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Take the
Lead
Up until just a few years ago, ballroom dancing rarely poked its Brylcreemed
head out of old age home socials or Vegas-style dance-a-thons. But recently,
reality dance TV shows have shaken up the scene, pouring new energy and
a massive new audience into an age old activity that was craving a breath
of fresh air.
Dancing With the Stars, Strictly Come Dancing
and So You Think You Can Dance? are just some of the
multi-million viewer shows that have, ironically, inspired
people to get off their couches and join dance studios
instead. Burger Herbst of Arthur Murray Dance Studios
says enrolment at his schools has increased substantially
thanks to these shows, as “they make people aware of
just how much fun dancing can be, as well as proving to
us that everyone can dance”.
And while this may sound obvious, it’s only fair to
note that ballet is considered the second most difficult
physical activity in the world (after American football!).
So it’s no wonder that many people have been afraid to
try out anything more complex than shaking their butts
on a strobe-lighted dance floor.
But at the same time, it’s exactly because of its
complexity and its physical challenges that dance is
such a great activity for all of us. In fact, if you are not
convinced of its physical benefits, in the 1970s, Life
magazine featured the famous dancer Rudolph Nureyev
on its cover along with the question: “Is this the world’s
greatest athlete?”
That’s not to say we all need to be performing
perfect pirouettes to experience the health benefits of
dance. From popping and locking to salsa, waltzing and
even pole dancing, studios and gyms have started to
create classes in all styles for all levels, precisely because
of the newfound interest in dance.
According to Burger Herbst: “Dance makes for good
exercise, while at the same time [it is] a great way to
meet new people in a safe environment where you
can go to socialise all year round.” It’s a fun, healthy way
to get in shape, while also making for a great stressreliever
and a way to express your emotions. “Besides
boosting your self-confidence,” adds Herbst, “dancing
also transcends all boundaries of race, gender and age
and makes it possible for people from all walks of life to
enjoy themselves together.”
One of the more surprising spin-offs of TV reality
dance shows is that suddenly men have decided that
dancing is cool. While before they would have only been
dragged to dance classes by their other halves, male
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