Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

  1. #1
    The Dashing Moderator
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Midlands
    Posts
    3,556
    Rep Power
    12

    Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    BBC News story here

    Admittedly it's about Salsa, but it looks like the conclusions apply generally to partner dancing.
    Love dance, will travel

  2. #2
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    10,015
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by the BBC story
    One concern expressed after the study was the high number of people who dropped out of the classes at an early stage - and only one male participant managed to complete the course.
    I wonder if this would have been such a big problem had they chosen to do their study with Ceroc/MJ, rather than Salsa.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  3. #3
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    I wonder if this would have been such a big problem had they chosen to do their study with Ceroc/MJ, rather than Salsa.
    Well, according to this press release, the guy running the study is a salsa dancer, so that probably influenced his choice somewhat

    But yes, Ceroc / MJ would definitely have been a better choice from a "retention" point of view. Would it have been more effective, though? I'm not sure - you've got to think and work a bit to get salsa, which maybe is more effective than just turning up. It'd be interesting to see a comparative study of effectiveness of different dance forms.

    ( Of course, if it'd been tango, they'd probably have sunk even deeper into depression )

  4. #4
    Registered User Blueshoes's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    1,428
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    I don't need the BBC to write a story to know that dancing is good for you! And I would defy anyone to come to Southport for a day and draw any other conclusion. Oh yes, just remembered, nearly anyone....

  5. #5
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by Blueshoes View Post
    I don't need the BBC to write a story to know that dancing is good for you!
    I think (I hope!) it's a bit more sophisticated than that.

    Apparently, they're using the Beck Depression Inventory - and the results (summary here) seem to be effective.

    It's an interesting question whether it's "salsa" or "partner dancing" that is the cause, however - if the latter, then Ceroc would be better because it's a shallower learning curve, and therefore a higher retention rate.

    Quote Originally Posted by Blueshoes View Post
    And I would defy anyone to come to Southport for a day and draw any other conclusion.
    Christ no - the last thing I'd do to someone with depression is to send them to Pontins for a weekend. It's quite possible for normal people to get depressed at these events, emotions are heightened and so on - you often see people who are miserable and/or crying. So it'd be massively irresponsible to do that, it could tip them over.

    Quote Originally Posted by Blueshoes View Post
    Oh yes, just remembered, nearly anyone....

  6. #6
    Registered User David Franklin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,426
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    Apparently, they're using the Beck Depression Inventory - and the results (summary here) seem to be effective.

    It's an interesting question whether it's "salsa" or "partner dancing" that is the cause, however - if the latter, then Ceroc would be better because it's a shallower learning curve, and therefore a higher retention rate.
    An even more interesting question is if the results are from selection bias since they only include the 30% or so who actually stuck with the Salsa classes. I would suspect those people would tend to be the ones whose depression was least "severe" (for want of a better term) in the first place.

    From experience of both Salsa and Ceroc, I'd think Ceroc would work a lot better - I think it's a far more welcoming environment for beginners. Conversely, a lot (although not all) of Salsa classes have elements that almost seem designed to demoralise beginners. (E.g. the classes that have the group warm-up, but don't break any of it down for beginners. It makes a huge difference if you find a class which actually teaches it).

    Christ no - the last thing I'd do to someone with depression is to send them to Pontins for a weekend. It's quite possible for normal people to get depressed at these events, emotions are heightened and so on - you often see people who are miserable and/or crying.
    Of course, sleep deprivation will do that... But even without that, I'm not sure weekenders are ideal for newcomers to dance, even if they don't suffer from depression.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Southampton
    Posts
    6,709
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by David Franklin View Post
    An even more interesting question is if the results are from selection bias since they only include the 30% or so who actually stuck with the Salsa classes. I would suspect those people would tend to be the ones whose depression was least "severe" (for want of a better term) in the first place.
    More statistical conclusions reached by the statistically illiterate, it would seem...

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Southampton
    Posts
    6,709
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    My feeling is that Modern Jive would be far more effective because -

    SALSA MUSIC IS RUBBISH AND BORING.

    (Mind you, the DJs down here are doing their utmost to parallel that...)

  9. #9
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by David Franklin View Post
    An even more interesting question is if the results are from selection bias since they only include the 30% or so who actually stuck with the Salsa classes. I would suspect those people would tend to be the ones whose depression was least "severe" (for want of a better term) in the first place.
    Yes, I'd like to see the raw data - I googled for it, but couldn't find anything published

    Quote Originally Posted by David Franklin View Post
    Of course, sleep deprivation will do that... But even without that, I'm not sure weekenders are ideal for newcomers to dance, even if they don't suffer from depression.

    Weekenders can be lonely and depressing places - not everyone is out being the life and soul of the party. But you never hear much from the people who didn't have a good time...

    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov View Post
    SALSA MUSIC IS RUBBISH AND BORING.
    Yeah, I can't deny it.
    Last edited by David Bailey; 8th-January-2007 at 02:37 PM.

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Bournemouth / Salisbury
    Posts
    27
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    (Mind you, the DJs down here are doing their utmost to parallel that...)[/QUOTE]

    Here! Here!

  11. #11
    Registered User Shodan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Exeter
    Posts
    379
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    Weekenders can be lonely and depressing places - not everyone is out being the life and soul of the party. But you never hear much from the people who didn't have a good time...
    I dunno.... went to a Salsa/Jive combined weekender recently and didnt know that many people there, and those I did know where all being coupley with each other.
    So I went out and had fun and the net result is that I now have 3 new lady friends from around the country that I keep in contact with regularly. I also partially converted them to Jive (they were at the weekend for the salsa).

  12. #12
    Registered User Tessalicious's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Kentish Town
    Posts
    1,650
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    Quote Originally Posted by DJ
    Yes, I'd like to see the raw data - I googled for it, but couldn't find anything published
    I don't think the paper has actually been published yet, or at least if it has it isn't in any reputable journal - I'll keep an eye out in the journals though, and let you know if I can get hold of any of the raw data.

  13. #13
    Registered User Shodan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Exeter
    Posts
    379
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Another "Research shows dancing is good for you" story..

    I agree with that BBC report, but also agree with you its not specific to Salsa.

    Dancing has really really helped me through some tough times and has pulled me back from the edge and really has turned my life around. I won't go into details, but it certainly helped me. I can't imagine a world without dance now.

    The only downside is its depressing knowing you have to wait X amount of days before your next "dance fix".

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Strictly Come Dancing 5 - potential list of celebs
    By JiveLad in forum The Land of a 1000 dances
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 5th-January-2007, 08:34 PM
  2. Dancing at Putney
    By Twirly in forum Social events
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 20th-December-2006, 04:13 PM
  3. Advanced Dancing
    By Gus in forum Intermediate Corner
    Replies: 78
    Last Post: 22nd-January-2003, 12:55 PM
  4. The Forum story so far...
    By Franck in forum Fun and Games
    Replies: 52
    Last Post: 17th-January-2003, 03:23 PM
  5. Astro Dancing
    By Ash in forum Chit Chat
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 18th-December-2002, 12:58 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •