TEDxObserver - Peter Lovatt - Psychologist and dancer

Dance and the mind
Peter is a reader in psychology and principle lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, but his first love was dance. Before entering academia, he trained at the Guildford School of Acting and the Cecchetti Ballet, and worked as a professional dancer. Later, he went to study psychology and computational neuroscience and in 2008, he set up the first Dance Psychology Lab. This has enabled him to combine his twin passions of dance and psychology and, through experimental work, to explore the ways in which dance, and different types of dance, can affect the brain. His most recent work, and the subject of his talk, has involved investigating the effects of dance on people suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Dr Peter Lovatt's talk at TEDxObserver (www.guardian.co.uk/tedx) 2010 was cited by many in the audience as one of their highlights of the day.
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In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
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[@thehqnd11]

there's nothing better than watching a psychologist make an entire group of people dance

[@melaneydees1185]

This is fantastic! As a dance teacher and currently studying to be a Marriage & Family Therapist I literally yelled out loud with how great this was! I love his energy and his lack of inhibitions.

[@monicasreel]

I would love to connect with you! I’m a dancer/teacher/Catholic! I would love to hear how your students are integrated!

[@Swattsy16]

We did this today as part of a psychology conference, it was amazing there was 900 of us in the hall, he must feel so pleased getting everyone to dance all the time. Thoroughly enjoyed it!!

[@crimson2799]

this makes so much effing sense to me omg. back in 9th grade and below, i used to be the most timidest and shiest person EVER, that was when i used to rarely dance. in late 10th grade, i started to get a little less shy with people, that was when i got motivated to dance more after my sisters complimented my dancing skills. in 11th grade, after summer holidays, everyone told me that i was a COMPLETELY different person and that i was very sociable and fun, and that was after i danced almost everyday during the holidays. IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. my best friend and i have been wondering what went through me that made me change so much, and i FINALLY got the answer

[@crimson2799]

oh one more thing. my movements got so much less stiff. like i realised that before last summer, i had to awkwardly bend down to pick up things. but after that summer, id rather get down on one knee and pick up things. wow i love dancing

[@cynthiaennis3107]

This is fabulous! Thank you! I think the whole world needs to dance! Soul! The happiest people are those that dance! 💃🏼🕺🏻

[@jackiep6743]

One of my favorite TED talks ever!

[@posturevideos]

Peter (Dr Dance) just brings a total smile to my face.

[@transcendnormal5681]

I would have been on that stage so fast! Believe they all stayed down there! Brilliant talk!

[@John-vi2st]

I hope some people from this audience started dancing as a hobby!

[@irinaandrea2254]

BEST ever TED entertainment knowledge and fun !!! Awesome!! I did the dance in my kitchen while cleaning the dishes 💃💃

[@jonathanguillarme3118]

This guy is absolutely amazing, a very communicative positive energy. Thank you for this sharing your work and to make it available online for us.

[@ryzeonline]

Really interesting stuff, and great to see people moving at a TEDTalk :)

[@Sunflower_that_loves_you]

Wow! Is this a sign from the universe !! I finally gave a restart to my dance passion and journey on 4th Jan after like a decade !! And I am also equally passionate about psychology yayaay❤

[@gwyneth2869]

as a person that has always felt uncomfortable at the idea of dancing, Feeling depressed at my ineptitude in this subject at worst and just usually disgusted I find it's psychology very interesting

[@aarontuplin]

There is no fiber of my being that has any interest in dancing but some people would consider a head Bop or a foot tap to be indicative of my hidden desire to dance that I'm suppressing with manly Manliness to which I say no they are completely different in my opinion One issue I've always had with dancing is that some people consider dancing to be overtly feminine which I think chips away at any woman who's not capable of dancing and may even be a cheap attempt at emasculating any man who's able to dance

[@emilyx8377]

@@aarontuplin I agree completely. I don't dance but I play the piano, so when I hear music, I "feel" it only in my fingers. Sometimes I also tap my feet. However, just because my fingers and feet might twitch in time to music, it doesn't mean I have a suppressed desire to dance with my whole body. I don't understand why women are culturally expected to enjoy dancing, and why men are discouraged from dancing. We're all different, and we're all going to react to music in our own way, whether it's by singing along, nodding our head, tapping our feet, or full-body dancing.

