Like No One’s Watching

*Skirt by* *GEORGIA DUISENBERG, Earrings by DOPL* *Website*/*Instagram*

As a wise woman by the name of Stefani Germanotta once said, “just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo doo.” Though the lyric is modern, its sentiment is timeless–dancing has been quite possibly the rawest and purest form of expression, dating back centuries and transcending the need for words. Dance is the intersection of art and exercise, giving you both the benefits of artistic emotional expression, as well as the physical benefits of movement. Not to mention the obvious–dancing is fun!

When it comes to the benefits of dance, the science doesn’t lie. Dance, like other forms of cardio, accelerates your heart rate and in doing so strengthens the muscle itself, while simultaneously helping to lower your resting heart rate. Unlike many other forms of cardio, dancing also engages every part of your body, often simultaneously. Most, if not all, forms of dance also include a warm-up or stretching period, which increases muscle flexibility and combats joint pain and muscle damage. There are also many psychological benefits to dance: reduced anxiety, increased social bonding, and improved mood are just a few.

Though the benefits of dance are clear, it can be intimidating to be told to ‘just dance’— so it can be helpful to have a place to start. Different forms of dance elicit different physical and emotional sensations, and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be easier to avoid the risk than to take the leap.

That’s where I come in: with over 10 years of dance training and 20 years of grooving to the music, I can say pretty confidently that I’ve been around the block (and the barre).

*Outfit by* *GEORGIA DUISENBERG, Jewelry by DOPL* *Website*/*Instagram*

Ballet

Ballet is grace personified. Smooth pink tights and simple leotards, immaculately coiffed buns, and expertly sewn and laced pointe shoes accentuating impossibly long legs–these are the images that are conjured up for many, myself included, when first thinking of ballet. Despite how structured it seems, though, ballet contains hidden multitudes–from the gentle warm up at the barre, to the lively, fast-paced, allegro, to the elegant adagio.

Hip-Hop

There is no one way to describe hip-hop: its seeds have been scattered across cities, states, countries and continents, weaving together through its roots and forming new blossoms. Because of this, hip-hop is one of the most accessible and customizable forms of dance: it’s not as much about what motions you're doing, as it is about how you’re doing them. In hip-hop, the confidence molds the dancer–an idea that can seem daunting to many. But the benefit of throwing yourself headfirst into the movements is worth the initial fear: not only can you feel the joy and energy coursing through your veins, but hip-hop allows you to take agency of your own body, to work with yourself rather than against.

Contemporary/Modern

Contemporary dance is the ultimate embrace of emotion through dance. It’s fluid, incorporating elements of ballet and hip-hop but existing as a separate, abstract entity. Modern dance is less about the individual steps than about the way in which they’re woven together, both physically and mentally, to create a nonverbal narrative. It’s uniquely introspective, giving you the time to notice your feelings and to use them in your expression rather than suppressing them. This subjectivity makes modern dance an appealing option for those who don’t consider themselves dancers, but would like to take a step onto the floor and explore the fluid world of dance.

Or…DIY

Though there are many named and structured forms of dance, there are just as many forms without a title.

Though the options above can be a good starting point, this by no means is a comprehensive list of every form of dance out there–nor do you need to subscribe to a specific ‘form’ of dance.

The good thing about dance is you don’t need to know how – just put on some music and move your body! Combine forms of dance, make it up yourself, do whatever makes you feel good. And don’t forget…to dance like no one’s watching!