What would you pay to help your child have good mental health?
Since May is Mental Health Month, I thought this would be a good time to discuss the correlation
between dance, art in general, and mental health.
Studies have found that participating in dance can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem and body image, and improve overall mood. Dancing also provides an outlet for self-expression and creativity, which can be therapeutic for individuals with mental health challenges.
Additionally, the social aspect of dancing can promote a sense of community and belonging, which is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Overall, dance can be a fun and effective way to improve mental well-being.
Doctors and the medical community are getting on board with this way of thinking. Starting in 2018, Médecins francophones du Canada started providing prescriptions for people to tour Quebec’s Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for free.
Doctors in Brussels soon followed suit and started prescribing prescriptions to visit museums to combat the effects of Covid depression.
Now doctors in the U.K. are looking to prescribe prescriptions for dance, music, and art classes.
So what does this mean for dance afficionados like you? Whether you participate in dance yourself or support a child’s dance dream, you are making a difference in helping yourself or someone you love have stronger mental health.
Even though we can’t be written a prescription for dance in the U.S. (yet), knowing the power dance can have on our mental health is priceless.
Nichole Fortunato, Director & Co-Owner
Elite Performance Challenge
Excel in Motion