Modern dance classes to support workplace well-being in companies

Modern dance classes to support workplace well-being in companies

Introduction:

In the workplace, new ways are constantly being sought to improve the well-being and team spirit of employees. Modern individual dances, such as hip hop, street dance, twerk, commercial dance and shuffle, are examples of engaging forms of exercise that can be used in the workplace to support well-being at work. Dance activities are suitable for both recreation days, Christmas parties and regular exercise breaks. The following report examines, based on research and examples, the well-being effects of dance classes on employees and the work community. It also discusses how a single dance class affects employees, what benefits regular weekly dance activities bring, and how dance strengthens team spirit. Finally, a table summarizing the benefits of dance classes from different perspectives is presented.

The well-being benefits of a one-time dance lesson

Even a single dance lesson can have significant benefits for an employee's well-being, both physically and mentally. Dancing is an effective form of exercise: even a short dance session increases heart rate, increases blood circulation and tones the body, which is an excellent counterbalance to sitting still. Moving to the rhythm of dance activates the body's large muscle groups, improves mobility and can even improve posture and reduce tension in the neck and shoulder area in those who work at a computer screen. Physiologically, dance releases endorphins, the body's natural "feel-good" hormones, which lift the mood and create a pleasant feeling of relaxation after just one hour. This physical activity increases energy levels and alertness, which allows the employee to feel refreshed after the lesson and focus better on their work tasks.

The psychological effects of a single dance lesson are also significant. Dancing offers a break from work and an opportunity to relieve stress in a fun way. Creative movement to the rhythm of music helps relieve tension and relieve anxiety – even one moment of dancing during the workday can lower stress levels and improve mood. Studies have found that participating in dance and music-related activities correlates with better perceived health and happiness, as well as less depression and anxiety. A dance lesson provides space for self-expression: everyone gets to move in their own way, which increases the experience of success and produces pleasure. For example, in five dance workshops organized for teachers at Hyrylä Junior High School, participants reported that the dance lessons improved their mood and increased their energy and sense of relaxation during the workday. Such effects can be seen immediately after class as improved concentration and problem-solving skills, as well as more creative thinking, when the mind is refreshed thanks to the break.

Dance class to support group bonding and team spirit

A shared dance experience with colleagues is an effective way to promote group cohesion and strengthen team spirit. In a relaxed dance session, colleagues see each other in a new light and on an equal footing – no one is the boss or subordinate, but everyone jumps into a new fun challenge together. This helps to break down hierarchical boundaries and increases openness between employees. In one workplace wellbeing program that utilized dance movement therapy methods, it was found that working in dance increased joy and playfulness in the work community and freed up the workplace atmosphere. . At the same time, the participants' mutual trust and openness were strengthened, and they experienced an increase in tolerance towards their colleagues . It has also been found that shared movement and rhythm can synchronize group members with each other, which creates a sense of cohesion and empathy within the group . In dance, for example, partner exercises or joint choreographies require cooperation and mutual trust – just as effective teamwork in the workplace requires. According to the Harvard Business Review, informal social time spent together is critical to team performance and can explain more than half of the positive changes in team communication . A shared dance experience, in this kind of informal and fun togetherness, strengthens internal team communication and cooperation.

In addition, shared success – for example, learning a short dance choreography – creates positive shared experiences that can become internal workplace topics of discussion and memories. Laughter and throwing yourself into the whirlwind of dance with colleagues improves the working atmosphere and increases the sense of community. When there is an immediate and accepting atmosphere in the work community, employees feel safe to bring up their ideas and thoughts. Such an atmosphere builds strong team spirit in the long run. Experts in workplace well-being emphasize that through community, staff feel heard and valued, which in turn increases work motivation and even productivity. A dance lesson can be seen as an experience offered by the employer that communicates appreciation for the well-being of the staff – this also strengthens employee commitment and team spirit.

Other benefits of dance classes for the work community

The effects of dance-based wellness sessions are widely reflected in the entire work community. Below are some of the key benefits that dance classes can offer, in addition to physical and mental well-being and team spirit:

