2020-04-06_Daily_Express

Daily Express Monday, April 6, 2020 23

from dawn to dusk – and has apparently

done so since birth. “When he was a baby

and beginning to move, I would do ‘contact

improvisation’ to mirror and amplify his

movements,” says the Dance Doctor.

“If he moved his arm against me, I would

make a bigger arm movement and connect it

back to him. These were beautiful shared

movements.

“Now he’s very proactive in doing lots of

different styles of dance at home and we

often see his emotions coming out through

movement. Rhythm and movement can be

very cathartic and help you purge pent

up emotions. And dance also helps with

cognitive processing – it literally changes the

way we think.”

It also famously produces “cathartic

responses” with the release of hormones

such as dopamine and endorphins.

“We dance to celebrate, to grieve or when

we fall in love,” says its biggest advocate.

From high school proms to first dances at a

wedding to the Maori haka, dancing is all

around us. Even in the beautiful game, I

wonder? “Oh yes,” he smiles. “The

‘celebrations’ following a goal are like dance

signatures that belong to the players and are

recognised by their fans. We are naturally

dancing all the time.”

And, intriguingly, the benefits are some-

what different from standard aerobic

exercises. So while running on a treadmill or

cycling has some benefits, it cannot confer

the same range.

“Dancing stimulates those areas of the

brain responsible for a range of mental

activities. These include our memory,

perception, learning and interpersonal

co-operation. It helps with super-sharp

thinking,” he points out.

And, apparently, the optimal time to

indulge is just before you go to sleep.

“The brain builds new knowledge

structures called schemas while we sleep,

and it is these structures that underpin our

ability to learn and remember.”

B

UT whatever time of day you do it,

Dr Dance is on a mission to get

us all to do more dancing. “I have

the best job in the world,” he says of his role,

which also includes corporate presentations

to rows of reluctant executives.

“When I’m standing in front of a group of

people sitting in chairs their faces initially

look quite stern.

“But when I say, ‘Everyone stand up and

just have a wiggle’, it’s like every face is

suddenly full of a thousand spotlights.

“Suddenly their whole being radiates

beauty. People think that you have

to be a certain age or body

type to dance, but it’s not

true.

“I hope an oldish

man who is out of

shape can get the

world dancing.

“Wouldn’t it be

fab if everyone

walking down

the street could

just do a little

move?”

If the dance

doctor has his

way, it won’t be

long before we’re

all shaking our stuff.

●To get dancing, go

to YouTube and look up

Dr Dance Happy Dance for

an easy community routine that

everyone can enjoy together at home.

Dance Cure: The Surprising

Secret to Being

Smarter, Stronger,

Happier by Dr Peter

Lovatt (Short Books,

£9.99) is out now. Call

Express Bookshop on

01872 562310 or order via

expressbookshop.co.uk. UK

Delivery is £2.95 per order,

orders over £12.99 are free.

By DR DANCE

ONE of the greatest ways to get

started – even if you’ve never

danced before – is to find some

music on the radio and let yourself

feel it.

Your body will naturally want to

move to the rhythm.

First overcome your self-

consciousness then overcome the

feeling you have got to get it right.

If you are feeling really tense you

can lie on a bed or sofa and do

this. Close your eyes and choose a

part of your body to dance – such

as your tummy and thigh muscles

• and twitch in time with the music.
  Feel the beat inside your body.
  Over time you can make it larger
  and larger.
  Then try it sitting in a chair, then
  stand up and feel your hips moving
  from side to side.
  Just shake away all that tension
  and become at one with the music.
  You’ll feel much better if you do.

HOW TO RELAX AND

GET INTO THE GROOVE

APTION:
s in 9pt
elvetica
lack
xcept
when it’s
ot on a
icture
when its

APAPTIOTIOTITIOT N: N
s sin i 9ptpt
elveteticaica
lack
xcxceptept
wheen it’ss
otot onon a a
iccturturureee
whewhehenin in in iitttss s

TWIRLS OF WISDOM:

Dr Dance shows how to

shimmy yourself sharper

beauty. People thin

to be a certa

type to da

true.

“I h

man

shap

wo

fa

w

th

ju

m

do

wa

long

all sh

● To get

to YouTube

Dr Dance Hap

an easy community