DanceMentor
Administrator
Came across this infographic. So, do you think you are smarter? 
Dancing makes you smarter
- Thread starter DanceMentor
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snapdancer
Forum Master
The original scientific paper on this did not claim that it made you smarter. It's point was that dancing could reduce the risk of dementia. The "makes you smarter" claim was (improperly) made by others: http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm
DanceMentor
Administrator
Then more study is needed
snapdancer
Forum Master
How about "Being smarter makes you dance."?
DanceMentor
Administrator
Partner Dancer
Well-Known Member
Specifically, social dancing because of the random split-second decision-making involved.
Quoted...
In social dancing, the Follow role automatically gains a benefit, by making hundreds of split-second decisions as to what to do next, sometimes unconsciously so. As I mentioned on this page, women don't "follow", they interpret the signals their partners are giving them, and this requires intelligence and decision-making, which is active, not passive.
This benefit is greatly enhanced by dancing with different partners, not always with the same fellow. With different dance partners, you have to adjust much more and be aware of more variables. This is great for staying smarter longer.
JudeMorrigan
Forum Master
And to reiterate what snapdancer said, that quote is based on a whole lot of supposition. And it reiterates the inane idea noted elsewhere on the page that only social dancing involves split-second decision making.
Newdancer81
Active Member
I don't understand how something can have a 0% reduced risk of dementia. What was the baseline? Everyone must bike, swim or golf and then those that dance had less risk of dementia. Sorry, I had to nitpick.
However, I think what it does do is that it does keep the brain active (at least partner dancing) because the follow must constantly interpret signals quickly and the lead has to use the proper signals, keep his partner on time and keep him/herself on time as well while also watching for others.
Honestly, as a lead, I think leading is easier (even though I listed more things), and being a follow is much harder.
However, I think what it does do is that it does keep the brain active (at least partner dancing) because the follow must constantly interpret signals quickly and the lead has to use the proper signals, keep his partner on time and keep him/herself on time as well while also watching for others.
Honestly, as a lead, I think leading is easier (even though I listed more things), and being a follow is much harder.
I despise pretty much any FB meme with numbers in it since they are always inacurate and/or misrepresented. I don't like this one either. I think because it seems to be a rationalization for why people should dance, as if enjoying dance in and of itself is not a sufficient justification. I never see this stuff about things like playing basketball or making art, it's pretty much accepted that people do those things for the intrinsic enjoyment of doing them.
Probably just my opposite bias as a follower, but I think leading is harder. You can often (note: not always) go on auto-pilot as follow and still cover mis-follows... on the other hand leading is like driving a racecar, you can't afford to let your mind wander for a split second.
Probably just my opposite bias as a follower, but I think leading is harder. You can often (note: not always) go on auto-pilot as follow and still cover mis-follows... on the other hand leading is like driving a racecar, you can't afford to let your mind wander for a split second.
snapdancer
Forum Master
Neither the graphic nor the scientific paper was specific to any form of dancing.
JudeMorrigan
Forum Master
I was referring to the section that PartnerDancer quoted from the Stanford site. Sorry, I'd run across that page before, and it annoys me enough I have a hard time not grousing about it when I see it cited.