East Coast swing, hip-hop, ballroom, Latin, salsa, Zumba — we’ve got it all.
And why not? Dance is great for your figure and your endorphins. Dance feels great, is positively addictive and is good for you.
Dancing can: lower your risk of coronary heart disease, decrease blood pressure, strengthen the bones of your legs and hips, and help you manage your weight. In fact, fast dancing burns approximately 315 calories per hour, almost as much as hiking, which burns approximately 337 calories per hour.
Jim Worsham, a retired boomer, says music can change his mood in an instant: “I can feel tired or down and the music starts and I am going. … I can dance for two or three hours without getting bored, as I would on a treadmill.”
Too late to start? Many boomers did not dance until later in life. John Machado began to dance after the death of his wife. “Dance for me is a real mood enhancer and a great social outlet,” he said. “I have gotten to know lots of people.”
Others have been dancing for years and still can’t stop. Bill and Sandy Erhart met at Visions Dance Club while shag dancing 18 years ago. “We love the lifestyle — shag dancers are like a big family,” Sandy says.
No partner, no problem. There are far more women than men dancing, and, yes, women can dance with women or they can dance alone.
Denise, who asks that her last name not be used, uses dance as a form of creative expression. She dances freestyle with a mix of MTV styles and exotic moves. An accountant by day, she wows the crowds at Visions Lounge almost every Friday night, dancing alone, beautifully.
And as far as the cost of dancing goes, it’s cheaper than golf and requires no membership fees. Most clubs charge an $8 cover if there is a live band.
Bill Holliday and his wife, Nancy, are both teachers. They met dancing at Cabo’s when it was open 10 years ago and are now the primo Latin dancers wherever they go. They dress the part and innovate steps. Bill says, “Dance keeps you young, thin and happy. What more could you want?”
The comments about dance and the mind are backed up by medical journals. Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides cardio benefits along with social interaction. Learning and executing steps require mental activity.
One 21-year study published in The New England Journal of Medicine even found that dancing can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the elderly. In the study, 11 physical activities were tested with participants older than 75. Dancing was the only activity of the 11 that was associated with a lower risk of dementia. It is believed that dance engages the mind more than other forms of physical exercise.
In fact, that mind-body connection is what makes better dancers. Gary Meyer, DJ and dance coach, says, “Dance is a balance of body, mind and spirit. When all three elements are in balance, partners will flow as one across the floor. That is when dance is at its finest.”
Need lessons? Rigby’s Jig, The Dance Space and Lessons in Ballroom provide lessons in the Richmond area. You can also pick up some Latin dance while taking Zumba classes at your local YMCA or gym.
Diane York is a Richmond-based freelance writer
Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are the best nights
A few of the many places to find live dance music in the Richmond area:
Capital Ale House (local bands, contemporary music, R&B, soul)
623 E. Main St., Richmond
JJ’s Grille (local bands)
10298 Staples Mill Road, Glen Allen
Enzo’s Italian Chop House (local bands, ’90s dance music)
36 Broad Street Road, Manakin Sabot
