So You Think You Can’t Dance?

 So You Think You Can’t Dance?

                Have you ever felt like you are doing the same dance moves as someone else in class but you feel like those moves just don’t look as good?  Well according to some scientists there is a chemical messenger in the brain that may have something to do with this.  This chemical messenger is linked to many activities that humans do, and it affects our ability to learn new skills and dance moves.   

                Our brains are a very powerful organ in the body and it is made up of many different neurons and messengers that control everything we do.  When it comes to dancing we are using the motor cortex of our brain which has a specific chemical messenger known as GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid.)  GABA controls our motor skills and movements during activities like playing the piano, walking, running, playing soccer, hopping, wiggling our toes, and dancing! 

                You may realize in class that someone is understanding and performing the movements quicker while other students may take a few tries to get the movement right.  Part of this happen because of the levels of GABA produced in the brain.  Studies have shown that people who can pick up dance moves and execute them quickly have levels of GABA in their brain that rise and fall dramatically.  Their brains are working faster and harder while they dance which causes them to be alert and more GABA responsive.  On the other hand people who struggle to learn new dance moves have stable levels of GABA in their brain, which makes it harder to focus and pick up choreography.    

If you are reading this and find yourself realizing that you do not pick up dances quickly then you may have a stable, low level of GABA in your brain.  Do not worry if this is you because fortunately scientists have also found ways to increase your GABA levels so that you can perform motor skilled tasks better!  These low levels of GABA make it harder to learn new motor skills, but luckily like any other task, you can train your brain to learn faster and produce better levels of this chemical messenger.

                The first way to train your brain is to get an appropriate amount of sleep each night.  Sleeping will help chemical messengers flow faster and help you retain knowledge while you sleep.  Eating healthy foods is also another factor that will help increase GABA levels.  Healthy foods fuel your body and mind, and when you give your body and organs what they need they will work harder, better, faster, and stronger in return.  Two food items that scientists have shown to improve GABA levels are hummus and shrimp!  These foods do not need to be eaten during all three meals, but incorporating those in your diet can show improvement.  

                Confidence is key when it comes to dance, and even if you feel like your dance moves do not look like the person next to you it is okay!  Everyone dances differently and everyone goes at a different pace.  It may take some work, but little by little you can train your brain to do many things.  Learning a new dance move may take time, but practice makes perfect and if you practice enough your brain and GABA levels will increase giving you the results you want! 

 The authors

Taylor Amerson was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She graduated from The University Of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in May of 2015 with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Communications.  While attending UNLV, Taylor was on the dance team known as the Rebel Girls for four years.  In 2013 she was ranked a National Champion in the UDA Hip Hop Division 1A category and ranked third place in the UDA Pom Division IA category.  From then on, UNLV has been one of the top 3 schools in both Division IA Hip Hop and Pom.  Along with dancing on a college team, Taylor also became an instructor for UDA in 2013.  Over the past three summers she has taught many camps at the high school and collegiate level teaching different styles such as Pom, Jazz, and Hip Hop.  She just returned home from Chile where she was teaching in Santiago and Antofagasta.