I don’t know how to dance help me

August 6, 2021 at 8:04 am

I pray to become one of the best dancer worldwide

October 23, 2021 at 5:02 pm

I pray to become the best dancer in world wide

November 29, 2021 at 3:28 am

Official_kennedy_waya know as the top 1 best kid dancer in Nigeria is 17 years of age

February 21, 2022 at 3:44 am

Terence Lewis Professional dance training institute is India’s no.1 dance training institute with professional courses for you now streaming online at the best prices.

August 1, 2022 at 1:01 pm

I love how you advise taking lessons constantly if you want to get anywhere in your skills. My parents have always wanted to know how to dance but never had the time or money. Now that they do my mom has been looking into finding studios that’ll teach them how to dance with each other and keep them healthy in the process.

October 15, 2022 at 12:04 am

First of all, dancing is not just about stepping, you should also do some stretching. You don’t have to do it for very long but you must do it every day. Stretching prepares your body for dancing. It does not matter if you are not flexible. Because stretching is a dynamic exercise, you will become more flexible over time. If you want to do ballet, you must take ballet classes. If you want to be a good dancer, you should take different dance classes, because every dance has its own style. Another way to become a better dancer is to watch other dancers. This helps you to learn more styles and to be your own dancer.

November 8, 2022 at 12:50 am

You also need to streach at all times and have a high ego so that you think your better then everyone else so that you are, you gotta belive it to be it

December 15, 2022 at 8:20 am

My favorite part of your blog is when you said that you must ensure daily consistent practice to become a better dancer. This reminds me of many flying sequences at different dance events. I could imagine how the dancers must be taught by a reliable choreographer to ensure that they would perform at their best at all times.

February 4, 2023 at 12:06 am

I now understand how simply setting a performance at your studio’s showcase or party as a goal to train toward is one of the quickest ways to improve your dancing. It could also involve a dance-off. My mom has always wanted to try out ballroom dance lessons but is too shy she’s old for it so I’ll make her read this. I want her to pursue whatever she wants because life is short and she spent her life providing for us so it’s now time she learns how to dance.

July 14, 2023 at 9:41 pm

I recently visited your website and read your article titled “How to Become a Better Dancer,” and I wanted to express my appreciation for the valuable insights and guidance you provide. Your article offers practical tips and inspiration for dancers looking to enhance their skills and grow as artists.

Your emphasis on the importance of practice and consistency is fundamental. Becoming a better dancer requires dedication and commitment to regular practice sessions. Your suggestions on setting aside dedicated practice time, breaking down movements, and seeking feedback are invaluable tools for improvement. By incorporating these strategies into their routine, dancers can develop muscle memory, refine technique, and build confidence in their abilities.

I appreciated your encouragement to step out of one’s comfort zone and explore different dance styles. Diversity in training not only broadens dancers’ skill sets but also nurtures creativity and adaptability. Your suggestion to attend workshops, take classes in various genres, and learn from different instructors is an excellent way to expand horizons and discover new dimensions of dance.

The emphasis on performance and stage presence is also commendable. As dancers, we have the privilege of sharing our art with audiences. Your advice on connecting with the music, engaging with the audience, and expressing genuine emotions on stage resonated deeply. These elements elevate a performance from technical execution to a captivating experience that connects with the hearts of viewers.

I appreciated your recognition of the importance of self-care and injury prevention. Dancers often push their bodies to the limits, and it’s crucial to prioritize rest, proper nutrition, and injury management. Your reminders to listen to the body, warm up before dancing, and seek professional guidance when needed are essential for maintaining physical well-being and longevity in the dance journey.

Thank you for providing dancers with valuable insights, tips, and inspiration on how to become better dancers. Your commitment to sharing your expertise and fostering growth within the dance community is truly commendable. I look forward to exploring more of the resources and content you offer on Passion4Dancing.

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dance , the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space, for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself.

Dance is a powerful impulse, but the art of dance is that impulse channeled by skillful performers into something that becomes intensely expressive and that may delight spectators who feel no wish to dance themselves. These two concepts of the art of dance—dance as a powerful impulse and dance as a skillfully choreographed art practiced largely by a professional few—are the two most important connecting ideas running through any consideration of the subject. In dance, the connection between the two concepts is stronger than in some other arts, and neither can exist without the other.

