WESTERN DANCE

The number of people taking part in dance classes worldwide is increasing, with dance allowing people to be more active, socialize within local communities and develop creative skills. There are numerous benefits to partaking in dance classes ranging from increasing your amount of daily exercise to making new friends with shared interests. In the European Union, the weekly exercise targets for children are currently set at a minimum of 1 hour per day for children and at least 30 minutes, five times a week for adults. Although these targets may look daunting at first, they can easily be met by attending dance classes. Some of the benefits to increasing the amount of exercise you do are; reduced stress levels, improved relaxation, stronger bones and muscles and help to control body weight. Dance also offers an activity for people who may not consider themselves as too sporty. The benefit of dance is not only that of increased exercise, but the participation in an art form, which is rooted in technique and giving the opportunity for a creative outlet. Dance can also open new opportunities in terms of careers. The entertainment industry is vast, employing an estimated 30,000 in dance related roles in the UK alone. There are numerous professions in dance from dancing, teaching, choreography or dance notation. In addition to this, people work in the dance industry as; community dance practitioners, promoters, producers, designers, publicists, technicians, physiotherapists, medical and alternative practitioners, therapists, writers and academics. The skills developed in dance can also be valuable transferable skills that can be applied to any career path. The confidence gained through achievements in dance helps to build social skills, increase self esteem and the ability to communicate well in a group. These skills once built up through partaking in dance can lead to a variety of career routes. Taking the first step can be the hardest, but by getting qualified teachers, you can be assured of high quality of training.