For centuries, dance has been part of human culture and is still a popular form of artistic expression (and physical activity!). With International Dance Day arriving April 29, we thought it would be a perfect time to share our new dance workout videos! Created in partnership with Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), these fun and easy-to-follow videos are suitable for people of all ages and abilities.
Before you scroll down to watch the new videos and get your groove on, here are six health and wellness benefits of dance:
1. Dance improves your cardiovascular health
Dance is an excellent type of aerobic exercise that gets your blood flowing and heart pumping. It can help enhance your cardiovascular health by improving your lung capacity, increasing your endurance and lowering your risk of heart disease.
2. Builds your strength
Because dancing requires many repetitive movements, like hip drips, figure eights, circles and shimmies, for example, it helps strengthen and tone your muscles over time. This can lead to better posture, body composition and overall physical fitness.
3. Enhances your flexibility and balance
Dance involves plenty of flexibility and stretching exercises that can help improve your flexibility and range of motion and reduce your risk of injury. It also requires lots of coordination and strengthening of your stabilizing muscles, both of which can help improve your balance.
4. Boosts your cognitive function
Dance has been shown to offer many cognitive benefits, such as improved focus and attention span. Over time, it can even improve your memory skills since it requires you to learn and remember choreography.
5. Reduces stress and feelings of anxiety and depression
Dancing can be a great way to relieve stress and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression because, like other forms of exercise, it causes your brain to release the feel-good brain chemicals (endorphins, dopamine and serotonin) and decreases the level of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) circulating in your body .
6. Provides you with a sense of community and belonging
With dancing often taking place in group settings such as classes and parties, it can help you get to know others who may have similar passions and interests, possibly leading to new friendships and reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Learn hip hop and ballet with these 4 new videos
Want to take dance classes but don’t love the idea of dancing in front of others? Now you can take dance lessons in the comfort of your own home by watching and following along with one of our new dance videos! Each video provides both standing and seated demonstrations. Dance at your own pace as you explore the following:
1. Hip Hop Rocks
Join Cherise from Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) in this energetic hip hop lesson. Starting with a full-body warm-up, this 20-minute class will take you on a tour of New York City while teaching you the Bronx Rock, Brooklyn Rock and Queens Rock.
2. Introduction to Adult Ballet: Plié Movements
Meet us at the barre! Join Philip from NBS in an introduction to adult ballet. This first of two gentle 25-minute classes will take you from the barre to the centre, learning ballet fundamentals with a focus on plié. You can use a chair or countertop as your ballet barre.
3. Hip Hop Social
Join Cherise from NBS on a journey in hip hop. Beginning with a full-body warm-up, this 20-minute lesson will teach you four of the social party dances that are part of the foundations of hip hop, finishing off by putting them together in a brief choreography.
4. Introduction to Adult Ballet: Tendu Movements
This second of two gentle 25-minute classes will take you from the barre to the centre, teaching you ballet fundamentals with a focus on tendu movements.
