05/27/2026
Dancing is therapeutic, but it is NOT a replacement for actual therapy.
Continuing with Mental Health Awareness month, I’ve noticed a trend in dancing where people usually joke about dancing being their therapy. And to be fair, there are a lot of health benefits, ranging from spiritual to emotional to physical, in dancing—not to mention the community it provides and the support there.
I’m sure managers can attest how they showed up to a social exhausted and left feeling revived, or had a floorside chat with a friend that helped them process a situation, or how an achievement in class gave them a renewed sense of purpose.
But dance can also be detrimental to our health if we’re not careful. I’ve watched dancers push themselves so hard that they get injured, then not rest and get hurt more. People who have shown up to dance angry and then taken it out in their words and actions. People who have over shared and even love bombed their fellow dancers by asking them to process something they aren’t qualified to process since they’re not liscenced professionals.
Everyone has a different journey. Counseling and therapy can look different for everyone depending on their needs. So can dance. There’s no one size fits all approach in these things. And it’s not always affordable or accessible to some.
But ideally, to be a healthy person and an excellent dancer, you need both. Both have their place.
You can be a great dancer and need therapy too. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.
What do you think?
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