Star Tribune: The Floor Is Yours

Written By Ember Reichgott Junge

This article originally appeared in the Star Tribune.

The floor is yours

Aaron Brown nailed it in his July 2 column, “Hard times call for the healing power of ... polka.”

But it’s not just polka. And it’s not just the Iron Range.

Partner dance is the most powerful — and overlooked — tool for brain health. Don’t believe me? Here’s the proven research:

  • Frequent dance can reduce your risk of dementia by 76% — more than any other physical or cognitive activity.

  • Partner dance improves balance, independence and mobility for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

  • The surgeon general has told us social isolation can increase your risk of premature death as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

That’s why, as a former state senator, 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.

Yes, partner dance transformed my life from my political self to my authentic self. I’m still dancing at age 72; my dance partner is still entering dance competitions at age 80.

And 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.

Ember Reichgott Junge, Minneapolis

The writer is a former Minnesota state senator.

Ember Reichgott Junge
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