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Health benefits of Charleston dancing
It’s no secret that dancing brings a wide range of physical and mental health benefits with it, which is why dancing is a fun way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. We would like to show you some of the many health benefits of Charleston dancing in this blog, so keep reading if you want to know more.
It’s no secret that dancing offers a wealth of physical and mental health benefits, making it an enjoyable way to stay active for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Charleston dancing, in particular, provides a full-body and mind workout that can positively impact your quality of life, body image, and mood. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to help reduce depression and ease anxiety.
Benefits of Dancing for your Brain
Dancing isn’t just great for your body—it’s a workout for your brain, too! Research from Coventry University highlights that regular dance practice can improve spatial working memory (the ability to hold and replicate visual information) by an impressive 18%, along with boosting other areas of cognitive function.
For older adults, the benefits are even more significant. Frequent dancing has been associated with a 76% reduced risk of developing dementia, making it a valuable tool for maintaining brain health as we age. Brain imaging studies also show that dancing increases the volume of the hippocampus, a critical area for spatial memory, more effectively than traditional fitness exercises.
Additionally, dancing enhances white matter in the brain, which supports processing speed and memory. Remarkably, these improvements in white matter are not observed in other forms of exercise, emphasizing how unique dancing is in its ability to boost cognitive health.
For more insights into the amazing benefits of dancing, check out Michael Mosley’s Just One Thing podcast—a 10-minute deep dive into how dancing can transform your well-being. 🎧
Physical Health Benefits
1. Improved Heart and Lung Health
The dynamic movements of Charleston dancing improve blood circulation, making your heart more efficient. Your lungs benefit, too, as the increased oxygen intake enhances overall respiratory function.
2. Better Balance and Spatial Awareness
Charleston dancing promotes good posture and trains your balance. It increases spinal mobility, reducing the risk of issues like slipped discs. By focusing on coordination and motor skills, dance also sharpens your mind while strengthening your body.
3. Enhanced Coordination, Agility, and Flexibility
Spending long hours sitting? Charleston dancing is a perfect remedy for tension and stress. It improves blood flow to tendons and ligaments, maintaining or even enhancing your mobility. The complex movement patterns—such as coordinating your upper and lower body simultaneously—sharpen your concentration, coordination, balance, and agility.
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health Benefits
1. Boosted Cognitive Function
Charleston dancing improves brain blood flow, leaving you more alert and efficient. Studies suggest that dancing can reduce the risk of dementia, as the rhythmic and coordinated movements enhance connections between brain cells, keeping your mind sharp and young.
2. Greater Self-Confidence and Social Skills
Dancing releases endorphins, leaving you feeling happier, more relaxed, and satisfied. Attending Charleston dance classes also offers a chance to meet new people, building your social skills and boosting your confidence.
Whether you’re looking to improve your physical health, sharpen your mind, or lift your mood, Charleston dancing is the perfect solution. If you’re ready to give it a go, check out our upcoming Charleston dance courses—starting soon!
Fall on the Log: Move of the Week
This week we are looking at a move called Fall on the Log as the name implies there is a falling action. As you fall onto the standing leg, the other leg tucks behind to reveal the sole of the foot.
This week we are looking at a move called Fall on the Log as the name implies there is a falling action. As you fall onto the standing leg, the other leg tucks behind to reveal the sole of the foot.
There are four transitions of weight, so if you begin on jumping onto your right leg, then turn sideways as you hop onto the left leg, then switch right, left.
The head should stay level and there is a sense of disconnection between the upper and lower body. From the hips down something fancy is happening but from the waste upwards you are hardly moving and looking relaxed.
The challenge in this move is practising it slowly but familiarise yourself with the weight changes and you can soon speed up and start to think about the style.
The initial jump or 'fall' should involve a twisting of the hips in mid air. It is this lock movement and the head not bobbing up and down which makes this move distinct from it's very close relative in the Hip Hop world which has exactly the same foot work but is called the top rock.
