The Quickstep emerged in the 1920s as a fusion of the Foxtrot, the Charleston the Peabody, and the March, The dance evolved from bands playing the Foxtrot at a faster tempo. Dancers responded by quickening their steps and incorporating elements of the Charleston. In 1927, at the World Championships, English couple Frank Ford and Molly Spain performed a version without the Charleston knee action, which became the accepted ballroom version.
By the end of the 20th Century, the Quickstep had become more complex, incorporating syncopated steps with eighth-note durations and a tempo standardized to 200-208 beats per minute. The Quickstep became one of the five International Style Standard Ballroom Dances.
The Quickstep is known for it’s fast-paced energetic movements; light and floating steps; sudden changes in direction and complex figures in hops, runs, and rotations. Take a look here at this Quickstep performed by Susanna Reid and Kevin Clifton on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, can you spot any of these movements?
Here are the 5 Effective Benefits of Dancing the Quickstep for your Physical and Mental Health:
1. Cognitive Stimulation
The Quickstep’s quick tempo change challenges the brain in unique ways compared to other dance styles. Learning and performing the intricate footwork of the Quickstep challenges the brain, similar to how Cognitive Stimulation Therapy activities are designed to be cognitively stimulating yet achievable. As dancers learn to link different steps and movements, they create new neural connections, aligning with Cognitive Stimulation Therapy’s principle of encouraging new ideas and associations. The Quickstep’s cognitive demands, social aspects, and potential for enjoyment make it a valuable activity for cognitive stimulation and overall well-being.
2. Sensory Stimulation
The Quickstep engages multiple senses. Auditory Processing is ‘what we do with what we hear’ and it involves the brain’s ability to recognise, interpret, and use auditory signals. When dancing the Quickstep, following the music’s rhythm stimulates auditory processing, aligning with Cognitive Stimulation Therapy’s principle of engaging the senses. Proprioception is the sense that allows individuals to perceive the position, movement, and force of their body parts without relying on visual cues. It provides critical information about the body’s orientation and movement in space. The physical movements involved in the Quickstep enhance body awareness, which can be particularly beneficial for older adults.
3. Bone Health
The weight-bearing nature of the Quickstep makes it beneficial for a dancer’s bone health. Weight-bearing activities such as The Quickstep are known to be beneficial for bone health, as they stimulate bone formation and help maintain bone density. Having healthy bones in older adults can reduce falls, improve mobility, reduce pain, and maintain your independence.
4. Improved Lower Body Strength
Dancing the Quickstep engages your leg muscles such as the quadriceps due to continuous stepping and changes in direction; the calves the rise and fall action in the Quickstep, especially when done on the balls of the feet, strengthens the calf muscles, and hamstrings the backward movements and controlled leg extensions engage the hamstrings. Strong muscles around joints like knees and hips help protect these joints from wear and tear.
5. Enhanced Lung Capacity
The Quickstep is a fast-paced, energetic dance that provides an excellent cardiovascular workout. Aerobic exercises like this can help improve overall lung function and capacity over time. Dancing the Quickstep requires coordinated movements and breath control. This aligns with breathing exercises that can help increase lung capacity, such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing. Better lung capacity enables older adults to participate in regular exercise, which is vital for overall health and well-being.
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 Argentine Tango for your Physical and Mental Health, you might want to consider reading 5 Effective Benefits of the Argentine Tango for your Physical and Mental Health
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