Boogie to Great Health: Dance Benefits & Classes in San Diego

There’s nothing better then feeling good about yourself, both mentally and physically. Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial and necessary to maintaining a balanced body, but the gym routine gets boring and feels like a chore and the outdoors aren’t for everyone. The simplest way to burn some serious calories and have fun is to get out on the dance floor and shake what your mama gave you! Art is an essential part of society and dance is an art by which everyone can express their emotions.

The essential medium of dance is the human body.

And in the famous words of Martha Graham, "Dance is the hidden language of the soul."

Dance, in addition to enriching the mind and soul, also provides a bevy of scientifically proven health benefits. Dance classes have been said to boost memory, improve flexibility, reduce stress, diminish depression, benefit the cardiovascular system, help with weight loss, improve balance and increase energy. Plus, it’s also a great way to make new friends!

There are nine essential benefits from dancing that enhance your mind, body and soul. First, let’s start with your mind. The art of dance is a series of movements to communicate a feeling or emotion, and learning those movements helps increase your memory. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, aerobic exercise can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. Along with boosting your memory, dancing can reduce stress. When you’re out at a club or party and dancing, you’re not worried about today’s or tomorrow’s problems.Taking time out in the day to partake in a hobby can help to reduce stress levels, and reduced stress helps to diminish depression. If you’re dancing with a partner or in a group, you find companionship and lose the feeling of loneliness.

Of course, with dancing the most important part is your body! There’s a lot of heart and soul in dance, so it makes sense that it’s good for your heart. Dance can improve the physical condition and health of your heart and lungs. When you’re learning how to dance, each movement helps with your balance. Dancing requires a lot of fast movement and good posture which will help you stabilize and gain better control of your body. Dance offers a way to improve strength and flexibility, which helps keeps muscles and joints healthy. The more you’re active, the more energy you will have and the more you’ll accomplish; it’s the perfect, healthy definition of a "domino effect."

The best part? You’re having so much fun, you don’t realize that you are losing weight! According to a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, dance is as beneficial in weight loss as other rigorous forms of exercise. The cardio you perform, whether it is fast like salsa or slow like contemporary, burns calories and tones your body. The most rewarding part of dance is that it gives you a chance to start a new hobby and a place to make new friends. Participating in dance can help increase your self–esteem and confidence through mastering new skills. Dance offers a creative outlet for people to express their personalities in a safe environment. Inspired yet? There are several dance studios in San Diego where you can experience these benefits.

Dancessense Studios, located in Carlsbad, provides flexible dance class options that allow students to try one class at a time, take monthly classes, or purchase blocks of lessons with discounts. Dancessense is focused on making dancing accessible, affordable and fun without compromising quality for all ages and skill levels. Dancessense even has a custom–designed floating floor that minimizes impact on the body and feet. Their high caliber Dance Instructors include Professional U.S. National Champions and World Champions. Students also have an opportunity to take lessons from Licensed World Class Dance Judges. Dancessense Studios, LLC has been in business since January of 2013.

It was opened by Melissa Dexter and Giacomo Steccaglia, former Professional World Champions. They coach all categories of dance and have choreographed for television, stage and film.

Despite their professional leanings, Dancessense’s philosophy is that dance is for everyone— from toddlers to seniors and everyone in between— and all levels—from a complete novice who is taking their first dance step to those whose aspirations are to compete at the international level. Dancessense Studios offers classes in all categories of ballroom, social and nightclub dances, including waltz, tango, chacha, samba, rumba, west coast swing, Argentine tango, salsa and more. Dancessense Studios also offers classes in other fun dance forms including line dancing, Nia, Afro–Brazilian/Capoeira and hip–hop.

Another great option can be found at San Diego’s newest dance and fitness studio, Momentum Dance Co. located in the heart of Miramar. Momentum Dance Co. opened it's doors October 2014 by owner and director Dominique Lopez. With Lopez's 25 years of dance experience of choreographing, teaching, and performing, MDC is a one-of-a-kind hidden gem in San Diego.  Momentum Dance Co. opened it's doors October 2014 by owner and director Dominique Lopez. With Lopez's 25 years of dance experience of choreographing, teaching and performing, MDC is a one-of-kind hidden gem in San Diego.  What makes Momentum Dance Co. unique, is the wide variety of adult dance and fitness classes and studio events offered. Momentum Dance Co. is already gaining notoriety as San Diego’s most unique dance studio. MDC caters to a melting pot of cultures and interests—there is literally something for everyone at MDC, like salsa, ballet, Bolly–Fit, burlesque, fitness bootcamps and so much more! In fact, Momentum is looking to increase their class menu next month to include even more international dance and fitness classes for adults. "Hottie Hula," anyone? From their unique classes to their quirky and cute décor, Momentum Dance Co. truly is the most unique studio in San Diego, providing both fitness and dance classes for dancers of all ages, interests and skill levels. Momentum stresses health, fun, encouragement and empowerment through art and fitness. Whether you’re classically trained or just looking to move your booty, San Diego has plenty of options for dance classes! Slip on something comfy and try something new—your body will thank you.