It's a really fun and fancy move and well worth taking the time to master.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019: The best & worst Charlestons so far
We are now half way through Strictly Come Dancing 2019 and we have now seen 7 Charlestons on the show with only 4 couples left who have yet to perform one. As the standard builds, let’s looks back at the Highs and Lows of the Charlestons and who has the highest scoring routine so far.
We are now half way through Strictly Come Dancing 2019 and we have now seen 7 Charlestons on the show with only 4 couples left who have yet to perform one. As the standard builds let’s looks back at the highs and lows of the Charlestons and who has the highest scoring routine so far.
First up was Comedian Chris Ramsey with his professional partner Karen Hauer. The storyline is of two flirty neighbours set to Take That’s ‘Out of our Heads’.
Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer
The following week was Movie Week and we were treated to not one, but two Charlestons. Actor Kelvin Fletcher and his dance partner Oti Mabuse scored an almost perfect score which included two 10s to ‘Trip a Little Light Fantastic’ from Mary Poppins. Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton were voted off the show with their Kill Bill themed routine.
Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse
Catherine Tyldesley, actress, with her professional dance partner Johannes Radebe were next to Charleston to Beyonce’s hit single Single Ladies. Both wearing fuchsia pink outfits their performance was set in a nail bar with plenty of energy and sass.
Catherine Tyldesley and Johannes Radebe
Alex Scott with her professional partner Neil Jones leaped back up the leader board the week they got to dance their Electro Swing style Charleston to the track ‘Pump the Jam’ by The Swingrowers.
Alex Scott & Neil Jones
Strictly Come Dancing spook-tacular Halloween Week featured Emma Weymouth and with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec dancing a Cluedo themed Charleston to the song ‘A Little Party Never Hurt Nobody’ by Fergie.
Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Škorjanec
The final Charleston dance so far of the series was TV presenter Mike Bushell and his dancer partner Katya Jones who performed the Charleston to Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines by Ron Goodwin Orchestra. Although they ended up in the dance-off, the judges saved the pair.
Mike Bushell and Katya Jones
The judges have ranked the Charlestons in the following order:
Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse = 38 points
Alex Scott & Neil Jones = 33 points
Joint place between Catherine Tyldesley and Johannes Radebe, Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Škorjanec Mike Bushell and Katya Jones = 30 points
Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer = 26 points
Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton = 11 points
Do you agree with the scoreboard so far? and will anyone beat Kelvin and Oti?
Everything you need to know - Great Gatsby’s Silent Disco
I went to my first Silent Disco 3 years ago, I was a bit skeptical and really couldn’t see what wearing headphones would add to the party experience. I was pleasantly surprised, the having music played to you directly through headphones was amazing.
I went to my first Silent Disco 3 years ago, I was a bit skeptical and really couldn’t see what wearing headphones would add to the party experience. I was pleasantly surprised, the having music played to you directly through headphones was amazing.
The first thing I noticed was it was much easier loose my inhibitions, it was like dancing round my own living room. At the same time seeing other people getting down to the same tune gave me a direct connection with them on the dancefloor. The final bonus was when a tune didn’t rock my world, I could switch channels until I found something which did move me to dance.
Silent Disco in the street
Last year Elena and I went on a walkabout silent disco through the streets of Brighton, everyone sang their hearts out as they danced around town much to the entertainment of onlookers.
It was after this experience Elena and I started to think about running our own vintage event. The beauty of this is that we are not stuck in one decade of music and as much as we adore 1920’s jazz it’s hard to find quality recordings and dancing the Charleston for 3 hours would be truly exhausting!
The opportunity of having 3 channels meant we could have one offering music pics from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Another channel with a mix of electro-swing and modern jazz fusion. Finally we decided the third channel would be music which of black origin, early jazz has been the foundation for many styles of music such as funk, soul and hip-hop. This meant we could offer something modern without deviating entirely from the theme.
Great Gatsby’s Silent Disco is happening at the One Church, a venue we love and where they often run Ceilidhs. It is a great space for a dance event as it has loads of room to dance and yet the lighting is ambient and atmospheric. It will definitely be a dress-up and dance event and we are hoping people will customize their headsets to add to the glam.