Although the above broad definition covers all forms of the art, philosophers and critics throughout history have suggested different definitions of dance that have amounted to little more than descriptions of the kind of dance with which each writer was most familiar. Thus, Aristotle’s statement in the Poetics that dance is rhythmic movement whose purpose is “to represent men’s characters as well as what they do and suffer” refers to the central role that dance played in classical Greek theatre , where the chorus through its movements reenacted the themes of the drama during lyric interludes.

The English ballet master John Weaver , writing in 1721, argued on the other hand that “Dancing is an elegant, and regular movement, harmoniously composed of beautiful Attitudes, and contrasted graceful Posture of the Body, and parts thereof.” Weaver’s description reflects very clearly the kind of dignified and courtly movement that characterized the ballet of his time, with its highly formalized aesthetics and lack of forceful emotion. The 19th-century French dance historian Gaston Vuillier also emphasized the qualities of grace, harmony, and beauty, distinguishing “true” dance from the supposedly crude and spontaneous movements of early man:

The choreographic art . . . was probably unknown to the earlier ages of humanity. Savage man, wandering in forests, devouring the quivering flesh of his spoils, can have known nothing of those rhythmic postures which reflect sweet and caressing sensations entirely alien to his moods. The nearest approach to such must have been the leaps and bounds, the incoherent gestures, by which he expressed the joys and furies of his brutal life.

John Martin , the 20th-century dance critic, almost ignored the formal aspect of dance in emphasizing its role as a physical expression of inner emotion. In doing so, he betrayed his own sympathy toward the Expressionist school of modern American dance: “At the root of all these varied manifestations of dancing . . . lies the common impulse to resort to movement to externalise states which we cannot externalise by rational means. This is basic dance.”

A truly universal definition of dance must, therefore, return to the fundamental principle that dance is an art form or activity that utilizes the body and the range of movement of which the body is capable. Unlike the movements performed in everyday living, dance movements are not directly related to work, travel, or survival. Dance may, of course, be made up of movements associated with these activities, as in the work dances common to many cultures , and it may even accompany such activities. But even in the most practical dances, movements that make up the dance are not reducible to those of straightforward labour; rather, they involve some extra qualities such as self-expression, aesthetic pleasure, and entertainment.

This article discusses the techniques and components of dance as well as the aesthetic principles behind its appreciation as an art. Various types of dance are discussed with emphasis on their style and choreography . The history of dance in various regions is treated in a number of articles; see dance, African ; music and dance, Oceanic ; dance, Western ; arts, Central Asian ; arts, East Asian ; arts, Islamic ; dance, Native American ; arts, South Asian ; and arts, Southeast Asian . The interaction between dance and other art forms is discussed in folk dance .

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Why I Love To Dance (Essay Sample)

Dancing is the best medium to express yourself. It is deeply personal and it’s an expression of something within ourselves that is only shared through actions. Dancing is like taking a holistic approach towards life-long mental and emotional health. I love dancing because it’s more than just moving your body for fun and joy. It’s a way to relieve stress, break free, and enjoy life. Speaking about life lessons, mastering any style of dance takes hard work, determination, patience, and consistency to become better. In this essay, I will discuss why I love to dance and why everyone else should also dance.

Table of Contents

Why Do You Dance Essay – 700 Word Long Essay

Dancing holds a special place in my life. There’s just something about grooving to the beat that takes all my worries to go away in a jiffy. There’s just something magical about dancing that takes me out of this world and I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it’s the rhythm, the beat, the flighted body motions whatever it is I just love to dance. Whether onbeat or offbeat everyone loves to dance no matter their age, origin of birth, body size, or status. In this essay, we will discuss why we all love to Dance.

Since I was a little girl, I have always loved dancing because it fills my heart with joy. Dancing is a unique art that only requires passion. Dancing is my life and has changed my life in numerous ways. For me, it’s one of the amazing ways of exercising. One of the most obvious reasons why I dance is that it keeps me fit. Dancing like a pro in any style including breakdance, hip hop, ballet, jazz, etc is very hard to master. To become a better dancer people spend years on the dance floor and practice every day. To become an amazing dancer, a dance teacher has to teach this art to you for years. Dancing with fellow dancers is just a part of becoming good at this art. Generally, dance is just a freestyle movement of the body, but if you want to look good while dancing then it requires a lot of dance classes.

