Dance x Wellbeing: The transformative power of ballet

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or simply exploring movement for the first time, dancing can uplift, connect, and ground us in the present moment. Let’s explore how ballet in particular, contributes to holistic wellness – from boosting your mood to nurturing cognitive health.

Dance Boosts Your Mood

It’s well known that physical activity can help relieve symptoms of depression, and dance is no exception. When you move, your body produces endorphins – the “feel-good” hormones that promote relaxation and enhance your sense of wellbeing.

Recent studies suggest that dance might be more effective than other forms of exercise at boosting your mood. The music, the people, the artistry all come together to create a uniquely fun experience.

It’s Brain Training – Not Just Body Training

Dancing challenges both your body and your brain. A typical ballet class requires focus, memory, and coordination – all while staying rhythmically in sync with music and movement. This mental engagement strengthens neural pathways, enhancing cognitive function and memory.

Ballet even adds a linguistic bonus: learning French terminology for steps and positions gives your brain an extra boost.

More significantly, dance has proven benefits for people experiencing cognitive decline.

ENB’s ‘Mindful Movers’ Pilot Project explored how dance and music stimulate brain activity in people with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. Participants reported positive changes like improved posture, mobility, mood, and focus – not just in the studio, but in daily life, too.

It Brings People Together

While dancing solo is always an option, dance is fundamentally a social art form. Whether you’re in a rehearsal studio, community class, or on stage, dancing together fosters connection. Ballet encourages collaboration, mutual support, and shared achievement – creating a deep sense of belonging.

ENB’s Dance for Parkinson’s Performance Company embodies the communal aspect of dance. One member shared:

Physically, I’ve begun to feel quite a lot older and a little bit depressed but coming out and mixing socially with others going through the same thing is great. We could go to the studio and express ourselves without worrying about others watching. I enjoy meeting new people and the encouragement that comes from feeling part of the company – that has so many positives.

Dance for Parkinson's Dancer

Research consistently finds that people with Parkinson’s benefit not just physically, but socially and emotionally, from regular dance sessions.

It Helps You Find Flow

Ballet invites you into a state of flow – that sweet spot where you’re fully in movement, music, and rhythm. In this state, worries fall away. Your mind and body work in harmony, and time seems to disappear. The sense of accomplishment, joy, and calm that follows can have long-lasting effects on wellbeing.

In dance, the state of flow appears when your skills allow you to fully immerse yourself in what you’re doing, focusing embodying your creativity.

The participants of classes run by English National Ballet name ‘learning new technique’, ‘improving existing practice’, and ‘sense of accomplishment’ as some of their favourite benefits, with one describing the experience as ‘a laboratory to continue exploring artistry’. Why not give it a try?

It Keeps You Mindful

In an age of constant distraction, dance is a powerful tool for mindfulness. It demands full presence.

At the barre, you’re tuning into muscles you didn’t even know you had. As you align your body and refine your technique, you’re also practicing breath awareness, focus, and embodiment – core aspects of mindfulness.

Mindful movement helps quiet the racing mind and brings you back to the here and now. It’s an essential antidote to stress, and ballet offers it in every plié, tendu, and port de bras. Busy schedules can often make it difficult to find time for yourself and remove distractions.

Why not make this as easy as possible, and try ballet in your own living room? You can explore a range of classes catering to different levels through our online platform BalletActive, where you can enjoy two weeks of free trial? Or simply try our free ballet class available on YouTube to get a taste for looking after your wellbeing through dance:

Whether you’re dancing in a theatre, studio, or your own living room, the benefits of ballet go far beyond physical fitness.

At English National Ballet, we’re proud to champion the role of dance in promoting health and happiness – for every body, at every stage of life.

Ready to move for your mind and body?

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