We have some strolls and short dance sequences that people can easily pick-up so the plan is for flashmob style dances to emerge on the dancefloor encouraging people to join the channel for that tune. So get your dance shoes ready and join us for the first ever vintage silent disco.
Fall on the Log: Move of the Week
This week we are looking at a move called Fall on the Log as the name implies there is a falling action. As you fall onto the standing leg, the other leg tucks behind to reveal the sole of the foot.
This week we are looking at a move called Fall on the Log as the name implies there is a falling action. As you fall onto the standing leg, the other leg tucks behind to reveal the sole of the foot.
There are four transitions of weight, so if you begin on jumping onto your right leg, then turn sideways as you hop onto the left leg, then switch right, left.
The head should stay level and there is a sense of disconnection between the upper and lower body. From the hips down something fancy is happening but from the waste upwards you are hardly moving and looking relaxed.
The challenge in this move is practising it slowly but familiarise yourself with the weight changes and you can soon speed up and start to think about the style.
The initial jump or 'fall' should involve a twisting of the hips in mid air. It is this lock movement and the head not bobbing up and down which makes this move distinct from it's very close relative in the Hip Hop world which has exactly the same foot work but is called the top rock.
It's a really fun and fancy move and well worth taking the time to master.
Health benefits of Charleston dancing
It’s no secret that dancing brings a wide range of physical and mental health benefits with it, which is why dancing is a fun way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. We would like to show you some of the many health benefits of Charleston dancing in this blog, so keep reading if you want to know more.
It’s no secret that dancing brings a wide range of physical and mental health benefits with it, which is why dancing is a fun way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. Charleston dancing is a complete body and mind workout, which has a positive effect on your quality of life, body image and mood, which also helps reduces depression and decreases anxiety.
PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS
Improved condition of your heart and lungs
Charleston dancing is a full body workout
The movement of dancing makes the heart more efficient – the blood circulation improves. And the lungs also benefits from the increased oxygen production.
Improved balance and spatial awareness
Dancing ensures a good posture and trains balance. The mobility of the spine is increased, which helps to prevent a slipped disc.
Requiring focus, coordination and varying levels and intricacy of motor skills, dance also exercises the mind.
Better coordination, agility and flexibility
If you spend the whole day sitting at your desk, Charleston dancing is a good remedy for tension and stress. Through the movements, while dancing the tendons and ligament are supplied with more blood. Which leads to a maintaining mobility or it even improves your mobility.
The mix of different patterns or different movements of upper and lower body at the same time works on your concentration, coordination, balance and agility.
MENTAL HEALTH
Having fun at our classes
Improved mental functions
Charleston dancing improves the blood circulation in the brains, so you are more awake and efficient – you can remember more. Some studies even say that dancing reduces the risk of dementia.
The coordinated and rhythmic movements keep your brain young because dancing improves the connection between the brain cells.
Greater self-confidence and better social skills
While dancing a lot of endorphins are released which means you are more relaxed, happy and satisfied. Charleston dancing increases your good mood and helps to prevent depression.
When you are attending a dance class you also get to know a lot of new people, which can boost your self-confidence.
If you now fancy some Charleston dance lessons, have a look at our courses, which will be starting again.
Move of the Week: The Charleston Kicks
The most misleading thing about a kick in Charleston, is the word kick, so this week we are teaching you the truth behind the Charleston Kicks as our ‘Move of the Week’.
The most misleading thing about a kick in Charleston, is the word kick, so this week we are teaching you the truth behind the Charleston Kicks as our ‘Move of the Week’.
Having taught this move for a long time we have realised that when you say kick people lift from the hip, sending the leg straight up, like a can-can dancer.
This is not how kicks work in Charleston, the key is to think of it as two actions;
Action 1: Bend the knee
Action 2: Push the heel away (you don't need to go for a full extension)
The posture needs to be low with hips slung back and knees bent, use your core so your head isn't bobbing up and down like an Irish dancer. Let the arms work with the body to help with counter balance.
When you switch standing legs avoid hopping, try and make the switch clandestine as if you don't want anyone to see or hear.
Most of all this is an energetic move so feel the joy without throwing all your energy away.