Dancing like a pro is harder than many people think. It leaves you sweating and tired but in the end, you feel great and refreshed. Dance also teaches us not to give up. It’s about practicing every day until you learn the right moves. Dancing is about hope, hope enables one to perfect his moves and perform better next time. I love dancing for several reasons; dancing makes me feel free, it helps me express myself, it also makes me forget my problems. On top of all these benefits, dancing improves our mental and emotional health . I sometimes join dance parties to have fun and enjoy the moment.

Dance promotes a healthy lifestyle and has many health benefits. Healthwise, dance helps in body sculpting, relieving stress, and increasing stamina. It also improves memory , mental and emotional health and improves the cardiovascular system.  Whenever I feel stressed or angry I dance away the pain to make me feel better. Speaking of benefits in social life, dancing makes me forget about my bad day at college. Through dancing, I have met some amazing friends in my social life. The best part of being a dancer is you will always meet people and share your experience. These are some of the reasons I love dancing and never want to stop dancing any time soon.

I dance because there is nothing that can engage me physically, emotionally, and socially like dancing. It’s a journey of growth that helps you understand the world from a different perspective. Dancing is the best way to spend my free time. Compared to other leisure activities, dancing helps me achieve more; it gives me hope, freedom, confidence and shapes me into a better person in many ways. I would not be who I am today without my passion for dancing.

In conclusion , dance may not be your thing or you might think that you are a bad dancer but even then you should just give it a try. You might not dance like Michael Jackson but it sure can help you get better emotionally, mentally, and healthwise. 

Why I Love Ballet Essay – 300 Word Short Essay on Why I  Love to Dance

There is no doubt that ballet dance is one of the most graceful and technical forms of dance. The good thing about this dance is that it’s universally known and also fit for all ages. I like all styles of dance but I just love ballet dance a lot more. This style is very hard to master because all the little things like footwork, balance, turns, timing, and flexibility all play their part in the outcome. In this essay, I will discuss why I love ballet dancing more than any other dance style.

People watching ballet dance in their spare time also start to recognize the dancer as a celebrity. Ballet dancing is just delightful to watch. Dance classes for this style of dance are very strict and difficult. When it comes to style, this type of dance makes the dancer go past his own expectations. However, you have to work hard to feel good about your moves when it comes to ballet dancing.

While I was learning ballet and mastering the technique to use my feet to skip, I just felt great. I felt like strengthening the coordination between my body and mind. Since I started dancing many years ago, I have found ballet as a medium of self-expression. I love dance because dance makes me cope with changing circumstances. I also gained a lot of self-confidence and made many friends, overall it has improved me as a person.

Ballet is equally beneficial for adults and kids. For kids, ballet is an after-school activity and it doesn’t only make them a ballerina. It helps them focus on balance, poise, coordination, and strength. It also helps them build amazing focus and a strong core. The physical benefits of ballet dance are so much that even football players do it to maintain fitness. Research has proved that doing ballet and mastering these skills increases neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity enhances comprehension, memory, and learning in people of all ages.

In conclusion , ballet dance just like other styles of dance is a way to express yourself. No matter what style of dance you like you just need to get out there and flap your wings in the air. If you ask me, I would recommend ballet 9 times out of 10. 

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FAQ About Why I Love to Dance Essay

How to write a dancing essay for college.

To write about any dancing essay for college you should start by choosing your favorite dancing style. Just describe what it feels like and why you like that style in body and conclusion.

What Makes A Good Dance?

Becoming a good dancer is not easy. You need hard work, determination, and most importantly you have to be consistent about it.

https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/moderate-physical-activity-linked-increases-metabolism-across-brain-regions https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa022252 https://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/harvard-mahoney-neuroscience-institute/brain-newsletter/and-brain/dancing-and-brain https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/neuroplasticity

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What makes a good dance performance.

March 25, 2011 by 4dancers

Contributor Stacey Pepper Schwartz is back today to share some insights about what makes a good dance performance–

What makes a great performance?  Is it performing the dance steps perfectly?  Is it dancing without mistakes?  Dancing in perfect unison or keeping a specific formation?  What about expression?  What about movement quality?

When I teach dance, my students mainly focus on performing the steps accurately.  It is hard to teach them that performing to the best of their ability goes far beyond the execution of steps.  I actually think it has little to do with precision and more to do with being in the moment.  If you focus only on counts, steps and spacing then it’s like painting by number.  You haven’t put anything of yourself into the performance.  There is no heart.