• Creativity and innovation: Trying a new, creative form of exercise can inspire you to think outside the box. Dance activates the brain in many ways – combining music, rhythm, movement and emotions stimulates brain activity and the creation of new connections. This can manifest itself in the workplace as increased creativity and the ability to generate ideas. As has been noted in one context, exposure to creative activities (such as dance) can fuel employees’ creative juices and challenge them to think in new ways. Dance provides a safe channel for self-expression, which can also generate insights into solutions to work tasks.
• Confidence and expanding your comfort zone: For many employees, taking a dance class is a positive leap into something new. Trying out a new skill and making progress in it increases self-confidence – when you learn to master a new dance move, you realize that you are able to develop and learn new things. The psychological impact of this carries over into everyday work: a more confident employee dares to bring up their ideas and take on new challenges more boldly. A dance class can also improve body image and control; when you learn to feel your body in motion, your essence becomes more confident. Good posture and a confident appearance can be beneficial, for example, in customer situations and presentations. In fact, Psychology Today has found that taking an employee to a new environment for a new task (such as a dance class) encourages them to surpass themselves and expand their comfort zone – an attitude that can be reflected positively in their work role.
• Work motivation and job satisfaction: Dance-based wellness programs send a message to employees that the employer cares about their well-being. This experience of appreciation increases work engagement and motivation. When employees can unwind and have fun together during working hours, they return to work refreshed and with a more positive attitude. In an organization’s everyday life, dance classes can act as rewarding experiences that strengthen employee commitment – ​​there is more to look forward to in the workplace than just work. In addition, the good feeling brought about by dance moments can reduce the risk of burnout: stress is released through movement and work is counterbalanced by joy. For example, according to a project conducted in the United Kingdom, participating in creative arts activities at work significantly reduced perceived stress and burnout in the long term. Similarly, in a Finnish dance-movement therapy experiment, participants felt that dance gave them new tools for coping and interacting, which was also useful in their actual work with clients. Motivated and well-being staff often translates into better service, more creative problem solving, and generally higher productivity.
• Physical health and work capacity: Dancing is an effective aerobic exercise that, when practiced regularly, improves endurance, muscle strength and flexibility. This supports the general health and well-being of employees. Dance classes, especially for those who work sedentary jobs, offer a much-needed break from the screen and prevent the disadvantages of immobility. As the body strengthens and blood circulation improves, concentration and alertness during the workday also improve. Healthier personnel also mean fewer sick leave days: regular exercise can reduce the risk of many long-term diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal problems). Ergonomic benefits are also possible - dancing teaches you to use your body in a variety of ways, which can reduce the discomfort caused by one-sided loading. For the company, all of this is seen in the long term as improved work capacity and possibly even savings in healthcare costs. It has been reported that investments in employee wellness exercise pay off many times over, for example in terms of improved productivity and reduced healthcare costs; according to one study, every dollar invested in an employee wellness program resulted in savings of up to $1.50. Although this is a foreign estimate, the message is clear: a healthy employee is also an advantage for the company.

Additional benefits of regular (weekly) dance classes

A single relaxation class already has positive effects, but regularly repeated dance classes take the benefits to a new level. When dance becomes a weekly habit, it becomes part of the culture and everyday life of the work community – an anticipated moment that sets the rhythm of the week. Regularity brings with it several additional benefits:

• Longer lasting health effects: Weekly dance exercise visibly improves employees' physical fitness. As endurance, muscle strength and mobility improve, employees cope better with everyday life and recover more effectively from stress. Regular exercise also keeps weight management and circulatory system health in check. For example, workplace exercise programs lasting a few months have been found to clearly increase work capacity and perceived well-being, and to significantly reduce stress levels in participants. Continuous dance prevents ailments before they arise – employees may have less back or shoulder pain when the body becomes stronger and stays mobile thanks to weekly dancing.
• Deeper social bonds: When a group of employees gather for a dance class every week, a shared hobby develops into its own small community. Teammates get to know each other better outside of work, which deepens mutual trust and improves cooperation in everyday life even more. An established dance group can bring people from different departments together and break down silos within the organization. Continuous movement together for a long time welds the group together: shared inside jokes, an encouraging atmosphere and a desire to support each other's progress are created. This kind of community spirit carries back to work situations where people function more seamlessly as a team. According to a study conducted at the University of Lapland, a multi-month dance-movement therapy process in a work community left a lasting mark on the workplace atmosphere, increasing openness and trust even after the intervention ended. This suggests that regular dancing together can produce long-lasting positive changes in the dynamics of the work community.
• Long-term stress management : The occasional relaxation of a dance class is valuable, but weekly dance acts as a continuous pressure valve for work stress. Employees know that they have a moment each week when they can put their worries aside and focus on music and movement. This helps to manage the load before it becomes excessive. Regular dancing can also improve sleep and recovery, as stress hormone levels continuously decrease with exercise. Based on research evidence compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), arts and cultural activities (including dance) have been found to have long-term positive effects on mental health and well-being; there is even evidence that the effects are permanent when the activity is continued regularly. Therefore, weekly dance classes can serve as a continuous resource for employees, maintaining mental well-being and preventing burnout.
• Organizational culture and attractiveness: When a company consistently invests in employee well-being, for example by offering weekly dance classes, it builds a positive corporate culture. Personnel feel that well-being is genuinely taken care of – not just as an occasional pick-me-up day, but as an ongoing activity. This increases employee loyalty and job satisfaction: people have a better time at work when there is joy and balance in everyday life. At the same time, the company is profiled as a modern and caring employer, which can also make it easier to recruit new talent. Today, many job seekers value factors such as employee benefits and wellness programs almost as much as the content of the job itself, and a well-being work community is a competitive advantage in the employer image. For example, Google is known for its impressive investments in well-being at work – the company has even offered its employees virtual dance classes during remote working hours to maintain staff motivation and mood in difficult times. Regular dance moments in the workplace are an innovative yet cost-effective way to build a communal, energetic and attractive organizational culture.

