Want to dance your way to better health? Learn square dancing
Have you heard that it's good for your brain to learn a new skill? That physical exercise and social activity are good for your health? You can get it all in one package – learn how to square dance.
Square dancing is low-impact but great aerobic exercise. Mayo Clinic encourages Square Dancing: it burns a lot of calories, strengthens bones, and helps the cardiovascular system.
A study comparing this type of dancing with walking and stretching suggests that the demands that dancing places on the mind and body make it especially powerful at slowing some of the mental changes of aging, an effect not seen in those who walked or stretched.
Square dancing involves constant movement along with quick directional changes that work together to keep the body in shape and in balance. It is also excellent mental exercise as the dancer recalls and executes the caller's instructions, moving from one formation to another as they are "called out." But you don't do it all by yourself; the teamwork of learning together, to good music, makes it an enjoyable social activity as well.
Today's Modern Western Square Dancing is characterized by dancers forming "squares" of four couples who dance specific movements cued by a caller. Square dancing requires lessons to learn the standard set of steps.
Find out more at an Introductory Open House from 7-8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, at the Tallahassee Senior Center second floor ballroom. Participate in some basic steps with the Tallahassee Capital Twirlers Square Dance Club, then stick around to join the fun when a beginner's class starts on Jan. 29.
Here are some reasons to enjoy square dancing. It is:• So much fun that you will be laughing within minutes and want to keep on dancing
• Great physical exercise, involving almost constant movement without being overly tiring, as you step in time with the music, forming moving patterns with the other dancers in your square. You can walk several miles in an evening without even realizing it.
• Good mental exercise: learning each step, reacting to what the caller says and participating in the endless shapes that result. The challenge is in not knowing what comes next; the next step is "called" out to you.
• Easy to learn, providing a great sense of accomplishment and teamwork as each step builds on the previous ones.
• Danced to enjoyable music including Oldies, Current favorites, Gospel, Rock and Country & Western.
• A stress reducer. If you make a mistake, half the fun is figuring out how to get where you need to go. We laugh as we learn and we are patient and welcoming with newcomers. Unlike other forms of dance, you don't have the stress of trying to lead or trying to follow—the caller does all the work for you.
• A fine way to meet people and make new friends. It is more social than other dances since you dance in a square with three other changing couples.
• An activity that can be done by anyone in reasonable shape. You do not have to be graceful or coordinated to square dance. You don't have to worry about stepping on your partner's toes, as you are usually dancing side-by-side. No fancy footwork is required.
• Informal. We dance in everyday clothes and sneakers; no crinolines or cowboy boots required.
• Flexible. Contrary to our name, we do not twirl much; you will not get dizzy. And despite the location, all ages are welcome
If you go
What:Capital Twirlers square dance Introductory Open House & Lessons
When:7-8 p.m. Jan. 22, free; dance lessons start 7-8 p.m. Jan. 29; $3 per lesson, continuing on Monday nights for the next 12-15 weeks
Where:Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St., second floor ballroom
Details:Bring a partner, if you can, to get the most out of the classes
For more information:850-386-1440 or ebguthrie@comcast.net. Visit the Capital Twirlers Facebook at facebook.com/Tallahasseetwirlers
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Dance your way to better health with square dancing classes