Teaching how to perform is just as important as teaching how to do a pirouette.  The trick is unlocking the brain.  When a person is afraid of making a mistake on a test he  will usually tense up and not do as well as if he was relaxed.  The same goes for dance but even more so.  Dancers can tend to judge themselves on how well they perform a single step instead of looking at the dance in its entirety. 

Answer these questions or have your students answer them:

• Did you stay in the moment? 
• Were you aware of the other dancers on stage and did you relate to them?
• Did you focus on the quality of the movements as well as the technical execution of the movements?
• How was your use of transitions?
• If you made a mistake with the choreography did you stop dancing?  Did you do your best to improvise and stay focused?
• Were you constantly  thinking about the steps or were you also focused on the technical aspect of the steps, quality and expression?
• Did you do your best?  Did you enjoy performing?

I always tell the dancers I work with that a great performance is not one in which you don’t make a mistake but a performance where if/when you make a mistake you are able to stay in the moment and perform the spirit of the dance.  We are not robots or perfect human beings.  Humans are vulnerable.  That is what is so magical about dance.  The art is created by imperfect beings that lets the audience tap into all sides of themselves.

So, how do you teach this or practice this?

In class when you make a mistake don’t stop.  Don’t criticize or judge.  Keep dancing.  Flub, trip, fall and get up and keep going.  Keep the quality of movement, idea or concept of the dance.  And if a teacher tells you that you must be perfect know that perfection can only be obtained when you make mistakes.  A perfect dance has mistakes and it also has heart, life, vibrancy and a human performer.

BIO: Stacey received her BFA in dance performance at Montclair State University and her MA in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has taught as an artist in residency and guest artist in public and private schools for over twelve years.

Stacey is the Founder and Director of Leaping Legs Creative Movement Programs. The focus of Leaping Legs Creative Movement Programs is to help people regardless of age, experience or ability, become educated about their movement potential, develop kinesthetic awareness, and become more physically fit and healthy together as a family, and community.

Leaping Legs promotes its goal through the original Up Down & All Around DVD. The DVD received Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products Award and 10 Best Active Products Award. The DVD has also been featured in many magazines including Dance Retailer News , The National Dance Teachers Association dance journal dancematters , and Dance Teacher . 

Before embarking on dance education, Stacey was a professional dancer and choreographer in New York City.

March 26, 2011 at 3:08 pm

Your message comes from the heart, and is expressed so well. Thank you!

January 21, 2012 at 9:45 am

I believe that dance IS about how you do it (smiling and just enjoying it!!)

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Essays on Kpop Dance and Choreography- Part 1: What makes Choreo "Difficult"

Hi all. I am distracted from my nanowrimo and I found a couple of Kpop dance videos, which prompted me to write this short spiel. (Spoiler: It's not short. I spent too much time on this.)

Background: I grew up dancing. I'm not a trained Ballerina, and I'm not better than any Idol I know of. But my mom was a dance teacher/choreographer, and my aunt ran a dance team and dance studio. So although I wouldn't look better than any Idol you see, I feel that I can see the nuances in choreography.I am NOT the most knowledgeable dancer on this reddit page. Far from. But I still want to share.

I love dance, I love to talk about it, especially when it deals with group choreos. I've wanted to ramble my thoughts on this page for a while now, but I'm just now getting to it.

Introduction-

There's a lot of opinions on what makes a "Good Dancer" or a "Good Choreography". I think that fans equate "Difficult" or "Seemingly difficult" to "Good." Which, I don't blame people, because seemingly difficult choreo is definitely the most impressive.

But there's a couple of problems with this. I believe there are so many layers to choreo that casuals might not understand. (And that I barely understand.)

So, I'd like to spiel about what makes a choreo 1) Difficult, and 2) My definition of "good". (Which, I believe putting such labels of "Good" and "Bad" on art is very problematic, but that's another issue. "Good" will be the word for "overall a good choice for a performance.")((I don't get around to what makes a choreography "Good" in this, because I ran out of time and space.))

Disclaimer, there's a lot of BTS links, but I know there's a lot more groups that have good choreo.

I) What Makes a Choreography Difficult?

There's plenty of videos online that rank dances by their difficulties. I sometimes agree with the videos, sometimes I don't, but I don't see anything wrong with them because they're fun and mostly accurate.

But I think that people miss out on things that are difficult in a group dance. (This usually includes soloists that dance with backup dancers. A true solo dance would be where there's no other bodies in the area. I'm going to focus on group dances in a several member group, but most of these apply to soloists with backup dancers.)

Maybe these can be on a Rubric

Note: there's some of these things that are are difficult because they take a toll on your body, on your time, and on your mind. Some choreo is hard because it physically wrecks you, and I think that people get that. But I think people don't get that some things wreck your schedule, because they take so many hours of practice to get right, even if you don't break a sweat. Some things also take a toll on your mind, if it makes you have to concentrate more than usual during a performance.

Note 2 : This essay is addressing the difficulty of a choreography as a whole package and how it is intended to be performed. (Because any dance can be an easy dance if you're not required to go full out.)

Note 3 : Again, "Difficult" does not mean "Better" or "Worse". The most difficult dance in the world can be wrong for a song, and the easiest dance can be perfect for a song. Difficulty is an entirely separate aspect.

1- Level and number of Difficult moves: Ok, this one seems like a cop out, but let's just get it out of the way. If there is a high kick, Or a leap, high jump, a barrel roll, or that iconic upside down walking -- Some dances have one or two of these. Which automatically makes the dance difficult.But when a dance has several of these, or has it in the chorus, that amps up the difficulty. When I danced, and we had one hard move, we could prepare the whole dance for that move. But when it's in the chorus, you have so many more opportunities to screw it up.

I include extravagant moves in this . Though, remember, sometimes group extravagant moves can sometimes be a breather for one or two members in a group. But it's one of those mind benders and time suckers for a group dance. Sometimes whole practices can be dedicated to getting one move right.

2 - Props/Stage/Extras: There's some dances that have that extra flair, like props or chairs. (There's a lot of of great chair dances.) Tables to dance on, hats to keep on your head, extras make a dance just a tad more difficult. An inanimate object in your choreography that can fall, hit someone else, or trip you up makes a dancer have to think about one more thing while performing. It just adds a layer of mental gymnastics and adds a layer of things that can go wrong in a performance . Which, does not help.

I put extravagant outfits, and Heels in this. Oh my goodness, heels. Heels amp up any difficulty . The higher the heels, the less support, the less straps, the worse it is.

3- Speed: I think people get this, but number of moves to beats. The faster the choreo is , the more practice it takes, the easier it is to mess up. There's just so many moves in so little time, that you have to work harder to get it into muscle memory.

4a- Footwork: I think people understand this, but footwork can be difficult , fast, and requires a lot of coordination and practice. There's a little bit of a learning curve with Footwork. The good news is that eventually, a lot of people can achieve footwork. The bad news is that it takes a ton of practice for all the members to look and sound the same.

4.b- Armwork: (Is that a word?) Anyways, have you played beat saber? Getting your arm in the right place at the right time with incredible speeds is difficult.

5- Staging/Transitions/Formations: What people don't know is that it is so hard to get people to stand in a straight line. Let alone dance in a straight line. Let alone dance in a straight line- move to another formation, and keep dancing all while keeping equidistance from your neighbors and being in another straight line both vertically and horizontally on stage. I'll just link this video to show what I'm talking about.

And then everything blows up when one person gets hurt or can't perform. (It can really be the worst. Because everything that you practiced changes.)

6- Style: I think this one is the most underappreciated. Style can be the hardest and most important aspect of a choreo. It is very difficult to capture and portray a style. You know when you see a dance cover for a kpop song, and you think it's good-- but there's something missing. People try to put their finger on it, and blame energy or effort, but a lot of times, it's just capturing the style.

How do you capture the style? It's hard to tell. I haven't quite figured it out yet. It's half attention to finite detail, half magic.

(And that is why I think that Bling Bling is actually one of the hardest dances in KPOP.)

EDIT: I'm going to add that "Charm" can be just as hard as "Swag". I just found this video, (from a comment), and I want to add that to dance like a "Shy angel that is both sad and hopeful" is just as hard to nail in a dance as "swag confident king/queen". If you think that's false, I'll challenge you to make me feel how Oh My Girl makes me feel in this video.

Here's Lisa talking about styles in a group she mentored.

7- Energy: When the choreography requires you to smile and dance like you're on a caffeine IV, it can turn a dance to an exhausting aerobic activity real quick, regardless of difficulty. Twice are Energy queens IMO.

