It’s Never Too Late…DANCE

Life gets busy, routines take over, and many of us quietly put our interests on hold. Consider this an open invitation to reconnect with your curiosity by exploring hobbies, activities, and passions you’ve always wanted to try — without the intimidation factor. Each feature, we’ll break down the basics, offer beginner-friendly guidance, and prove it’s never too late to start something new. 

Whether it’s the graceful movements of ballet, the rhythmic beat of tap, or the barely concealed passion of the tango, there’s something about dance that speaks to each of us. 

If you were a dancer growing up, or even if you’ve never danced before, it’s never too late to pursue your curiosity and take an adult dance class. 

This month is a great time to look into it, with many local dance studios enrolling for their fall classes, which kick off with back to school. However, many studios will also allow adults to join at any time, or even offer drop in classes.  

“Dance is amazing for the brain, coordination, balance, and endurance,” said Christina Hedding, who with her sister Teresa Novak, co-owns Footlights Dance Studio in Flower Mound, which offers adult tap and jazz/hip hop classes for anyone over 17.

One of those students in Footlights’ jazz/hip hop class is Sharon White, a Flower Mound mom with a college-age daughter and two-time cancer survivor. “I’ve been dancing since I was 3 years old,” Sharon said. “I can’t imagine my life without it. From taking dance classes as a little girl to being on drill team in high school, dance has always been a part of who I am.

“Now that I’m older, I’m still dancing, and I love it just as much as ever. Every class reminds me why I never stopped,” she said. In addition to the classes at Footlights, Sharon also takes cardio dance at Life Time Fitness. 

IF YOU’VE NEVER DANCED

“Our teachers are accommodating for dancers at every level, and they’ll meet you wherever you are,” Christina said. “It’s a good way to ease your body into moving.” She added that if the dance calls for something your body isn’t ready to do, you can always opt out. 

If you’ve never danced, don’t expect to be coordinated at the beginning, and remember that there’s other beginners out there, too. Teachers don’t start at full speed, so you can ‘mark’ the movements slower and then get up to full-speed. Mistakes will happen, and that’s part of the fun — it may be that letting go and opening up to new things is the hardest part!

“Age has never been a reason to stop doing something you love,” Sharon said. “For me, dance is proof that you can keep learning, growing, and having fun at every stage of life.” 

WHAT DO YOU NEED 

A simple Google or Yelp search will help you find studios near you that offer everything from ballroom to ballet — jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, line, square, aerial, and even pole dancing (which builds immense core and upper-body strength and can burn 300-700 calories per hour). 

Just like other fitness classes, you’ll need a water bottle to stay hydrated. Otherwise, you’ll need clothes and shoes for the type of dance you choose — if you’re taking tap, you’ll need tap shoes, for example. “For hip hop or jazz, we recommend tennis shoes because they’re better for knees,” Christina said. 

Each studio will be different, so check with the one you choose for specific details.

BENEFITS OF DANCE

“Dance is so much more than exercise. It’s a workout that strengthens both my body and my mind,” Sharon said. “Learning new routines challenges my memory, keeps me thinking, and gives me a sense of accomplishment every time I master a combination.” 

Frequent dancing can lower the risk of dementia by up to 76% — more than twice the potential benefits as reading — according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dance makes you coordinate physical movement to music, stimulating both sides of the brain, while also releasing feel-good endorphins. 

Ballroom dancing can also be a great activity to do with your partner. It strengthens your romantic bond, builds trust through non-verbal communication, and forces you to be completely present with your partner. All that in addition to improving posture, flexibility, stability, and balance.

“Most of all, dancing makes me feel good,” Sharon said. “It brings me joy, boosts my energy, and lets me forget about the stresses of everyday life for a while. And if I can inspire kids to see that ‘older people’ still have plenty of moves, that’s an added bonus.”