Dancing offers fun and healthy stress relief
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Swing and salsa dancing has become extremely popular over the past decade. In Rehoboth, various types of dance are often done on the weekends at Sydney’s on Rehoboth Avenue. For people who think they have two left feet and no rhythm, dancing can be learned in eight sessions at 205 Lavinia St. in Milton, with the help of instructor Kenny D.
Kenny Doughty, known by most people simply as Kenny D., lives in north Ocean City just below the Delaware line and has been teaching dance classes at 205 Lavinia St. since March. He is a professionally trained ballroom dance instructor with more than 10 years experience. He also teaches math at Warwick Community College in Salisbury, Md.
“The reason I like to promote dancing is it’s tremendously healthy,” said Doughty. “I’ve never failed because not only can I teach people the patterns of the dance, but I teach them to relax. Everyone can learn to dance. It should be a relaxing, fun thing. Desire is essential. Belief is next.”
Doughty said dancing is based on repetition. Once people master the basic steps, they can move on to more complicated moves.
“I can teach people what to listen for in the music,” said Doughty. “Dancing is simple repetitious learning of the patterns and steps. You can swing, salsa or cha-cha to a lot of different music.” Doughty likes jazz, blues, country and oldies from the 1950s and 1960s.
“The jitterbug is now called swing. Swing has a lot of variations, like East Coast, West Coast the lindy hop and country swing,” said Doughty. “I teach mostly East Coast because it’s the most fun and has the most variations.”
Doughty’s dance partner, College of Marine Studies student Suzanne Thurman, has had eight lessons and is a natural dancer. The two spin across the floor, performing the cha-cha, salsa and various swing dances.
“What got me interested was that I love to dance,” said Thurman. “I’ve taken ballroom dance lessons on and off throughout the years just so I can dance. Dancing is so much fun. It’s a blast and it keeps your heart happy.”
Doughty also has a simple theory: “Stress is just an absolute killer. Most people don’t know the incredible power they have to control stress.”
Health aspects of dancing include exercise, stress reduction and simple fun. “It’s a magical activity that relieves you of the stresses of life and brightens your day,” said Doughty. "Learning a few steps with give you a healthier life. It’s great exercise. You’re moving every part of your body, so it’s like enhanced walking. It strengthens your immune system like crazy and floods your body with seratonin.
“The reason that people say they don’t dance is that they don’t have time. What’s more important than taking care of yourself?” asked Doughty. “The health benefits are huge, not just the physical but the mental. The more fun things you do, the healthier you are.”
Doughty also believes dancing is a great way for couples to remain in tune with each other.
“Dancing is a great bonding activity,” he said. “If you show me two people who dance together, I’ll show you two people who stay together.”