Examples of using dance to support well-being at work

Dance has been successfully utilized as part of workplace well-being both internationally and in Finland. Google has, for example, incorporated dance into its personnel program by offering employees dance breaks: during the pandemic, Google organized virtual dance classes for its remote employees, the purpose of which was to relieve stress and maintain a sense of community despite remote connections. In Finland, several companies and organizations have organized dance workshops or courses for their personnel, for example in connection with Tyhy or Tyky days. Hyrylä Junior High School in Tuusula conducted a series of dance workshops for its teachers five times as part of developing workplace well-being; according to feedback, the effects were very positive: the personnel's mood improved, their energy increased, and they felt more relaxed after each dance moment. The participants also received new ideas and tools for their own movement to support well-being. Another example comes from the social and health sector, where a work community tried dance-movement therapy-based classes nine times. The results were encouraging: employees felt they had found better ways to relax, and the interaction and trust within the team were significantly strengthened. Many mentioned that the dance moments brought joy and playfulness to the workday, which was positively reflected in the entire work atmosphere.

Several Finnish dance schools and companies offering wellness services offer tailored dance classes to companies specifically for workplace wellness purposes. Companies have organized, for example, hip hop classes in the office as a break exercise, salsa or show dance workshops on refreshment days, and twerking or shuffle dance events during Christmas parties to create a relaxed atmosphere. Based on feedback, employees appreciate these experiences: for many, dancing with their work team has been the highlight of the week, increasing their sense of togetherness and resilience. Concrete examples have been seen all over Finland – in Jyväskylä, developers at an IT company participated in a street dance beginner class at the office and said it had brightened up their daily lives while working remotely, while in Helsinki, a financial company assembled an ad-hoc dance group from its staff to perform at the company’s Christmas party, which inspired employees to practice together and brought the joy of success. Although each organization's experience is unique, what these stories have in common is that bringing dance to the workplace has been experienced as refreshing and community-building.

In summary: Dance classes – whether they are one-off events or an ongoing part of the workweek – offer a variety of benefits to companies. They improve employees’ physical fitness and mood, reduce stress and increase creativity. At the same time, they strengthen social bonds within the work community and strengthen the company culture. The following table summarizes the key benefits of dance classes from different perspectives:

Benefit perspective	The effects of dance classes in the work community
Physical well-being	• Improves endurance and muscle fitness; raises heart rate and boosts metabolism• Tones muscles and releases body tension (a counterbalance to sitting)• Improves mobility and posture, which can prevent musculoskeletal disorders• Increases energy levels – after exercise, the employee feels better for the rest of the day
Mental well-being	• Reduces stress and helps to recover mentally from workload• Elevates mood and reduces anxiety; endorphins (feel-good hormones) are released during dancing• Provides a channel for self-expression and releasing emotions safely• Strengthens self-confidence through learning a new skill; experiences of success increase psychological well-being
Social well-being (team spirit)	• Brings employees together in a relaxed environment – ​​a shared fun experience increases team spirit• Improves internal team communication and collaboration through informal togetherness• Strengthens mutual trust and acceptance when colleagues dare to throw themselves together• Creates shared memories and stories that strengthen a sense of belonging in the workplace
Motivation and atmosphere	• Serves as a rewarding experience that makes employees feel valued (increases work motivation) • Increases job satisfaction: fun breaks add rhythm to everyday life and make workdays more meaningful • The positive atmosphere is strengthened – a hobby that brings joy and laughter is seen as a more relaxed working atmosphere • Refreshed and motivated personnel are more productive and are likely to remain most loyal to the company

Sources:

• Jääskeläinen, P. (2017). Well-being at work with dance-movement therapy methods. University of Lapland – Master's degree research. 
• Karvinen, T. (2024). Dance and creative movement as a tool for promoting well-being at work. Laurea University of Applied Sciences thesis. 
• Sitra (2018). Perspectives on the health effects of art and culture. 
• Corporate Wellness Magazine (2023). The Role of Dance and Movement Therapy in Enhancing Employee Wellness. 
• Dance With Me USA (2016). 8 Reasons Dance Will Improve Office Productivity, Morale, and Teamwork. 
• OffYoga (2021). Google: A Case Study on Corporate Wellness. 
• Reindeer (2023). A day of rest that is actually beneficial.