5 Benefits of Charleston Dance for your Physical and Mental Health
The Charleston is is a famous social Jazz dance form that became famous in 1920s America, founded by African-American communities as a folk dance in Charlestown, South Carolina. The beginning of the Charleston Dance was wilder and a less stylised form of dance which was often performed with no music just hand claps and foot stamps. The swinging arms and fast feet enabled dancers to let loose and feel free as dancing became uninhibited.
The Charleston dance began to be seen on the stage in the Broadway show ‘Running Wild’ in 1923, which featured the song ‘The Charleston’ by Cecil Mack and James P Johnson. From the popularity and success of ‘Running Wild’, films such as ‘King of Main Street’ (1925) and ‘The Song and Dance man’ (1926) wowed the public and began to increase the popularity of the Charleston Dance.
The most famous Charleston Dancer was Josephine Baker, her integration of the Charleston and silly moves such as crossing her eyes into her performances helped to popularize these styles across Europe. Her influence extended beyond dance, as she became a symbol of racial integration and the blending of American and European cultures during the 1920s.
‘Dance is the hidden language of the soul’ – Josephine Baker
Take a look at these clips of the Charleston dance being performed in America in the 1920s, watch here
The basic steps of a Charleston include:
- Knees bend then straighten
- Feet pivot in and out
- Weight shifts from one leg to another
- Leg kicks out at an oblique angle
Here are five benefits of Charleston Dance for your Physical and Mental Health:
Mood Enhancement
Due to the nature of the rhythmical high energy music and fun characterisation, the Charleston dance is energising, joyful and releases endorphins – the ‘feel-good’ hormones boosting your mood and improving your mental health. Engaging in the Charleston will reduce stress and allow you to leave the dance class feeling relaxed, positive and able to unwind. The adrenaline will make you feel powerful, the dopamine will make you feel full of hope and endorphins bring you joy- the perfect mood enhancement!
Joint Health
The Charleston Dance includes a lot of movement in the knee, ankle and shoulder joints by bending, swinging and pivoting to the music. Studies have shown that regular participation in dance can lead to a significant reduction in joint pain, increased joint flexibility, and improved overall joint function. The Charleston Dance is improving your range of motion, when dancing you are working your joints really hard and each time your joint flexibility is improving and bone density is building. The Charleston Dance can also reduce joint inflammation, dancing will increase blood circulation, promoting the release of endorphins and improving joint lubrication which will reduce overall pain in your joints.
Cardiovascular Health
Taking part in the Charleston Dance can increase your heart rate due to the fast-pace of the music and movements which will improve your cardiovascular endurance. Dancing can improve your circulation. Dancing the Charleston will promote better blood flow. The rhythmic movements of the Charleston stimulate blood flow throughout your body, improving circulation. Good circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs while aiding in the removal of waste products.
Posture and Alignment
Dancing the Charleston can have a positive effect on your posture and alignment by focusing on core engagement and strengthening core muscles. Your body alignment will be improved as the Charleston requires you to stand upright and maintain good posture while performing quick and intricate footwork. This emphasis on keeping your back straight and shoulders relaxed helps develop and reinforce proper posture. Coordinating arm and leg movements whilst keeping your body aligned whilst changing weight from one leg to another can improve your balance. Good balance will maintain proper posture and alignment.
Increased Cognitive Function
Learning the steps to the Charleston is a form of mental stimulation that requires focus and coordination which improves cognitive functions such as memory and concentration. The process of learning the Charleston dance steps involves memorizing sequences and patterns, which can help improve your recall abilities. Repeated practice of these steps can strengthen neural connections related to memory.
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.
Xpress-Yourself Dance CIC also runs classes to support carers in Birmingham thanks to Funding from Forward Carers CIC. Find out more about our Keep Dancing for carers here
If you enjoyed reading 5 Benefits of the Charleston for your Physical and Mental Health, you might want to consider reading 5 Benefits of Contemporary Dance
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