Does dancing make you a better person?

[MadamSamba]

I was at a wedding the other day and, as most dancers can appreciate, I had no qualms whatsoever going up to a stranger and saying, "hi, would you like to dance?". Now, apparently, this is strange in the non-dancing world, as I quickly discovered, but it struck me that I'm a darn sight friendlier and less intimiated socially thanks to dancing.

We've discussed how dancing has changed us, physically and mentally, but what about spiritually?

For me, I think the answer would be yes, definitely. I'm a far more tolerant person, especially of new dancers who are struggling to keep up with the crowd, and I'm also more courageous and have a better work ethic (if you don't sweat, it ain't worth it :).

I've learned the limits of my body and that while not everyone is as good as you there is always someone better than you. I've discovered that I might be competitive as hell, but some people do things just for the fun of it _ not in a mission to achieve perfection or accolades, but simply for the peace it brings to them.

Are you a better/wiser person in the non-dancing world because of what you've learned and experienced in the wonderful dancing world?

[Sagitta]

I am for the following reason. I reached a point where I could not run as I used to...5-7 miles about 5 times a week. Nothing. I repeat nothing gave me the feeling that you get when you cross a certain point and you are effortlessly moving, almost floating along. Nothing could really de-stress me, relax me like running did. That did affect my mental wellbeing. Then I came to dance and I discovered that I could get the same. And the bonus was I could share that with someone, my dance partner!!

[pygmalion]

I think dancing has brought out some positive facets of my personality that were always there, in a latent state. (How's that for a double-talk answer. :twisted: :lol: ) In a word, yes, dancing has made me a better person.

[dr daffy]

i definitley feel like i'm a better person inside because of dancing. dancing requires so much learning, so much effort, and so much patience that it has made me stronger and more patient with people around me. normally, i'm very impatient and want things done immediately but after so many years of dancing and learning, i've changed for the better. i like the person i am now thanks to dancing :)

[Pacion]

:banana: everything everyone has said :banana:

Although, I think one would have those latent qualities already, otherwise, how do you explain 'arrogant dancers' :?

Are 'arrogant dancers' better people for their dancing or just 'arrogant' on the dancefloor because, maybe, they are actually quite shy/insecure :roll:

[pygmalion]

Good question. Maybe dancing just makes you more of what you already were. So, if you started out good, you become better. If you started out egotistical ... :shock: Hmm. Food for thought.

[jdavidb]

Dance related things feeds my ego. I'd say I have a righteous ego. It is one thing that's available to me which supplies proof to the unrighteous egos of the world that I've got skills; they don't.

It's my way of being wealthier than the wealthy.

It's one of my ways of not caring about being productive based on capitalist standards. I intentionally "do too much" or "put too much time into it" and get satisfaction in knowing that no one else is benefitting from it.

It's my way to have lots of contact with multiple females, so it is a strong mind-conditioner enabling me to never be a chump or a sucker when it comes to women.

[Genesius Redux]

Dancing and martial arts are the only two physical activities I've ever found that return me to archetypal reality. There is an extinction of the ego as you give yourself up to the poomse, the fighting, or the dance.

[jdavidb]

I feel the hybernation of the ego as it is in progress, and during the moments closely surrounding it. But the rest of idle life seems to have the musician & dance enhanced ego deployed, doing its job.

[Flat Shoes]

I am for the following reason. I reached a point where I could not run as I used to...5-7 miles about 5 times a week. Nothing. I repeat nothing gave me the feeling that you get when you cross a certain point and you are effortlessly moving, almost floating along. Nothing could really de-stress me, relax me like running did. That did affect my mental wellbeing. Then I came to dance and I discovered that I could get the same. And the bonus was I could share that with someone, my dance partner!!
I used to be running a lot earlier. But because of injury I can't any more. And I really miss this feeling you're describing. :sad:

For me dancing is also great, but for me it's a different kind of great. A dance lasts much shorter, and then there's a break before the next dance. It doesn't have the same continuity that running has. When running I could go on in a high tempo (high as in running, not jogging) for an hour straight, enjoying my body working for me. That feeling I don't get when dancing. :(

[dancin_feet]

I am much happier and more confident since I started dancing. I laugh a lot more than I used to, and find myself more creative in other aspects of my life. Able to see past the end of my nose as it were. In that sense, yes I am a better person for it. Probably as pygmalion said, I am closer to my true self when I am dancing, to when I am not.

[Flat Shoes]

I was at a wedding the other day and, as most dancers can appreciate, I had no qualms whatsoever going up to a stranger and saying, "hi, would you like to dance?".

What kind of dance did you do with these non-dancers? Personally I find I can't lead a non-dancer, so I seldom ask them to dance with me.


Now, apparently, this is strange in the non-dancing world, as I quickly discovered, but it struck me that I'm a darn sight friendlier and less intimiated socially thanks to dancing.

In the non-dancing world a lot of people seem to look at asking someone to dance as a way of picking up somebody.

I've recently realised that I do the opposite. I just pick women up to dance with them, having no interest in being social after/before the dance. :shock: I need to change that! :lol:

No, I don't think dancing has made me a better person. It has given me a better life, and some new skills, definitely. But I don't think I'm a better person.

I believe that any positive activity is healhty for a persons mind. If a person is positively engaged in something, then that takes away some of the reasons for people having destructive behaviour. That goes for any positive engagement, and not only dancing.

[DiAnAoN1]

Dancing has improved my life in so many different ways! I'm friendlier, more social, I smile more, have met sooo many great people, has given me more confidence, better posture. It has also improved my health, before I was a social drinker and partier now I dont even touch the stuff because I know it will interfere with my balance, I also workout more so I can look good in my dancing outfits :D . Overall I think learning how to salsa dance was one of the most productive things I've done with my time and money and I thank God for it everyday :D .

[tsb]

Are you a better/wiser person in the non-dancing world because of what you've learned and experienced in the wonderful dancing world?

not always wonderful - but that's been part of the many lessons. i think one of the most important things i've gotten out of learning to dance is how life is like climbing a mountain - every time the pinnacle aspired to turned out to be a summit with so much more mountain to climb...

[pygmalion]

wow. That's pretty inspirational. 8)

[tsb]

seriously, dancing is a good way to illustrate the concept that ignorance is bliss. :)

[pygmalion]

Yup. It was blissful. Now I know just enough to make me miserable, from time to time. :( :lol:

[tsb]

to go back to the original question, dancing offers many opportunities to identify, develop & amplify one's strengths. but dance can also amplify one's character flaws. still, these rough spots, if you will, are more likely to be "sanded down" due to the amount & types of social interaction that dancing involves. beyond that, the affirmative impact of touch therapy that can be experienced, and there is the impact of listening to certain types of music that also has proven to provide benefit.

[Sagitta]

I think that whether or not dancing makes you a better person totally depends on the attitude you bring to dancing, and what you are willing to learn from it.

We adults in the working world sometimes motor along equipped and skilled at our jobs. It's good to get a reality check sometimes and realize that there really the more you learn the more you know what you don't know. But then there are those who become good enough, or really good, or good enough for their purposes. Then their normal arrogance and other negative qualities pop out again. I believe that we are fortunate that those who belong to df mostly belong to the former category. Otherwise I cannot imagine df would be what it is today. :)