8- Athleticism: When your 3 minute choreo is the equivalent of a 30 minute zumba class , it takes a toll on your body and your performance.

9- Attention to Synchronization: It's obvious that Choreos require synchronizing overall. But when a dance has a requirement for people to raise their head at the same time, or look at the same time, it could be hard to clean the dance, and it's really easy to mess up. Only one person has to be off for a millisecond for it to look bad. (It's even harder when the synching doesn't match distinct beats in the song.)

Edit: 9.5- Synchronized Peeloffs/Ripples: So, with Syncing moves, there's an added layer of peel offs and ripples.

Peel off: Hard to explain, but it's when one person does a move on one beat, and another does a move on another beat.

Ripple: Ripple is like a peel off, but doesn't have the benefit of waiting for a specific beat. You go right after the person before you.

Peel offs make things complicated if you ever have to change staging. It also just takes an ounce more of concentration. Because you're doing the same move as your group members, but at a different time. So, you have to be able to be able to dance the same thing as your neighbors but on a different beat. (Like singing a round in music .) Not too hard for pros, but it just adds a bit.

Ripples take a lot of time and practice to get right. Again with this Seventeen example that someone suggested , it gets complicated when you have more than one move in a ripple! The thing with ripples is that it doesn't exactly go with the music, it just goes with the rhythm of your group. Which gets complicated because you have to be so aware of your neighbors. If your partner before you goes too fast, you'll have to slow down by a millisecond. But you're trying to keep a consistent flow throughout the who ripple.

I have helped teaching kids dances, and this takes so long to get right with children. Of course, adult Idols would get it quicker, but it still takes practice and concentration, and a lot of team work. (Here's another example of something in between a ripple and a peel off .) They look cool but they can take a lot of practice time to get right.

10 - Symmetry of Choreography: The more repeats of choreo within a song, the easier it is. But when the choreo switches things up --has a chorus with a different choreo or formation from the previous chorus -- the harder the dance can be. It might not seem like much, but the dancer has to be more engaged during the performance. They have to make sure muscle memory doesn't take over and do Chorus 1 during chorus 2. etc.

A dance with easy moves yet no repeats can actually be harder than a dance with hard moves, but tons of repeats. Some songs look hard to do, but repeat a lot of moves , so therefore can be learned quicker than others. (Not that this is a bad thing or a bad cheat. This can be a very good choice.)

Shout out to all the dancers out there who have felt the joys of hearing "and then we repeat" in a dance class.

11- Technique: Another underappreciated aspect that I'm not perfect at. A lot of Girl Groups have more advanced technique. The soft dances you might think are simple have technicalities that not everyone can do.

Misc: Floor work adds complications. Concept of course adds it's own flavor of new miscellaneous difficulties. Outfits, we already mentioned. They aren't exactly always in the choreography, but they make choreo harder. Singing. I've had to sing while dancing, but never to the extent that Mamamoo does. Holy frick.

Wow, I spent way too much time on this. And this is just things about Choreo being Hard. I have another draft that talks about what makes individual moves hard. But I need to get back to my nanowrimo.

Please feel free to respond and tell me what you think!

Feel free to give me better examples of these points! I have a lot of the same groups, but I know there's countless examples from so many different groups!

Feel free to comment if you're a dancer and you've run into these difficulties.

Hopefully this post can help you appreciate your faves even more! There's so much more that they put into the work than we know.

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Ecstatic Dance Can Boost Your Mood and Get You in Touch With Yourself

Get your groove on

Luis Alvarez / Getty Images

In theory, ecstatic dance sounds like a lot: I’m in a room full of strangers, listening to music I wouldn’t typically listen to, freely moving my uncoordinated limbs in what can barely be described as dance movements. 

And yet, when I get to the community hall across town, I can’t help but feel a little excited despite my nerves. I’m attending Dance Awake , a conscious dance session located in Cape Town, South Africa.

Dance Awake founder Brian Bergman, a Dancing Freedom facilitator, yogi, and veterinarian, explains that conscious dance is an umbrella term encompassing many types of free-form, non-judgmental movement. Dance Awake is one flavor of conscious dance; another more well-known form is ecstatic dance. 

At a Glance

Ecstatic dance is an unchoreographed dance practice where you move to the music as you wish. It can be a form of movement meditation, as there’s a strong focus on being present and moving according to your body’s needs. Although there’s a lack of research on the mental health benefits of ecstatic dance, practitioners report that it helps lift their mood and gives them space to process difficult feelings.

What Is Ecstatic Dance?

As the name suggests, ecstatic dance often leads to a feeling of ecstasy. Unchoreographed, intuitive dance has been practiced for centuries, often for spiritual and shamanic purposes. 

Dancer Gabrielle Roth is often credited with reviving modern dance in the 1970s when she founded 5Rhythms, a type of ecstatic dance. Other sources credit ecstatic dance as a dance form popularized in Hawaii in 2000.

“Ecstatic dance is dancing for the purposes of self-discovery and self-care,” says Dr. Elizabeth Newman , a psychological associate and Dance Movement Therapist . “When one is dancing in an ecstatic manner, fully enacted in personhood, it is an entirely different experience than dancing in a room or club with friends. We are no longer looked at or looking, subject to judgment—we are simply in a state of being.”

Ecstatic dance differs majorly from a typical “dance class” in that there is no choreography. Although some forms of ecstatic dance come with a little bit of guidance, you generally sway to the music as you choose. Instead of following an instructor’s exact movements, you move according to your own intuition.

What a Class Could Look Like

Every ecstatic dance class has a different approach. Some use specific types of music to get you into a state of “flow”. Some open with a brief meditation or intention-setting exercise. 

Most ecstatic dance meetups are accompanied by the following guidelines:

• No phones or photographs: Don’t use cameras or phones during the session.
• Be sober: Don’t take any intoxicants before or during the dance session. 
• No talking : Instead, use your body to communicate where necessary. 

Ecstatic and conscious dance classes also emphasize the importance of respecting others’ space. If you’d like to dance with someone, you can ask for consent through body language. Many classes have guidelines on how to ask to dance and how to say yes or no. 

Classes are usually between 45 minutes and two hours long, although this can vary.

What Makes This Type of Movement Good For Mental Health?

For me, an unchoreographed dance class is a double-edged sword. I could never keep up with the choreographed dance classes I attended in my awkward tween years—but how am I meant to know how to move without instructions?

I start by swaying, a little awkwardly, to the music. Then, as I notice the other participants moving freely, I feel caught up in a pleasant vibe and I find myself moving more intuitively. A part of me feels like a child: just like children seem to dance and move according to their own intuition, I start feeling slightly less self-conscious. 

I understand in that moment why people love ecstatic dance so much. Being able to dance, sober and without judgment, isn’t something that one often gets to do—at least, not in my culture. I slowly feel much like I do during a good gym session: present in my body, endorphins pumping, working up a gentle sweat.

Elizabeth Newman, Dance Movement Therapist

Ecstatic dance is dancing for the purposes of self-discovery and self-care.

Newman, who is a member of the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), has seen the mental health benefits of ecstatic dance first-hand. “Dance is cathartic. Dance is healing,” Newman says. “Our body is stimulated by music and physical activity and movement to release endorphins , those feel good chemicals that flood our body after a great workout,” she says. In addition to getting your blood flowing, this movement can stimulate the release of dopamine .

The Research

Although there’s a lack of research on the mental health benefits of ecstatic dance, the research that’s out there is promising. In one study, ecstatic dance participants reported experiencing a boost in self-esteem and a lifted mood.  

A survey-based study conducted in 2021 found that people who engaged in conscious dancing more frequently experienced greater trait mindfulness. About 96% of the respondents with anxiety or depression said they found conscious dance to be therapeutic, as well as 95% with a trauma history, 89% with chronic pain, and 88% with a history of substance abuse.  

Mindfulness is a major theme of ecstatic dance. “Letting go in meditation is not just for the mind. We can do so in conjunction with our body as well,” Newman says. Research has found that mindful movement improves mental well-being in many population groups, including older adults , and people with spinal cord injuries and depression .   

It Can Help Alleviate Depression

Bergman, who has been practicing conscious dance for over a decade, has experienced these mental health benefits for himself. While traditional therapies didn’t seem to work for him, conscious dance helped him process grief and depression. “I was able to dance myself into a bigger version of me: one that can hold the depression as just something that was going on along with everything else,” he says. “It was like taking a breath of fresh air after being buried underwater.”

“Where it really helps is in reminding you that you're more than just your mind,” he says. “You’re processing a lot of emotions through physical movement, and as such it’s more grounded, embodied, and somatically felt.”

