3 Good Things for your Brain.
We all know integrally that engaging with the arts makes us feel better. We go to see live music and the energy of being in audience that is feeding, breathing and responding to the musicians on stage leaves us feeling inspired, relaxed and energized. Watching dance gives us that same feeling AND makes us feel like we have shared in the emotional journey with the performers on stage. The added visual element of watching a dancer’s focus and face and seeing the physical manifestation of the emotions is compelling.
Have you ever wondered why?
There is an emerging field called neuroaesthetics that seeks to explain the affect of the arts on the brain. If you want to dive down the rabbit hole here is a great article from the Arts and Mind Lab at John Hopkins University, The Biology of Beauty.
3 Reasons watching dance is good for your brain
Engaging and observing dance can make you feel less lonely. Anyone who is connected with the world these days knows that loneliness is a huge public health problem and Covid-19 has only exasperated it. Even us introverts who gloried in the perfect excuse to not do anything have felt the cold fingers of loneliness in 2020 and 2021. An English study found that among 3,000 participants going to live performance such as theatre, concerts or the opera reduced their reported loneliness by 36%. The findings were found to be independent of other factors suggesting that the simple act of watching live performance caused the improvements (Decker, 2020)
Watching dance makes you feel better because it stimulates production of the feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These chemicals are related to the reward systems in our brains. Oxytocin fosters connection. The fascinating thing is that one doesn’t have to be MAKING the art to experience these benefits. Being an observer is just as beneficial (Magsamen 2019). Wouldn’t that be great if watching someone else exercise had a similar effect?
Watching dance increases empathy, creativity and imagination. The default mode network of the brain that scientists used to think was only responsible for day-dreaming lights up when watching live performance. Using this part of the brain is key to human well-being. This part of our brain allows us to feel empathy and put ourselves in the place of the artist. It helps us relate to each other and new experiences (Magsamen 2019).