October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we at Fred Astaire Dance Studios are proud to support such an important cause. Dance truly can make a difference in people’s lives, especially for cancer survivors. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to dedicate this post to the ways in which ballroom dancing can help breast cancer survivors:

It provides emotional support. Breast cancer survivors have been through a lot. When you’ve been through such a traumatic event, it’s important to have a supportive community of friends and family who can be there for emotional support. Ballroom dance is an easy and fun way to make lifelong friends who will be there for you through the good times as well as the bad.

It brings back your confidence. Many breast cancer survivors have had to undergo changes to their appearance — caused by chemotherapy sessions, mastectomies and other surgeries. This can be a huge blow to a person’s confidence, especially women who have had to lose their hair or breasts. Dancing can bring that confidence back, make you feel stronger, comfortable in your body and capable of anything!

It helps you regain your physical fitness at your own pace. Having cancer and undergoing treatment is a huge trauma to the body. Many breast cancer survivors can’t just pick up where they left off. It takes a long time to recover, and it can sometimes be a very slow and frustrating process. Ballroom dance is a form of exercise that can be as easy or as challenging as you make it. You can dance at your own pace and regain your strength in an encouraging environment.

It is a fun way to relieve stress. Ballroom dance is fun! With dance, breast cancer survivors have a way to take their minds off things, just relax and have fun. Any form of exercise can be a huge stress release, but nothing beats getting to let loose and have fun on the dance floor!

This month, we hope to help in bringing breast cancer awareness to communities across the nation. Check out your local Fred Astaire Dance Studio to find out more about what’s going on in your area in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!