Can You Lose Your Hearing by Dancing?

Posted on July 29, 2016 by WildBill

More likely you would lose it by NOT dancing, but by listening too much with the volume turned up on your iPod or iPhone, or other device, because many of the earbuds in use aren’t very effective so people turn up the volume.Studies have found that users of these Apple devices can be listening at 100-105 decibels. This is well above the OSHA-recommended 85 decibels.

Remember, ears that get damaged stay damaged. They can’t be repaired. And when people talk about decibels (dBA), which is how loudness is measured, we need to remember that they are logarithmic, so that a small increase in the number means a big increase in the noise level (adding 10 dBA DOUBLES the noise level). In the case of dancers, OSHA’s estimate of 110 decibels for discotheques means that the well-advised dancer should limit their dancing in such establishments.

At most of the dinner-dances and dance parties we at Wilddancer attend, the music volume is within safe limits. But we attend as many galas as we can, as they nearly always have dancing, to either a band or a DJ (sometimes a worse bet volume-wise because he has lots of watts at his command). Unfortunately, they almost always have live auctions too, and often when the auctioneer comes on the sound gets louder. (A similar boost happens sometimes when the ads play on radio or TV.)

Fortunately, loudness meters—either standalone models or apps for smartphones—are not expensive, and the serious dancer shouldn’t worry about looking a bit geeky using them. More simply, he/she can always carry earplugs, and use them when things get too loud. It’s a lot better than suffering hearing loss for the rest of his/her life.

2015 National Dance Day is July 25

Posted on July 22, 2015 by WildBill

If this is late July, it must be time for the annual National Dance Day celebration. You can see the background for this event on our original post. Yeah, we know that its scope is lots bigger than social couples dancing, but it’s a good excuse to get off your butt and move to the music. You can see more details here. Even better if you meet a special someone and see how romantic couples dancing can be. And then maybe you’ll be inspired to take a few lessons, and learn to move together as a couple.

How to Improve Balance: Learn to Dance

Posted on June 23, 2015 by WildBill

Couples usually go dancing for fun. And depending on the tempo of the dance and the length of time they dance, it is also good for fitness. But according to recent research, there is an additional benefit from dancing that doesn’t occur from exercise such as walking or running that produces the same amount of sweat. That benefit is improved balance which, especially for older folks (those same ones that actually know how to do touch dancing), can prevent falls and injuries (sometimes so serious they are hospitalized and die). This benefit comes from the unpredictability of a partner’s actions (similar benefits occur in doubles tennis). Skeptics could point out that the less skillful the dancers, the greater the benefit, while advocates could argue that the more skillful dancers have a lot more alternative moves, so they can surprise their partners in a variety of different ways, providing pleasure both to themselves and to onlookers.

Dancing Combats Sedentary Ills

Posted on February 28, 2014 by WildBill

“Sitting is the new smoking”. Two recent studies show the ill effects of lack of movement. In January 2014, a Kaiser Permanente study of over 82,000 age 45+ men found that men who sat 5+ hours beyond their regular workday were two times more likely to have heart failure than those who sat for 2 hours or less and were more physically active. And in February 2014 a study of about 2,300 age 60+ people published on February 19 in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, and reported in numerous periodicals such as the Los Angeles Times showed that even people who get regular moderate exercise need to avoid spending too much of the rest of their time sitting. According to the study you are likely to be more sedentary if you are older, male, more educated, less wealthy, being a smoker, and having a chronic illness. Scarily, the study found that the odds of disability were 1.52 times greater for every one hour increase in sedentary time. It’s too bad that men have a harder time learning to dance than women, but guys you have to “man up”, take more lessons, and get out on the dance floor. And if you want to replace your current moderate (or heavy) exercise regimen with one that is more fun, be aware that dancing can be very hearty exercise (have a look at the “Physical demands” section of the Dancesport topic at Wikipedia).

Real Men Dance: New Cuban Fury Movie

Posted on February 14, 2014 by WildBill

Social couples dancing smacks of romance. What better day than Valentine’s Day to release a movie that could significantly boost interest in salsa. Salsa combines hot moves (hey, it originated in Latin America) with plenty of exercise, and is already the latest worldwide social couples dance craze. A British movie specifically timed for release today might be the next big dance movie hit. It’s a comedy, but shows that anybody can learn to dance. And there’s romance, so the learner is rewarded for his efforts. YouTube is full of trailers. Have a look .

Ice Dancing at the Winter Olympics: More Like Ballroom Dancing Than Ice Skating

Posted on February 13, 2014 by WildBill

Couples dancing needs a lot more promotion than it usually gets, but right now it may be getting a bunch of free advertising thanks to the growing list of household names sponsoring ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White. According to the Wall Street Journal, their sponsors include Airwave (a Japanese mattress company), AT&T, Kellogg’s, Procter & Gamble, Ralph Lauren, and VISA. “Dancing with the Stars” has apparently boosted interest in ice dancing, and its choreographer Derek Hough helped the couple with their routines.

Super Bowl, Declining Youth Team Sports, Underscore Decline in Physical Activity

Posted on February 3, 2014 by WildBill

The gigantic marketing power of the NFL has made the Super Bowl more important than many of our national holidays, but only a few dozen players are getting exercise. And even the combined roster of the entire NFL is a drop in the bucket compared with the millions of fans sitting and watching in stadiums and on TV (and eating too much often-unhealthy food). Meanwhile, according to the Wall Street Journal, many youth team sports are declining, as the youths prefer to spend increasing amounts of time with videogames and social networking (and watch their waistlines grow). Both adults and youths would be better off doing some—any!—form of dancing than just sitting. And unlike football, baseball, or other pros, they can dance their entire life. Interestingly, after all the hype leading up to the Super Bowl, the uneven score (and other missteps that infuriated many fans) may actually mark the end of the growth in the NFL.

UCWDC Worlds Championships: Best Country Western Dancers

Posted on January 22, 2014 by WildBill

Wilddancer attended the annual US country western dancing championships in Nashville (“Music City”) during the week starting with New Year’s Eve, where hundreds of slender, fit people vied for top honors in eight different couples dances plus line dances and team dances. These folks were all having fun and staying in shape at the same time.

Who Will Keep Their New Year’s Resolutions to Take Dance Lessons?

Posted on January 14, 2014 by WildBill

There are a few perennial New Year’s Resolutions that are made, and usually broken. While social dancing, per se, does not appear in most popular top ten resolutions, it likely is a good possibility for at least two of the top ten—getting fit and learning something new. And it should be a particularly good choice because it is a lot less demanding than many of the alternatives.