Montreal Gazette – Feeling stuck in lockdown? Time to dance

Dancing is a simple way to stay active, connected and creative in the midst of this pandemic, writes Lara Antebi. Dr Peter Lovatt's work on the Psychology of Dance is cited.

Published in the Montreal Gazette 22nd February 2021

Words by Lara Antebi

It’s been nearly a year since the first lockdown in Quebec, and the future remains as uncertain as ever. Many of us are feeling the pressure, or at least, trying to adapt to an ever-evolving situation beyond our control.

Dance is a part of being human: it’s central to ritual and celebrations, it’s leveraged for healing and therapeutic purposes and, most of all, it can be enjoyed by anyone. It doesn’t require any special skills, knowledge or equipment. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to dance. All you need is yourself, some music and a desire to get moving.

There are many benefits to dance, however here are a few on why dancing is a great activity to try if you’re feeling stuck in lockdown.

Dancing is good for your health.

With work-from-home orders and remote learning, many of us find ourselves aching (literally) for some physical activity. Dance is a form of cardiovascular exercise, and can also improve balance and strength. If you don’t find other forms of exercise to be particularly enjoyable, or if you are looking for something gentler on the body, dancing can be a fun and accessible alternative.

Dancing is also good for your mental health. Like other forms of exercise, dancing can help relieve stress, improve sleep and reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. Research has shown that even five minutes of dancing can noticeably improve your mood and feelings of well-being, making it a convenient activity when you’re in need of a boost.

Dancing helps us feel connected.

With social distancing and lockdown measures keeping us physically apart, dancing (and music) are inherently social activities.

For one, the act of moving in sync with others, also known as “synchrony,” has been shown to increase feelings of closeness and unity among those involved. Even without physical gatherings, there are ways to benefit from the shared experience of dancing together. For instance, many dance classes have moved onto platforms such as Zoom, so that everyone can see each other and synchronize to the music. Similarly, virtual nightclubs and raves have taken off using Zoom or even Virtual Reality (VR) technology, bringing the social scene into peoples’ homes.

Dancing can also enrich our existing connections, whether it is throwing a household dance party, or meeting with a friend outdoors for a socially distanced dance session. If you prefer to dance solo (which is a great way to feel connected to yourself, by the way), music is already another avenue for connection, for example, by exchanging song recommendations. With a bit of imagination, it is possible to harness dance’s social potential.

Dancing stimulates creativity.

Dance is a form of non-verbal communication and can be a tool for creative expression. Like music and art, dance is a way of expressing powerful emotions that may be otherwise difficult to capture in words. Having a creative outlet such as dance can also be rewarding, by fostering feelings of self-esteem and mastery.

Finally, dancing can help stimulate new connections and ideas, especially when it comes to improvised dance. According to dance psychologist Peter Lovatt, dancing can help us break out of our routine ways of thinking, by altering the way we move and changing our relationship with our surroundings. This is connected to our ability to think outside the box, to creatively problem-solve, and can give us a fresh perspective on life. So if you are feeling stuck, a little bit of movement can go a long way.

Dancing is a simple way to stay active, connected and creative in the midst of this pandemic. So next time you find yourself looking to shake things up a bit, try shaking to some music. You might be surprised where it takes you.

Learn more about the Dance Cure (click on the book cover to find out more)

Dr Peter Lovatt spent over 20 years working as a university academic. He set up the Dance Psychology Lab to understand dance and dancers from a psychological, scientific perspective. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and his teaching has been highly commended. Find out more about his academic life here

Peter Lovatt is an author and he has written two books: “The Dance Cure, the surprising secret to being smarter, stronger, happier” was first published by Short Books in the UK in 2020. “Dance Psychology, the science of dance and dancers” was first published in the UK in 2018. Peter has also writes commissioned articles. Find out more about his writing life here

Peter Lovatt is an international keynote speaker who delivers groovy keynotes which inspire, entertain and get minds and pulses racing. Peter has given keynote talks around the world and he has worked with organisations from different sectors, for example, in the banking, tech, creative, education, health and automotive industries. Find out more about his keynotes here

Peter Lovatt is a founding director of the Movement in Practice Academy. The Movement in Practice Academy is a specialist provider of education in the psychology of movement and dance. Movement in Practice Academy is an accredited provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Education (CE) and Continuing Professional Education (CPE), providing both anytime learning and scheduled face-to-face learning opportunities. Find out more about Movement in Practice Academy here

Peter Lovatt became known as Dr Dance through his TV and media work. He first appeared as Dr Dance on the Graham Norton Show (BBC) in 2008 and Dr Dance has since made over 1000 appearances across all major UK TV and radio networks, in magazines and newspapers and on stage. Dr Dance has made several stage shows, including “Dance Dr Dance” (2010), “INSPIRED Psychology Danced” (2011) and “Boogie on the Brain” (2018). Find out more about Dr Dance here

Peter Lovatt lives on the beautiful north Norfolk coast with his partner and their two sons.

Find out more about Peter’s latest news here

Peter Lovatt

Former professional dancer turned academic psychologist, Dr Peter Lovatt is Dr Dance. His mission is to improve lives through movement and dance. He is the author of THE DANCE CURE: THE SURPRISING SCIENCE TO BEING SMARTER, STRONGER, HAPPIER. He set up the world's first Dance Psychology Lab in 2008 and wrote the definitive DANCE PSYCHOLOGY book in 2018. Peter Lovatt is the director of Dr Dance Presents Ltd. and the MOVEMENT IN PRACTICE ACADEMY. He teaches Dance Psychology at the Royal Ballet School in London.

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