The first (and most difficult) step is usually getting yourself there, Bergman says. If you’re extremely depressed, it may be difficult to leave the house. In that case, he recommends dancing at home. “If you put on some music and dance, you’ll generally end up feeling a little better.”

Will I Always Feel Ecstatic During Ecstatic Dance?

As someone with post-traumatic stress disorder and a history of chronic illness, I often feel distanced from my body; I prefer to live in my mind. Movement-based meditations gently push me out of this comfort zone, reminding me to experience the pleasures of moving consciously. 

My first conscious dance session left me feeling great —but I wouldn’t say that I experienced ecstasy. Does that mean I did it wrong?

According to Bergman, not everybody experiences ecstasy during conscious dance—and that’s okay. “The reason I prefer ‘conscious dance’ over ‘ecstatic dance’ is because the word ecstatic is a bit loaded,” Bergman says. “Many times, the dance is not ecstatic for people. It brings up other experiences, which are all valid.”

He gives an example of someone who experiences depression and attends a conscious dancing session. They might leave feeling lighter and more relaxed—not necessarily ecstatic, but that’s still a positive leap for them.

How Do I Try It?

Almost everybody can benefit from ecstatic dance, Newman says. “If you can move any part of your body, you can dance. People of any age, size, background, and mobility level can take part in ecstatic dance,” she says. 

With that said, she also recommends you listen to your body and stay mindful of physical limitations. Don’t push yourself, especially if you have an injury or disability.  

If you’re looking to join an ecstatic dance class, ecstaticdance.org has a map of classes around the world. 

But you also don’t have to wait until you find a designated class to try it and get the benefits! If dancing around others sounds a little nerve-wracking to you, you might feel more comfortable doing it in the privacy of your own home. Either pop on some tunes and get moving try an online ecstatic dance session. Dance Awake streams their music at the same time as their Thursday classes, allowing you to tune into the vibes from anywhere in the world. 

One of my first anxieties was around figuring out what to wear to an ecstatic dance class. Now that I’ve been to one, I see I had nothing to worry about: nobody judges. Generally, you’ll want to wear comfy, free-flowing clothing that lets you move around. Think less night club and more yoga class. 

Feeling fearful or self-conscious? That’s normal, Bergman says. “I always say that those are your two first dance partners!” he says. “The guideline of conscious dance is to start where you are. So embrace self-consciousness as a feeling in the body.”

After some time of dancing, self-consciousness can transform into a feeling of silliness, fun, and lightheartedness. “Most people move through self-consciousness quite quickly when they see everybody else doing their thing on the dance floor—it emboldens them to do the same,” Bergman says. 

For me, moving through self-consciousness was a part of why the dance session felt so good. There’s a lot to be said about the mental health benefits of “feeling the fear and doing it anyway” — even if you, like me, get out of your comfort zone one (awkward) dance move at a time.

Ecstatic Dance. History .

Fasullo L, Hernandez A, Bodeker G. The innate human potential of elevated and ecstatic states of consciousness: Examining freeform dance as a means of access . Dance, Movement & Spiritualities. 2020; 6(1-2):87-117). doi: 10.1386/dmas_00005_1 

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Passion — A Role Of Dancing In My Life

A Role of Dancing in My Life

• Categories: Dance Passion

About this sample

Words: 585 |

Published: Jul 30, 2019

Words: 585 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

• Alpert, E. J., & Aquino, J. M. (2014). Dance/movement therapy: A resource guide for students, clinicians, and researchers. Routledge.
• Batson, G., & Weiss, M. R. (2011). Building mental toughness in sport: An introduction into sports psychology for athletes. Routledge.
• Bonbright, J. C. (2015). The power of dance: Health and healing. Human Kinetics.
• Bryant, A. (2018). Dance matters: Performing India on global stages. Routledge.
• Chappell, K. (2013). Dancing girls of Lahore: Selling love and saving dreams in Pakistan's ancient pleasure district. Harper Perennial.
• Hamera, J. (2012). Dancing communities: Performance, difference, and connection in the global city. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Legg, C. (2018). Dance studies: The basics. Routledge.
• Martin, J. L. (2015). Dance psychology for artistic and performance excellence. Routledge.
• Shah, S. (2017). Dance like nobody's watching: A holistic approach to positive living. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Thomas, H. (2017). The body, dance, and cultural theory. Palgrave Macmillan.

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