Dance to the tunes

The body moves to the cadence of music. The rhythm of drums had been part of the earliest societies. The Bhimbetka rock shelter paintings are 33,000 years old. The dancing figures in Egyptian tombs are dated 33,000 B.C. Dance has been an important part of ceremonies, rituals, celebrations and entertainment. Dance was a means of social communication since the earliest times. The eyes, the fingers, the feet and the body are used to communicate information and ideas.

Harvest dances are part of almost every culture. The rain dances are common among native Americans, some African communities and even in China! Dandiya reverberates through the towns of Gujarat during the Navaratri celebrations for the Goddess.

Vigorous dance movements often induce ecstatic and heightened feelings that are useful in healing. They often led to trance states of heightened suggestibility. Dance was also used to preserve stories and literature, from generation to generation.

Dance can be a very enjoyable form of exercise. In fact jazzercise has become the new craze, making exercise more zestful and less monotonous. Dance affects your flexibility, energy levels, controls weight and affects mental and emotional health.

It is said that a ballerina can burn up to 432 calories while doing ballet. All forms of dance improve posture, balance and co-ordination with others. Improving dance steps enhances creativity and problem solving skills. It helps in improving memory skills. The release of emotions liberates the happiness chemicals like endorphins and serotonins. Dance unlocks neural pathways in diseases like Parkinson, while improving mood and satisfaction. Explore some form of dance and discover new facets of yourself.

The writer is the author of Everyday Happiness Mantras