Is it possible to waltz away gloomy, anxious feelings or do-si-do your way to better cognitive and neurological health?

A study from Canada indicated that a weekly dance class may reduce depression in people with Parkinson’s disease. This is the latest within the body of research that suggests dance may enhance mental and physical wellness.

While any form of exercise promotes health, dance is a unique endeavor that combines physical activity with music and social interaction. The combination of these factors may underlie the potential to provide multifaceted health benefits.

Boosts Mood

According to the Canadian study published in Advancing Digital Health & Open Science, depression is on the rise in neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers examined the effects of an 8-month weekly dance class on 34 participants, 68 percent of whom had Parkinson’s disease and 32 percent of whom were healthy. At the end of the intervention, self-reported questionnaires showed a decrease in depression, and MRIs showed a reduction in markers related to oxygenation of a part of the frontal cortex of the brain believed to be a critical part of the network linked to depression.

Dance may also improve mood in the population at large. A meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology, which synthesized results from 41 clinical studies, indicated that dance and dance movement therapy reduced depression and anxiety in people with several conditions, and the effects may be long-term.

Dance movement therapy (DMT) is the therapeutic use of movement based on the assumption of the interconnection of body and mind and the healing power of dance. It promotes emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration to improve health and well-being.

Ballroom dancing also helps alleviate symptoms of depression, according to a systematic review published in the Arts in Psychotherapy. On a related note, it also improved body positivity and quality of life, as well as lowering distress in people with Parkinson’s disease and other chronic conditions.

Like any other exercise, dance increases the “feel good” chemicals in the brain called endorphins, yet its mood-enhancing effects are more complex.

Kristine Gonyon, a licensed clinical professional counselor and dance/movement therapist at Relief Mental Health, shared insights with The Epoch Times on how dance improves mood.

“Dance can serve as a release for a person who is struggling with anxiety or feeling tension in their body. People tend to be very cerebral, having many things to think about, plan for, process, and remember. This can make a person feel ‘stuck’ in their head and create a disconnect with their body. Dance allows the body and the mind to connect. Bringing the focus to the movement and music takes the focus away from the stressors and worries that might be consuming one’s mind.”

Improves Neuroplasticity

Dance is an extraordinary tool for promoting neurological health, and its benefits are backed by scientific research, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a board-certified family medicine osteopathic physician.

When you dance, multiple areas of your brain engage, including those involved in movement, balance, and sensation. This activity strengthens your brain’s capacity to learn and adapt, a concept known as neuroplasticity. It involves structural brain changes that result in functional improvements, he explained in an email to The Epoch Times.

Mercola cites a systematic review published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews investigating how dance affects neuroplasticity. An assessment of eight studies indicated that the engagement of multiple brain regions from dance manifested in strengthened connections between those regions and induced changes in brain volume and structure.

Dance improves memory, attention, and body balance, according to the study.

“These results suggest that dance uniquely integrates brain areas to promote neuroplasticity even in already mature brains,” the researchers stated.

Enhances Cognition

People with mild cognitive impairment have a high risk of developing dementia.

After exploring the benefit of dance therapy for dementia using 10 studies with 984 participants, the authors of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Geriatrics found that the intervention significantly boosted global cognitive function, executive function, memory, language, attention, and mental health. The researchers concluded that dance therapy may be an effective non-pharmacological treatment for older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

“One of the most fascinating aspects of dance is its ability to lower the risk of neurological conditions like dementia,” added Mercola. “This is because dancing challenges your brain with constant decision-making, coordination, and memory recall—key factors in maintaining cognitive health.”

Increases Fitness

Sedentary behavior is common in people 60 and older, contributing to many health conditions. In a systemic review published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, researchers looked at 18 studies involving differing types of dance, including ballroom, cultural, jazz, and contemporary. The results indicated that any kind of dance may increase balance, endurance, muscle strength, and other aspects of functional fitness in older adults.

Promotes Neurological Rehabilitation

A systematic review published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies explored the value of dance in rehabilitating neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease.

“Dance is an ideal alternative for neurological rehabilitation as it is an engaging and pleasurable activity that stimulates motor and attentional systems and motivates patients to activate muscles and perform coordination processes,” the authors wrote.

Fosters Socialization

Dance exemplifies social learning, bonding, communication, and trust, stated authors of a systematic review published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (NBR).

Janet Bayramyan, a licensed clinical social worker psychotherapist and owner of Road to Wellness in Los Angeles, spoke about the social benefits of dancing in an email to The Epoch Times.

“People who dance in a partnership or in groups describe a sense of cohesion with their teammates. This can improve mental health because we often want to feel understood, heard, and validated. Dancers experience this through movement in partnership.”

Bayramyan added that ballroom dancing forms, such as salsa, are especially highlighted for their ability to foster connection. These dances often facilitate opportunities for movement release and being a part of a community.

“You can build positive friendships and connections with such opportunities.”

Most types of dance are fun and easy to learn, especially the waltz. For those who feel they’re not good at or have never learned to dance, taking a class can open the door to learning.

Choreograph Your Moves

The NBR systemic review sums up the characteristics that give dance its uniqueness. These include the rhythm and harmony of music, as well as socialization and communication. Emotion, cognition, pleasure, and esthetics are additional components, that when melded together, produce some interesting effects, such as those mentioned above.

While many people exercise to music, few choreograph and time their movements to the rhythm or beat. Choreography has an aesthetic aspect that can elicit emotions while planning and remembering movements, which involves areas of the brain that control cognition.

“It’s all about the magic trio—movement, music, and connection,” stated Harold Hong, a board-certified psychiatrist and medical director at New Waters Recovery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In an email to The Epoch Times, he wove it all together: Physical activity keeps your body strong, increases blood flow to your brain, and releases mood-boosting chemicals. Music taps into your emotions, creates positive associations, and brings rhythm to your movements. Social interaction creates a sense of community and belonging.

Combined, these elements amplify each other, continued Hong. Movement reduces tension, music lifts your spirits, and social interaction builds emotional resilience.

“That’s why dance isn’t just exercise—it’s an experience that leaves you feeling alive and connected.”

The NBR systematic review reported on the capacity of dance to promote happiness. It induces pleasure with “sustained periods of positive emotion,” and may be what induces and allows people to, quite literally, dance the night away,” said the researchers.

Hong concurs, adding that dance is about joy. “Whether you’re twirling across a ballroom, nodding your head to a favorite beat in your car, or moving freely in your living room, dance has an incredible way of making you feel better—physically and emotionally,” he said.

“You don’t need to be a trained dancer, follow perfect choreography, or have rhythm. The simple act of moving your body to music is enough to unlock a cascade of benefits. So, the next time you hear a song you love, don’t overthink it. Stand up, let yourself move, and enjoy the moment. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it.”