American Dancer: Can We Dance to the Election Polls?
This article originally appeared on American Dancer.
By Ember Reichgott Junge. Photos by Paul Vladuchick.
Retired State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge issues a Call to Action.
Political Scene
We are in a contentious political season. Many are experiencing hard economic times. So the headline of a recent column by Aaron Brown in the Minnesota Star Tribune caught my eye: “Hard Times Call for the Healing Power of….Polka.”
But it’s not just Polka. And it’s not just for northern Minnesota.
Dance Unites
Think about that. Partner dance brings people together. There are no red dance states or blue dance states. We are brought together by the simple joy of humanity. Yes, partner dance can heal communities too. And we need that more than ever.
I retired from the Minnesota state senate in 2000. What I loved about my dance lessons and group classes during the 1990s was that they were beyond politics. It didn’t matter if you were liberal or conservative; it only mattered if you knew how to rumba. I remember only one time when someone asked me while we danced how I was going to vote on a controversial issue. OK, I stepped on his foot. Maybe it was intentional. Oops.
A few summers ago, I was dancing to live music on an outdoor plaza near Ordway Theatre in St. Paul. I noticed a gentleman who looked familiar and who was a very good dancer. I went over to him. “I’d like to dance with you. How do I know you?”
He smiled. “I was your Republican opponent in your 1996 state senate race.”
We both laughed. And we danced for nearly an hour. Red and Blue dancing together. Laughing, joking, admiring the beautiful weather and the vibrant dancers around us.
Benefits of Dance for the Individual and the Community
Just think what the dance community can bring to the greater good. We all know the powerful physical and mental health benefits of partner dance. But not everyone can afford it.
That’s why I’m committed to bringing partner dance into the paid and insured health care systems. It’s already happening! Doctors can write “social prescriptions” to cover dance lessons by insurance. You can help. Stay tuned below.
But perhaps the more silent issue is the “epidemic of loneliness” that Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared in 2023. He found:
Loneliness or social isolation increased risk for premature death by up to 29%.
Lack of social connection can increase risk for premature death as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Lack of social connection is associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
Dance is an answer to all of this! But this is not just for seniors, as you may think. Indeed, while recent data from the “World Happiness Survey 2026” conducted by the United Nations and Oxford University (based on data from 2023-2025) ranked Americans as the “23rd happiest” among 147 countries surveyed, the subgroup of young Americans (primarily Gen Z) placed a dismal 60th in the world. America’s unhappy youth are not unique; similar rankings exist for youth in other high-income countries.
Call to Action
That’s why I invite all of you to join together in a personal Call to Action! Dance can be an answer to a healthier, happier, more vibrant, and more connected community wherever you dance. And if we have that, our politics can become more respectful and results-oriented for the greater good.
This election season, talk to your policymakers at all levels. Start with your city, county, statehouse, and federal lawmakers when they come to your door. Attend their town halls and let them know how investment in dance for health can have long-term payoffs. We start by raising awareness. Who better to do that than us?
And don’t forget to talk with your insurance companies when you enroll for health insurance this fall. Why aren’t they covering this cost-effective, proven strategy for health and wellness?
Yes, it’s the healing power of partner dance. We need that more than ever.
–Former State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge of Minneapolis is a pro-am competitive dancer and member of USA Dance Minnesota Chapter. More data, resources, and a detailed Call to Action can be found in her book, The Dance of Resilience, released in January.