The Mental Wellbeing Quiz

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of presenting a keynote speech at The Fourth National Summit on Promoting Well-being and Resilience in Healthcare Professionals, organized by The Ohio State University. This summit addressed a critical issue: supporting the well-being of healthcare professionals, whose roles often come with unique pressures and high levels of responsibility. Healthcare professionals work tirelessly to care for others, but in doing so, they face significant mental, emotional, and physical challenges that can lead to burnout and reduced job satisfaction. In my keynote, I discussed the remarkable effects of recreational dance on promoting well-being and resilience—a concept that has been central to my research and practice as Doctor Dance.

When you hear the term “pension pot,” you probably think about saving money for retirement, ensuring financial stability in later life. But what if we applied the same concept to our health and wellbeing?

Imagine a “wellbeing pension pot”—something we invest in across our lives to increase the likelihood of living a healthier, more fulfilling life as we age. Just as with financial investments, the earlier you start contributing, the greater the potential rewards.

Dance, as part of a lifelong preventative health lifestyle, can play a powerful role in building up this wellbeing pension pot. Not only does dance offer immediate physical and mental health benefits, but the consistent, long-term practice of dance can contribute to increased resilience, reduced risk of chronic disease, and a higher quality of life in later years. Let’s explore how dance can be one of the most enjoyable and impactful ways to invest in your health and wellbeing for the long haul.

Can’t stand your colleague? You’re not alone. But did you know dancing together can increase trust and collaboration? Try this fun quiz from Doctor Dance and discover how movement transforms working relationships.

Have you ever wondered why some dancers seem to burn with unstoppable passion, while others — even those with huge talent — lose heart and fade away? It’s not just about talent. It’s not just about hard work. It’s about motivation — and understanding it deeply can change everything.

Whether you’re a dancer in training, a professional dancer, or a dance teacher, motivation is the invisible force that drives every plié, every pirouette, every leap of faith on and off the stage. But here’s the secret: motivation isn’t something you’re just born with — it’s something you can build, strengthen, and protect.

Imagine this: The music starts, the lights rise, and the stage is yours. Your heart pounds against your ribs, your mouth is dry, and your mind — once so full of focus and fluid movement — suddenly goes blank. Your legs, usually so reliable, feel shaky and weak. You know the choreography. You’ve rehearsed for months. But at this very moment, it’s as if your own body has turned against you.

I carried out a survey several years ago asking people why they do or don’t dance. Around 1,000 people completed the survey.

Of those who do dance, most identified as female, and of those who don’t dance, most identified as male.

Here are the reasons men give for not dancing based around the theme of self-consciousness.

When I introduced ballet into the StackAdapt event, my hope was that some of the audience might reflect and change the way they think.
“If I can change the way I think about ballet (from something that “other” people do either in a studio or on stage while wearing tights or a tutu, to something that I can do in five minutes in business attire) perhaps I can also change the way I think about XYZ”.