| To the Pointe |
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Volume III, Issue VI December 2008
Why Do People Dance?
As a father of a great dancer and only a
klutz of a dancer myself, I have no choice
but to ask myself this simple, but not fre-
quently asked question. My dance capa-
bilities are limited to the simple Waltz that
tonight. The world is divided into
those that can, and those that cannot
dance. Simplistically, I see the excitement
energy and vitality that my daughter
and others have after they have
completed a trying dance performance.
However, I wonder what inspires them to
expend so much time and energy. Is it for
the audience’s few minutes of attention?
There must be something more important
than the undivided attention of friends
and family members for that brief moment
of time.
It seems to be that dancing or moving in
rhythm is a natural, instinctual action. It is
transcendent medium that can express
feelings and ideas. Toddlers do it before
they can speak. It is chronicled through-
out the whole world since the beginning
of history. It, like painting, music and
other art forms, has stood the test of
time.
When you ask dancers why they do it,
they relate a sense of bonding and
community. They look forward to the
interaction with their friends and
relationships. Another description is that
a feeling of “joy” through dance is
achieved. My daughter tells me it is a
“stress relief”. Your problems or worries
take a back seat to the movement and
rhythm required of you. It is a creation of
something new every time the dancer
performs and/or rehearses the dance.
Columbia University neurologist John
Krakauer has recently addressed the
topic of why people dance. He suggests
that it is really not known scientifically
why people like organized, rhythmic
motion so much, but there's certainly a
lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest we
get a pretty big kick out of it. Maybe
As a father of a great dancer and only a
klutz of a dancer myself, I have no choice
but to ask myself this simple, but not fre-
quently asked question. My dance capa-
bilities are limited to the simple Waltz that
tonight. The world is divided into
those that can, and those that cannot
dance. Simplistically, I see the excitement
energy and vitality that my daughter
and others have after they have
completed a trying dance performance.
However, I wonder what inspires them to
expend so much time and energy. Is it for
the audience’s few minutes of attention?
There must be something more important
than the undivided attention of friends
and family members for that brief moment
of time.
It seems to be that dancing or moving in
rhythm is a natural, instinctual action. It is
transcendent medium that can express
feelings and ideas. Toddlers do it before
they can speak. It is chronicled through-
out the whole world since the beginning
of history. It, like painting, music and
other art forms, has stood the test of
time.
When you ask dancers why they do it,
they relate a sense of bonding and
community. They look forward to the
interaction with their friends and
relationships. Another description is that
a feeling of “joy” through dance is
achieved. My daughter tells me it is a
“stress relief”. Your problems or worries
take a back seat to the movement and
rhythm required of you. It is a creation of
something new every time the dancer
performs and/or rehearses the dance.
Columbia University neurologist John
Krakauer has recently addressed the
topic of why people dance. He suggests
that it is really not known scientifically
why people like organized, rhythmic
motion so much, but there's certainly a
lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest we
get a pretty big kick out of it. Maybe
synchronizing music, which many studies
have shown is pleasing to both the ear
and brain, and movement—in essence,
dance—may constitute a pleasure
double play.
It is thought that music is pleasurable
because it stimulates pleasure and
reward areas like the orbitofrontal cortex,
located directly behind one's eyes, as
well as a midbrain region called the
ventral striatum. In particular, the amount
of activation in these areas matches up
with how much we enjoy the tunes. In
addition, music activates the cerebellum,
at the base of the brain, which is
involved in the coordination and timing of
movement.
So, why is dance pleasurable? First,
people speculate that music was created
through rhythmic movement—think:
tapping your foot. Second, some reward
related areas in the brain are connected
with motor areas. Third, mounting
evidence suggests that we are sensitive
and attuned to the movements of others'
bodies, because similar brain regions are
activated when certain movements are
both made and observed. For example,
the motor regions of professional
dancers' brains show more activation
when they watch other dancers
compared with people who don't dance.
In other words, neurons in the cortex, the
brain's central processing unit, activate
have shown is pleasing to both the ear
and brain, and movement—in essence,
dance—may constitute a pleasure
double play.
It is thought that music is pleasurable
because it stimulates pleasure and
reward areas like the orbitofrontal cortex,
located directly behind one's eyes, as
well as a midbrain region called the
ventral striatum. In particular, the amount
of activation in these areas matches up
with how much we enjoy the tunes. In
addition, music activates the cerebellum,
at the base of the brain, which is
involved in the coordination and timing of
movement.
So, why is dance pleasurable? First,
people speculate that music was created
through rhythmic movement—think:
tapping your foot. Second, some reward
related areas in the brain are connected
with motor areas. Third, mounting
evidence suggests that we are sensitive
and attuned to the movements of others'
bodies, because similar brain regions are
activated when certain movements are
both made and observed. For example,
the motor regions of professional
dancers' brains show more activation
when they watch other dancers
compared with people who don't dance.
In other words, neurons in the cortex, the
brain's central processing unit, activate
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experiences.
