English 122 - Visual/Multi-Media Project Double Entry Journal
Name: Aaliyah Michel
Essential Questions:
1. How can dance affect brain development?
2. What are the physical, emotional and intellectual benefits of dance?
Text Title and Author/Speaker/Originator:
TEDxObserver - Peter Lovatt - Psychologist and dancer
Quotation/Visual Feature
“When people with Parkinson’s disease
engaged in recreational dance, some of their
symptomes reduced. Their balance improved,
so did their walk and all kinds of medical
improvements in these people.”
“Big chances in their physical ability, quality
of life and their mood. So their anxiety levels
were reduced. There are three elements of
dancing that are vital to improving health.
Social, physical and cognitive. For each, it
shows that when you engage in those things,
you have changes to your brain.”
“It’s thought that the hippocampus shrinks by
about one to two percent every year, and our
memory gets worse and worse. Researchers
tend to be suggesting that physical activity are
good for structures like the hippocampus and
we can retain our memory.”
How it sheds light on my essential
question
I respect the fact that research decided to
narrow on the brain development of those
with diseases instead of those with disorders. I
understand that they are both equally as
important, but from what I seen, disorders get
the most attention. Especially when it comes
to treatment and therapy. Responding in my
first essential question, his quote gave
examples of how engaging in movement is
helpful for those suffering.
Responds to both of my essential questions. I
am somewhat shocked at the fact that dance
has only been discovered as a therapeutic
method recently, but I am glad to find out that
it helps improve so much. Dance and music
each have their own benefits, therefore them
together have many positive end results.
In thoughts of my first essential question, this
information is really surprising. I am inspired
by all the research that is being found about
the art. The physical activity holds many
benefits and it seems to have a positive
outcome of anybody’s brain, no matter the
state it may be in.
The speaker politely asked the audience to
stand up and follow his instructions, if they
wish, to his dance moves. At least 90% of the
audience participated and they were all
smiling and enjoying themselves.
“A study showed that those who are more
socially engaged while dancing were less
likely to get dementia.”
As there is no way that every single person in
the room sees dance as their passion and
escape, I find it beautiful that they stood up
and had fun. Leaning towards the emotional
aspect of dance in my second essential
question, looking at the audiences facial
expressions made it obvious that their moods
had changed for the positive.
This taught me that it is more beneficially
when dancing in a group of people rather than
alone. I am sure, from experience, that it is
still possible to gain a lot from doing such
solo, but as a group you get more
encouragement, you will less likely give up
and it is more motivating when you know that
you have others holding up your foundation.