5 Benefits of Disco Dancing 

Disco dancing was introduced as a form of escapism in the 1960s, adopting its name from the discotheques where disco dancing was first popularised. People wanted somewhere they could freely dance their troubles away, with both friends and strangers alike. Disco slowly but surely shifted its way into mainstream culture, particularly following the release of Saturday Night Fever (who can forget John Travolta strutting to Stayin’ Alive!). From then on, disco balls and sparkly jumpsuits frequented the dancefloors. 

DJs played a huge role in the success of disco. They knew the crowd wanted to get lost in the music so they began merging tracks together, creating a seamless flow of disco hits to maintain the energy of the crowd. DJs in the 1970s also invented the remix, having the upper hand on music producers as they could gage crowd reactions to various songs and select the best received. Disco soon became its own genre, and singles mixed specifically for club play became worldwide hits. 

Disco dancing changed the social scene forever, enabling people to dance as a crowd for the first time, creating a sense of togetherness and unity. Though the disco fad died out into the 1980s, its impact is still prevalent today. Disco turned into dance music and discotheques turned into nightclubs, however, just listening to the hits of Kylie Minogue or Dua Lipa proves the lasting influence of disco. 

Below are 5 benefits of disco dancing: 

Promotes self-expression and togetherness 

Disco dancing is a sociable activity, where you dance as a crowd rather than an individual or couple. The crowd’s reaction controls everything; from the music, to the atmosphere, to the dance moves. 

Beginning as an outlet for people who felt unheard or oppressed by society, self-expression is highly encouraged in disco. Everyone is there for a good time – no one is judging your two left feet or lack of rhythmic timing. Disco represents freedom, and the crowd will certainly be hyping you up to show off your best dance moves.  

Iconic Dance moves 

When we hear the word disco, I’m sure most of us will picture John Travolta in his flashy white suit with one hand on his hip and the other hand pointing up.   

Many of the moves become social dance crazes and they are all pretty memorable, therefore iconic. The moves are all fairly simple, focusing more on inclusivity and entertainment than skill and agility. This means anyone can join in, whatever your age or experience. You can find some of the iconic dance moves here. 

Opportunity to reminisce 

For many of our Keep Dancing dancers the nostalgia of disco dancing has brought back great memories. Many remember going out and dancing the night away around a pile of handbags. Others had pictures of John Travolta plastered on their bedroom wall, admiring the disco dancing icon from afar.  

Though disco dancing provides many positive health benefits, the feel-good factor is immense. Reminiscing positive memories of days gone by is a great way to connect with your younger self and that youthful mindset.  

An easy way to burn calories 

Just like any form of dancing, disco is great for burning calories and losing weight. In fact, you can burn up to 500 calories from an hour of disco dancing!  

Disco music consists of straightforward and repetitive lyrics to avoid distracting you with the deeper meaning behind songs, so you can get fully immersed in the music. It also follows a standard 4/4 beat, meaning there won’t be any complex melodies or rhythms to ruin your dance moves! 

Improves Coordination  

Disco dancing challenges dancers to co-ordinate their arm and leg movements, often moving them in unison to complement each other. Though the moves seem straightforward, they can be quick and precise which in turn will improve your balance and co-ordination.  

This will help you throughout everyday life, from walking to running to driving, and will help prevent falls by teaching you how control your balance and have better control over your body. 

“Disco is music for dancing, and people will always want to dance.” – Giorgio Moroder 

Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC run weekly Keep Dancing classes, suitable for older adults across, Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell and online. Keep Dancing will teach you dances from around the world with no need for a dance partner. Find your nearest Keep Dancing class here.  

If you enjoyed reading 5 benefits of Disco Dancing, you might want to consider reading 5 Benefits of the Twist to Keep Your Mind and Body Healthy.  

To find out more about Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC follow us on Facebook.  

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog 5 benefits of Disco Dancing and keep dancing!