Sharon Spinney recalled being excited when she found out the activity she was already doing is one of the best activities for protecting her brain.
Spinney, of the newly formed Four Corners Dance Society, said through personal research she learned that dancing social dancing, in particular comes with a host of benefits to the body and brain.
Her interest came out of a passion to try to “shift the tide” on dementia and help people take control of their own future.
“If there’s something that I can do personally to make sure my family doesn’t have to take care of me as I get older, than I want to do that,” Spinney said.
The Cortez City Council has taken notice. On Feb. 12, the council voted to authorize Mayor Karen Sheek to proclaim the week of March 11 through March 17, 2019, as “Brain Awareness Week.”
The proclamation states many Cortez residents suffer from conditions of the brain, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury. The most beneficial activities for the brain combine mindfulness, rhythmic patterns, memorizing movements, social connectivity and learning new movement patterns, according to the proclamation.
Throughout the week, the Four Corners Dance Society will host a series of free social dancing lessons, dancing aerobics classes and a workshop on dancing and the brain.
Dance styles include the cha cha, rumba, triple step, waltz, barn and contra.
All events will be held at Legacy Dance, at 20 W. Main St. in Cortez.
“We just want people to come out with an open mind ... this is a way to do the things that your doctors are saying, ‘These would be good for you,’” Spinney said.
She said the five qualities of social dancing listed in the proclamation are all very nourishing for the brain. She said dancing involves focusing the mind while learning and memorizing intricate dance moves.
When a social aspect is added – dancing with a partner or in a group – she said dancing becomes a conversation, adding another level of benefit for the brain.
Swing dancing, for example, requires subtle cues from the leader. A rotation of the wrist tells the follower to twirl.
Sue Tompkins, who participates in social dance classes in Cortez, said the activity constantly works her memory.
“We do about 20 different dances and within each dance are probably 10 to 15 steps, so it’s a process of recall all the time,” Tompkins said.
Research backs up the claims about dancing and brain health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017 funded research at the University of Illinois at Chicago on the brain benefits of social dance. Researchers designed a Latin ballroom dance program for older sedentary adults and found participants reported improvements in memory attention and focus, according to the CDC.
“Join a dance class to exercise your brain and body,” the CDC website states.
