It is simple enough for me to say that dance, like most forms of exercise, can improve our mental health, but I wanted to know what actually happens in our brains and our bodies that makes dance so beneficial. We know that when we dance, our brain releases endorphins – hormones which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of relaxation and happiness. Music and dance activate both the sensory and motor circuits of our brain, as well as the pleasure centres, therefore our brain has associated dance as a pleasurable activity. In addition, as we move our muscles relax to the music, so tension that has built up from stressful situations is released.

 

Last Tuesday I, along with the other year 12 students, saw a presentation about the psychology of dance by Peter Lovatt, an ex-dancer.  It was thoroughly interactive and definitely put a smile on my face. He told us that there is more to dance than the release of hormones, that dance can actually change the structure of our brain. He has found that the changes in our brain have produced a theory that learning a structured dance speeds up our cognitive processes, whereas improvising a dance leads to more divergent thinking problems and creativity. He has used this information to help patients with Parkinson’s disease.

 

Parkinson’s is defined as A neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately the dopamine-producing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. The symptoms are:

• Tremors
• bradykinesia and hypokinesia (slowness in movements)
• postural instability
• limb stiffness

Dr Lovatt’s theory is that structured dance can improve the cognitive processes affecting their movement and decrease their symptoms. This has proven to be very probable as he has helped many patients slow down the impact of their disease.

 

Peter also has explored the impact dance has on mental health and discovered that it can lift people’s mood and helps physical wellbeing. He put this theory into practice last year when he was told that he had stage 3 bowel cancer. He was a mess physically and mentally, but he danced everyday – using different forms to help with different situations (aerobic dance to stay fit, theatrical dance for escapism, ballet for focus and discipline). Peter’s Wife, an occupational therapist specialising in mental health, recognised the positive impact it had on his wellbeing. he made a full recovery. He has since set up an organisation with Darcey Bussell DBE, called Move assure: The Dance for Mental Wellbeing.