Dancing Keeps the Brain and Body Fit: Lessons Hot for Holiday Gift Giving and Parties

Social dancing has been found to keep the mind sharp, as well as keeping the body fit. John Cassese, owner of the Dance Doctor studio and renowned instructor and performer is helping to bring social dancing to everyone, including underpriveleged people.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 18, 2008 -- Throngs of people are taking up dancing, after watching their favorite stars slim down and tone up on "Dancing with the Stars." Social dancing burns approximately 200 to 400 calories an hour or more, and it increases energy and improves strength, muscle tone and coordination, according to MayoClinic.com. But did you know that dancing helps keep your brain fit, too?

The brain responds to stimuli, such as learning salsa steps or the tango, in the same way it would to solve mathematical problems, according to an article in the current issue of American Medical News (11/17/08). "Each time a dance step is learned, for instance, new pathways are formed. Dancing is excellent for the brain and body," says Vincent Fortanasce, MD, clinical professor of neurology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and author of the Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription. "Not only are you moving around more, your brain is in constant motion as it recalls steps and movements."

"We've seen more and more people of all ages coming in for dance lessons recently," says John Cassese, the professional dancer and performer who started his bustling business the Dance Doctor in Santa Monica, Calif. almost 25 years ago. "People are looking for fun ways to get in shape and feel more alert and just better overall. Many of our students have told us that they feel more confident and perform better at work after taking dance lessons."

To help build the confidence of people in need and to raise money, Cassese has donated his studio, dance performances and thousands of dollars worth of dance lessons to numerous charities, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, City of Hope, Covenant House, Jewish Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Karen Brown Scleroderma Foundation and many others.

"Teaching someone to dance opens up so many other areas of their lives. When you're dancing, you have to focus only on what you're doing in that moment. So, in that way it can give people a sense of self-assuredness and a greater ability to focus, which they can then apply to other areas of their lives," says Cassese, who taught many celebrities to dance. He taught Elizabeth Hurley to salsa and The Edge from U2 and his wife, and Adam Sandler and his wife, to dance for their respective weddings.

"People are now booking their holiday parties at the Dance Doctor studio because they want something different and upbeat," says Cassese. At these dance-oriented parties, guests can dine and watch Cassese and his dance partner perform and then learn some basic steps so they can dance the night away. Cassese and his team can arrange catering, tables and chairs and all aspects of event production. Cassese, who has performed at events at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Four Seasons Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Hotel and many other venues, will be performing at several private celebrity parties and other gatherings this holiday season.

Many people are buying dance lesson gift certificates to give as gifts for the holidays, according to Cassese. At his Dance Doctor studio at 1440 Fourth Street in Santa Monica, Calif., Cassese and his staff provide private and group lessons in almost any dance style, including salsa, tango, cha cha, merengue, waltz, fox trot, swing, country, hip hop, belly dancing, ballet and more. Through December 31, 2008, the Dance Doctor is offering a special 20% holiday discount on gift certificates for dance lessons.

For more information or to learn a few dance steps online, visit www.dancedoctor.com, or call 310-459-2264.

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