[@GASmotorsports]

This would also apply to many martial arts as they are physical social and cognitive as well.

[@lu_flowyoga]

BRAVO!!!

[@DavidSaad]

Love this guy!

[@sammichez]

vibrations and rhythm - a balance

[@lori9676]

Can't believe he made me dance with them through a screen

[@scaleonkhan183]

I only realized I was clapping when I dropped my phone...

[@elainemiller8992]

Love this. So true!!

[@1robzy]

Love this just brilliant,and so true, we are at Zumba a few times a week and so many people say it's helps with depression moodiness etc aswell as the obvious fitness and weight loss benefits

[@aarontuplin]

Robyn Yannoulis physical exercise in general is good for your mental well-being I don't think its necessarily dancing

[@sparshdancing4130]

That was great to know, as a dancer! I enjoyed and learnt so many things, I didnt even knew, it was so beneficial for me..👍😃 Thanks a lot sir peter

[@caresse6568]

That was Awesome

[@thefire1710]

the camera man put those guys not dancing on blast... hahaha!

[@minetteladman1582]

Thank you so much Peter Lovatt for this amazing video. Also being a dance teacher for 17 years in South Africa and having a fascination for brain development I found this video very enlighting. Would love to read your articles regarding these studies and would like to know if any further research has been done regarding the effects of various dance genres on the brain. For example the neurological structure of a tap vs a ballet dancer. Would love to discuss these findings should you have time or be interested. Thank you so much in advance for your time.

[@rachfayee]

For Dance to Have Health Benefits, three (3) elements must be met: 1. Social Element 2. Physical Element - Raises Heart Rate 3. Cognitive Element - Problem Solving Thank you Dr. Peter, love the groovy moves and song selections 😎🪩

[@pezib8587]

Dr Dance hacked a standing ovation

[@sonalpurohit5673]

I'd love this guy to be my psychology professor and my dance instructor. My attendance be 100% 😁🥰

[@greeshmak3365]

Even watching this was fun😄

[@gvancaramishvili6739]

lovely 😍

[@dwightjenkins845]

All quite interesting

[@curiosidadeboa]

Fantastic! Inspiration. :-)

[@AbdulrahmanMSaleh]

Minha Aquarela whats name of this music

[@Be1More]

great

[@ChrisofCabra]

Why do we dance? I'd add "how"? I have dance as a complete blindspot.(my second largest, I think) physically and psychologically both. Comes with my autism? V. Interesting talk. Socialising Dance bit left me totally alienated

[@MrGraemeb2022]

I work with autistic children, and this has got me thinking. Could dance training be a pathway to opening up those blanked off pathways in the brain?

[@aarontuplin]

I have no degree of autism and since I was a child I've looked at dancing as a completely foolish thing. Imagine what the people thought around the cave fire the first time some guy stood up and started dancing

[@John-vi2st]

Jolly Good! LOL XD those slangs

[@ericamafratoledo6152]

Please what is the name of the song he first introduced the audience (used it to shake hands, armas and shoulders)

[@fredherfst8148]

Superstition…Mr Stevie the Wonder

[@mshorizonchaserofficial5550]

I'm so happy too when I'm dancing hehehe :)

[@imperialiinc]

question... i have rhythm and can catch a beat but can’t dance why is that ?

[@seritaibarra-leonard9204]

Who decided that you can't dance? I believe if there's music and you're moving, you're dancing! Even if you're the only one who hears it!

[@imperialiinc]

@@seritaibarra-leonard9204 oh my god ☹️☹️☹️☹️, that genuinely put a smile on my face!!!!! That is the sweetest thing someone has ever said to me.

[@seritaibarra-leonard9204]

@@imperialiinc I've got nothing but love for ya! Keep dancing!

[@ucokrebornt1d320]

There is 3 persons difficult to move their as lol

[@trashboat422]

pretty cringe my guy