Dance can soothe the soul

Local seniors are invited to dance their troubles away as part of a psychological study on ballroom dancing and depression at UNLV.

Dr. Mark Floyd is recruiting volunteers age 60 or older to participate in three new studies sponsored by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas department of psychology. In the most unique study, participants will receive eight weeks of ballroom dancing instruction as a method for fighting depression. Other studies to be offered incorporate work books used to teach drug-free pain management to osteoarthritis sufferers and anxiety relief to seniors who worry too much.

Undergraduate psychology student Amanda Haboush came up with the ballroom dancing study. The UNLV junior is a professional ballroom dancer, who teaches the art to students in UNLV physical education classes and at the Charleston Heights Community Center. During her time teaching, Haboush has seen emotionally low divorcees and students with terrible self-esteem. But dance changes everything, she said.

"I see so many people and how dancing changes their lives. They're going out now and meeting so many new people and they are totally happy. I thought maybe it would be a good therapy for people who are depressed," Haboush said.

Dr. Floyd was glad to run the study with Haboush.

"There really haven't been many studies at all using ballroom dancing for depression, and certainly not with older adults. We're definitely doing something experimental," he said.

Participants in the study will receive 8 weeks of free private ballroom dancing lessons.

"Everyone gets private lessons. If you teach people together you have a whole different effect. They may improve, but it could just be being around all the other people," Haboush explained.

She added that many seniors may feel more comfortable in the one-on-one lessons.

"They have inhibitions anyway," the instructor said. "When it's just me I can reassure them it's alright to mess up. They may be more likely to try new things with just one person there."

Study participants will be split into two groups. Floyd will give all participants a beginning evaluation. Then half of the participants will immediately begin the dancing lessons. The other half of the group will wait eight weeks before beginning lessons. All participants will receive the free dance lessons. They will be evaluated again at the end of the lessons and then three weeks after to see if there were any permanent changes.

Floyd said exercise has been shown to give people a sunnier outlook.

"The downside of exercise for depression is a lot of folks don't want to exercise because they think it's not fun."

He hopes adding the element of self-expression and creativity may lead people to try the program.

"I honestly think it will show some improvement with a majority of people. That's why I am doing the study," Floyd said.

"This just gives me a broader perspective of what ballroom can do," Haboush said. "The less we rely on drugs in psychology and the more alternative therapies we find, the better we can help. And dancing can be a lifelong activity. You never have to stop ballroom dancing."

To volunteer for the ballroom dancing study, the anxiety study or the osteoarthritis pain study, call Dr. Mark Floyd at 895-0109.