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WorldThe Guardian UK· Jul 17, 2026, 5:00 AM

Taking salsa classes can improve mental health, Oxford study suggests

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Researchers find dance reduced depressive symptoms and social anxiety in young people in eight-week trial 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.

The development is worth tracking because it may create practical public benefit or inform similar work.

Researchers find dance reduced depressive symptoms and social anxiety in young people in eight-week trial 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 grou…

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