Linda is looking through the website http://www.keepingfit.com. Here is what she reads.

Researchers have found the health benefits of dancing for people in poor health condition, from improving brain health to creating community.

Becky is teaching a group of 80 adults some dancing skills. Many of her students are seated in the dancing room because they have difficulty in moving. When they are following Becky’s pretty movements, a sense of peace comes over them.

Dance as a medicine

Helen, a researcher, says that dance requires different parts of the brain to work at the same time, that is to say, dance requires more “brain power” than simpler repetitive (重复的) exercises.

She invited two groups of adults to take part in programmes for over six months. One group practised dancing and the other did a traditional exercise like cycling. Both groups improved their level of physical fitness, but the group of dancers improved more cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention and high-level thinking.

Dance described by Helen as “pleasure double-play” can lift the mood and reduce stress.

Dance as body acceptance

Besides the physical and mental benefits, dance can also help people with diseases accept what their bodies can and can’t do.

Jenny is Becky’s student. Her body went numb when she was in her mid-twenties. She had no feelings from the knees down. She suffered from serious muscle tightness and balance problems, making standing and walking difficult for her.

Jenny recently joined an online dance programme. Not only has it improved her coordination (协调性). but it has enabled her to overcome her fear of being judged (评价) for how she moves, both in the dance class and out in the world.

“I see so many people moving like me,” she says. “I don’t have to be perfect in my dancing or make sure my leg lifts this way—it makes me comfortable with where I am right now.”

Dance as community

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of dance is the sense of community it creates. Dancing with others not only makes people feel less different in their moving abilities, but also helps to fight against loneliness and problems in getting along with others.

Becky started teaching more than 22 years ago, and she has helped 300 communities in 28 countries around the world. In some countries, such as India and South Korea, people have put their own cultural dance styles into their classes.

Becky wants to create a sense of family and community for this group of people. Whenever and wherever she teaches, she hopes to make them feel joyful, get much closer to the community, and explore the limitless possibilities for the rest of their lives.