breakdance—aherrero (Flickr.com)
Breakdancing offers many benefits beyond impressing people with your moves. It is a form of expression, a dialogue between two people or groups, and a way to bond with others sharing the same passion to “talk” with their limbs and other body parts.
Surprisingly, many breakdancers also testify to how relaxed they feel during and after dancing. It gives a sort of catharsis to them, especially when they feel they need to release a lot of pent-up energy. In a lot of instances, B-boys and girls dance their aggression away, and the result is often entertaining.
Breakdancing is also a very social thing. Hardly anyone break dances alone. In this regard, many groups and affiliations are formed, borne out of a shared love for the movement. Even very young kids bond together because of this dance, and they typically get trained by older kids. There is a sharing of experience and advice by demonstration, which no lecture or formal schooling can hope to achieve.
Also, many break dancers are undeniably fit. Though some may be prone to accidents (you do have plenty of contact with the floor, and that opens up a lot of possibilities for bumps, bruises, and broken body parts), the kind of movement involved in breakdance require a fitness and flexibility that will take some time to have. People who are into breakdancing have to watch their weight and the food they eat.
Fitness studies show how breakdancers who have been at it for a long time have very strong upper bodies. In fact, some breakdancing moves have now been integrated into gym programs like aerobics and other cardio-related routines. The combination of strength, balance, and flexibility is an alluring one for any gym enthusiast: it only makes sense because breakdance offers all of these minus the expensive gym fees and equipment.
As demonstrated in the previous post, even kids can reap the benefits of breakdancing at a tender age. Beyond harnessing their potential agility and grace, kids can bond over breakdancing in the same way they bond over games, books, toys, and other mutual interests. Their boundless energy can be translated into an expression that will allow them to go beyond words. Dancing does that to older people…what more to impressionable children with a lot of energy to spare?
