Why is Salsa Dancing the Best?
Why is Salsa Dancing the best? Simple, it is the quickest way to connect with a positive community. It’s the best way to stay physically and mentally fit and it’s one of the best activities that you can do in any part of the world.
Community
When I started Salsa lessons, I gained a family. I didn’t even know that I needed that in my life but I did. Suddenly I had a group of people that would cheer me on as I struggled to learn to dance, even when I had two left feet. And so at the school that I now run, I started in 2009 as a student. It was hard for me. But everyone – my classmates, the Instructors, the Helpers – everyone, cheered me on.
And as I started to go out social dancing everyone was smiling. Whenever I would ask someone to dance, they would say yes. Of the over probably 12,000 times that I have asked someone to dance. I have been rejected maybe 20 times. Those are amazing odds! I found my family. I found a sense of belonging in the Salsa dance community. And now I foster that in all the new students, all the new volunteers, all the new instructors. The thing that we starve for most in this world is a sense of connection and community and Salsa can give you that if you give it a chance. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say; “I have too many friends.” So Salsa dancing is the best because you gain new family and friends.
Physical and Mental Fitness
In an average class, you do at least 1500 to 2000 steps. That’s a huge number of daily steps you complete in just one hour. When I first started to dance, I was extremely overweight. But as I started to dance more and be more physically active, the weight came off. So an added benefit was that I became more comfortable with my body. I believe that being healthier is partially learning to love yourself better.
And as I’ve been on this journey of physical health, the mental health benefits have been just as big. All dance – including Salsa – is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy mind. You create new neuron connections as you learn more and more steps. This has similar benefits to activities such as doing crossword puzzles and swimming or going to the gym. Dance is one of the best ways to increase your cognitive flexibility and improve your mental health.
But let’s go back to the first point – community. Everyone has struggled with loneliness and there is a massive mental health benefit to being able to go out and hold people’s hands, laugh with them, and feel good with them. Salsa inspired me to not only take charge of my physical health but helped me gain confidence and start to love myself more. Salsa dancing is challenging. And when you’re with the right kind of people, that negative internal voice that told me “You can’t dance. You have two left feet” started to quiet down a little bit. I started to hear that negative voice less and less because all the people around me said, “Hey Aleks, you’re doing pretty well.” Physical and mental fitness and warding off loneliness? It’s no wonder that Salsa dancing is the best activity!
Salsa is fun!
Put on a Marc Anthony song, put on any Salsa song and I bet that you can’t sit still. Your feet will tap, your hands will tap, and your booty will shake. There’s a reason why Salsa dance is the most popular dance around the world. And what I mean by that is you can go to any part of the world, any country and you will find a Latin club because at its core Salsa is energy and fun. Don’t you want to have more energy and fun in your life?
I’ve travelled across Canada and the world and in every place, I have found a Latin club where people welcome you with open arms. I might not speak the language but my moves and my body speak the language of Salsa. I’m blessed and grateful to have had this opportunity for the past twelve years and I am planning on continuing my dance journey into my 90s and beyond.
So whether you want more fun in your life, more human connection or to increase your physical and mental fitness, Salsa Dancing is truly the best activity around.
I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you come in week-to-week, have fun, connect with new friends and let loose to amazing Latin songs. Click here to check our current schedule.
If you have any questions you would like me to answer here are some ways you can contact me: message me on Instagram (torontodanceSalsa), on Twitter (#torontodanceSalsa), on Facebook (Toronto Dance Salsa) or email me at [email protected]
