New Delhi: Dance has the ability to heal. For me, health is a state of mind and fitness is a way of life. A fit body homes a healthy mind. This is the most important health benefit of dance, that aligns the mind, body and spirit.
In fact, music in itself is therapeutic. Dance is a physical interpretation of what the music says. It is a great way to release energy, shed inhibitions and vent out emotions. When you dance you sweat, and you release ‘feel good’ endorphins that make you happy. Good music and dancing is a great way to be in a happy state of mind.
My motto was “Have Feet. Will Dance.”, but over time I decided to take it one step further to “Have Spirit. Will Triumph.” Initially, very few people with mixed needs would come to dance classes. But those who did saw a visible change. Dance, as mentioned earlier has the power to heal. Whether in their motor movement, in their behaviour or their ability to interact socially; dance brought a positive change. I started my Victory Arts Foundation to encourage parents to send children with special needs to dance and experience the joy of letting their spirit fly.
It is through Victory that I realised the true benefit of dance. We’ve started a program called Dance for Good where students and instructors go to various NGOs and perform using the power of dance to make people smile and feel happy. This is the power of performance - to embrace, accept and encourage everyone.
I founded Victory Arts Foundation to provide a platform to address social causes and concerns. Victory makes dance available across age, gender, caste, class and ability; without prejudice. It endeavours to use the power of dance as a therapeutic medium to bring joy to the underprivileged, physically challenged, mentally challenged, visually impaired, deaf and mute and makes dance a viable and respected career option.
Working professionals incorporates lead a sedentary lifestyle. With dance, they find a stress buster where they can disconnect for their worries and just do something they love. It channels their mind into a positive space. It incorporates a form of physical activity into their lifestyle.
In fact, for many, it helps to connect with like-minded people, find friends and even network. In fact today, a lot of corporates invite my faculty to teach in the premises of their offices during or post working hours for their employees to engage in a team building art form that helps them stay fit.
In times where kids and teens are constantly on their mobile devices, dance is a great hobby where they learn, enjoy and work out at the same time. It is a positive outlet for their energies where they learn an art form, improve social communication and engage in dance-based activities that help build focus, concentration, discipline and team spirit.
Many schools have incorporated my Dance Education program in their regular curriculum. They have noticed that through dance, participating students have also improved in their studies through better focus and attention span.
Parents often tell us that their children show an improvement in their academics because of the dance classes. The reason behind this is primarily that their focus increases as they have something to look forward to, they get to do what they like and enjoy.
Also, many students who are introverts get a platform to express themselves and their personality develop through these classes. Not only do they learn to dance, engage in physical activity but also experience something that highlights their spirit.
It is the best free weight exercise where you constantly engage your core which is the powerhouse of your body. Dance helps improve overall fitness, endurance, muscle toning and strengthening. Dance is almost like a sport; in fact, in some countries, it is considered a sport.
It involves cardiovascular and aerobic fitness, core and strength training and stretches for flexibility. The concepts of contraction and extension, grounding, elongation, fall and recovery, control of muscles, all come with awareness and are enhanced through a fit body achieved by dancing.
*Disclaimer: The article has been contributed by Bollywood Ace Choreographer, Shiamak Davar. The opinions expressed in this article are personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Deccan Chronicle, and Deccan Chronicle does not assume any responsibility and liability for the same.