Strictly The Best
Sadly we didn’t get to see a Charleston number this week on Strictly Come Dancing so we have picked out two of our favourite routines from a previous series. This week we are looking at the best Charleston dances from 2016.
Sadly we didn’t get to see a Charleston number this week on Strictly Come Dancing so we have picked out two of our favourite routines from a previous series. This week we are looking at the best Charleston dances from 2016.
Claudia Fragapane & AJ Pritchard Charleston to 'You Give a Little Love' - Strictly 2016: Week 3
We’ve picked this out as a highlight routine for a couple of reasons. Firstly the set up is perfect in terms of the music and costume. It is not fancy dress flapper girl at all. Claudia’s costume is really nice, they have put together a beautiful playsuit with a lovely back and AJ’s outfit also matches the era.
The music also plays a big part in making this routine works. Sometimes Strictly picks some really ‘mass appeal’ songs which we understand they are trying to do to capture the audience of a really broad demographic but sometimes it really misses the mark and makes the dance really awkward as the song doesn’t fit the right time signature or style.
It has a nice story line, with the dancing peaking in the Charleston side to side and then a funny ending, it’s a bit clumsy but who has ever been glamorous with a custard pie?
In terms of content, we see heaps of Charleston along with variations :
20s Charleston - at least 3 sections
30s Charleston
Around the world Charleston
Other classic moves include:
Bunny hops
Trucking
Side to side Charleston
A ‘smack the baby’ variation
Flapper walks
So in terms authentic we see tons of classic steps.
It also has what we sometimes call some ‘Wow steps’ the pair do some really complicated lifts which are all done really beautifully. 1920s Charleston doesn’t really have any lifts but obviously this is TV and it has to have some ‘wow’ moment for the audience which is executed really well.
We think this is a really solid and strong performance and excellent for Week 3.
Danny Mac & Oti Charleston to ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’ by Gregory Porter - Strictly 2016: Blackpool
Similar to week 3 routine, this dance has a nice storyline but it’s quite similar to Claudia’s at the start. Table, chair, fur thing around her neck but it is jam packed full of content. Sometimes Strictly fills a routine with quite a lot ‘fluff’ in the storyline (Which Vick and Granziano were marked down for this week in their Cha Cha Cha) but this cuts straight in and they really challenge Danny to keep up with Oti starting with some tricky footwork with a Charleston squat variation into flapper walks and Charleston squats on a table.
There is some basic Charleston into flapper walks which has a great swivel to it and then we see the Charleston in hold and then they break out into a tick tock from those formations.
What we really like about this routine which a lot of dances lack is you can really see the inflexion in the move so if you watch Oti’s feet they really have a swivel and flick which makes the steps so recognisable.
Again, it is a great song choice. A classic swing song which suits the routine and the storyline is very clear - maybe a bit repetitive, we have seen quite a few tables and chairs in the Charleston - remember Brendon and Sophie Ellis Bextor? Strictly often falls short of this. How many times have we seen the lonesome street light wheeled out for the Argentine Tango? However, they fill the space and once again have plenty of wow moments with some great lifts.
The steps to look out for in this one are:
20s Charleston - both solo and in hold
20s Charleston with kicks and taps down to the ground
Squat Charleston with variations and on tables
Other classic moves include:
Flapper walks
Hitchhikers on the spot
Some Lindy steps
Trucking
Grapevine
Tick Tock
Fall on the log variation with a jump
Next week the Charleston is back and we can’t wait to see what Ashley Roberts and her pro Pasha Kovalev deliver for the Halloween special.
Move of the Week: Apple Jacks
Apple Jacks is a dance move which is full of joy, so much so that I would guess this move has gospel routes.
Apple Jacks is a dance move which is full of joy, so much so that I would guess this move has gospel routes.
It start with a flick ball change on beat 8, as you do this the chest should open in a celebratory manner. The arms Swoop across the body to make a big circle or sunshine arms as I often say when teaching children.
The footwork is then a series of little steps which lead with the ball of the foot and follows through with the heel pressing down firmly as if crushing grapes (no one ever gets that analogy, I’ve never crushed grapes in my life either but hey it works for me.) Another way to look at it, is it's as if you really need the toilet, so your crossing your legs in front of one another as if your really holding on.
