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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Anna Bawden Health and social affairs correspondent

Taking salsa classes can improve mental health, Oxford study suggests

Oxford Mental Health Anxiety
Couples at a salsa dance class
Oxford researchers said salsa gave dancers the opportunity to connect with others and feel part of a community. Photograph: MediaProduction/Getty Images

Salsa is one of the most popular dance forms, with hundreds of millions of followers worldwide. A mix of Caribbean, Spanish and African musical styles and rhythms, it is believed to offer many cognitive and physical benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, muscle tone and posture.

Now a randomised controlled trial suggests it could also reduce depression and anxiety. Researchers at the University of Oxford and the Oxford Health NHS trust studied 121 young adults with mild to moderate depression and anxiety who were randomly assigned to a salsa dance programme or a control group.

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