Music and dance may just be particularly
pleasurable activators of these sensory
and motor circuits. So, if you're watching
someone dance, your brain's movement
areas activate; unconsciously, you are
planning and predicting how a dancer
would move based on what you would
do.
That may lead to the pleasure we get
from seeing someone execute a
movement with expert skill—that is
seeing an action that your own motor
system cannot predict via an internal
simulation. This prediction error is
probably rewarding in some way.
So, if that evidence indicates that humans
like watching others in motion (and being
in motion themselves), adding music
to the mix may be a pinnacle of reward.
Are dancers celebrating life better than
the rest of seat warmers? Perhaps, but
even if the rest of us lack the physical
capabilities and uninhibited attitude to be
on stage with them, we can still dance
along, even if it is only in our cortex.
I may not have adequately answered my
original question as to why people dance,
but after watching the wonderful dancers
today, I think you, like me, are just glad
that some do.
Submitted by L. Domaracki
Music and dance may just be particularly
pleasurable activators of these sensory
and motor circuits. So, if you're watching
someone dance, your brain's movement
areas activate; unconsciously, you are
planning and predicting how a dancer
would move based on what you would
do.
That may lead to the pleasure we get
from seeing someone execute a
movement with expert skill—that is
seeing an action that your own motor
system cannot predict via an internal
simulation. This prediction error is
probably rewarding in some way.
So, if that evidence indicates that humans
like watching others in motion (and being
in motion themselves), adding music
to the mix may be a pinnacle of reward.
Are dancers celebrating life better than
the rest of seat warmers? Perhaps, but
even if the rest of us lack the physical
capabilities and uninhibited attitude to be
on stage with them, we can still dance
along, even if it is only in our cortex.
I may not have adequately answered my
original question as to why people dance,
but after watching the wonderful dancers
today, I think you, like me, are just glad
that some do.
Submitted by L. Domaracki
| ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Growing up with three older sisters
(no brothers), theater, whether it be
an integral part of my life. In my
stage plays. I learned so much and
have wonderful memories from it.
I knew that if God blessed me with
a daughter, introducing her to theater
would be a must. So when Krysten
turned 4, I decided to enroll her in a
newly opened dance studio close our
that time, Karen Coe was the director
and Krysten’s first dance teacher.
She loved her ballet classes and
soon joined tap dancing too. I can
still remember how excited I was to
see her very first June recital. I was
(no brothers), theater, whether it be
an integral part of my life. In my
stage plays. I learned so much and
have wonderful memories from it.
I knew that if God blessed me with
a daughter, introducing her to theater
would be a must. So when Krysten
turned 4, I decided to enroll her in a
newly opened dance studio close our
that time, Karen Coe was the director
and Krysten’s first dance teacher.
She loved her ballet classes and
soon joined tap dancing too. I can
still remember how excited I was to
see her very first June recital. I was
Apprentice for Coast City Ballet. She has
continues to improve and expand her
abilities. While she has tried many
other activities, dancing remains to be
her passion. She calls PDC her second
home. She enjoys her classes, fellow
dancers (whom some become really
close friends) and dedicated teachers.
Like me, Krysten has found the love of
the arts ~ dancing. Like me, she is
making great memories and wonderful
friends that will last her a lifetime.
To her teachers, past and present,
especially Miss Clara and Miss
continues to improve and expand her
abilities. While she has tried many
other activities, dancing remains to be
her passion. She calls PDC her second
home. She enjoys her classes, fellow
dancers (whom some become really
close friends) and dedicated teachers.
Like me, Krysten has found the love of
the arts ~ dancing. Like me, she is
making great memories and wonderful
friends that will last her a lifetime.
To her teachers, past and present,
especially Miss Clara and Miss
Danielle ~ thank you for sharing
your “gifts”. Your gifts are priceless and
have been the delight of all these young
dancers and their families.
Submitted by Cecille Lawhead
your “gifts”. Your gifts are priceless and
have been the delight of all these young
dancers and their families.
Submitted by Cecille Lawhead
Student’s Corner
Hi, my name is
Krysten, I have been
part of PDC for about
eight years, I am also
a n Apprentice with
Coast City Ballet.
I love to dance and
the best part of
dancing is doing it
with others, right?
People in PDC/CCB
are amazing.
They help you if you
need help with
something and they
are very fun to be
around. PDC/CCB is
the friendliest group of dancers I have
ever met and I am very grateful to be a
part of it.
Submitted by Krysten Lawhead
Hi, my name is
Krysten, I have been
part of PDC for about
eight years, I am also
a n Apprentice with
Coast City Ballet.
I love to dance and
the best part of
dancing is doing it
with others, right?
People in PDC/CCB
are amazing.
They help you if you
need help with
something and they
are very fun to be
around. PDC/CCB is
the friendliest group of dancers I have
ever met and I am very grateful to be a
part of it.
Submitted by Krysten Lawhead
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