The challenging aspect of this move is that your feet should feel grounded whilst the upper body is light and lifted. It’s what I would call a yummy move and when you feel it come together you’ll fell immensely satisfied.
Good luck practicing and don’t fall over!
Charleston Dancing Pier to Pier
MyCharleston dancers are toe tapping their way around some of the south coast’s most iconic landmarks
MyCharleston dancers are toe tapping their way around some of the south coast’s most iconic landmarks
MyCharleston, showcases their students dance talents in a new video entitled ‘Charleston Dancing Pier to Pier’ which brings together dancers on their local piers in Brighton & Hove, Portsmouth, Worthing and Isle of Wight.
Pier to Pier in Brighton
MyCharleston co-founder, Elena Collins says ‘Pier to Pier is a celebration of the beautiful places we teach in and the vibrant people that life there. We wanted to show-off these stunning grade listed piers which are on our doorsteps and demonstrate the towns are dynamic places full of talent.
The Brighton based dance organisation, founded by Elena Collins and Fiona Ring, has gone from strength to strength in the past year as demand has grown for their classes and groups have developed all along the South coast.
‘We noticed a theme appearing that everywhere we taught there was a pier’ chuckled Fiona ‘therefore we wanted to create something which brought all our classes across the south coast together. The locations complement the nostalgic feel of the Charleston and capture people's imaginations of a vintage era’.
Elena said ‘It’s amazing to think that these piers would have hosted the original flapper girls from the Roaring 20’s. We also discovered that 1920’s icons like Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel performed at the Brighton Palace Pier to practice their comic skills early in their careers and music legends such as David Bowie and Genesis played on South Parade Pier in Portsmouth’.
‘From all the piers we filmed, the one that really stood out was Worthing Pier.’ comments Fiona ‘The art deco pavilion that was renovated in 2014 transports you back to 1920’s and feels like the perfect place to Charleston dance’.
Our Isle of Wight group
Our Worthing group
The film includes Brighton Palace Pier, Worthing Pier, South Parade Pier in Portsmouth which reopened in 2017, Sandown Pier on the Isle of Wight plus a dance around the twenty-four cast-iron columns now standing by the British Airways i360, which were originally part of the substructure of the West Pier in Hove. The West Pier, is the most at risk Grade Ⅰ listed building in the UK but it’s still the most photographed location in the city.
Elena and Fiona first gained national attention when they released the I Charleston Brighton film back in 2014 when they filmed 80 dancers aged from five to 80 filmed dancing the Charleston in 40 places across Brighton and Hove. Elena said: ‘Creating video content is a huge part of what we do as we love to bring our dance community together and now that we teach in multiple locations it only seemed fitting to create something new’.
‘Our next goal is to get even more people Charleston dancing in new cities so if you have pier in your hometown, we might coming your way’ laughs Fiona.
We would like to thank the following dancers for taking part:
Isle of Wight group:
Bev Burgess
Louise Emery
Mel Griffith
Sarah O'Connell
Kathy Springate
Portsmouth group:
Johanna Newland
Andrew Bellenger
Betty Richmond
Brighton and Hove group:
Mar Balboa
Patricia Butler
Jen Else
Susie Edwards
Faith Holland
Liza Harrison
Sam Hart
Phyllis Hill
Phil Smith
Wendy Smith
Kerry Lemon
Clare Taylor
Worthing group:
Claire Davey
Fleur Howlett
Louise Toney
Madeleine Rishworth
Rebecca Trussler
Teaching team:
Elena Collins
Fiona Ring
Mel Griffith
Rachel Hulme
MyCharleston intern and runner:
Isabell Pagel
The film is dedicated in loving memory of our beloved friends and family whom we have lost in the summer of 2018:
Sam Whitehouse
Daphne Bevis
Ray Lihou
The film was choreographed, edited and directed by Fiona Ring and Elena Collins.
We would like to give an extra special thanks to Rosie Collins and Paul Saunders for inspiring us to make the film.