Taking salsa classes can improve mental health, Oxford study suggests

The Guardian World Friday 17 July 2026, 05:00 UTC By Anna Bawden Health and social affairs correspondent 1 min read

Key Points

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

Oxford (ORG) Caribbean (LOCATION) Spanish (ORG) African (ORG) the University of Oxford (ORG) the Oxford Health NHS (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

The world's biggest rocket was grounded Thursday when four of its 33 engines failed to ignite, leaving SpaceX to replace two engines ahead of a new launch attempt early next week. SpaceX's mega Starship rocket came within a second of blasting off on a test flight Thursday, but some of the engines failed to ignite, triggering a launch abort amid billowing clouds of smoke and vapour. Elon Musk, the company's founder and CEO, said two engines will be replaced "to be confident of a good flight"...

Euronews 51m ago

Dinosaur-loving nine-year-old boy recognised by Guinness World Records as youngest museum curator

Anderson Taylor of Cambridge, Illinois has officially been recognised by Guinness World Records as the youngest museum curator in the world. What were you up to when you were nine years old? The odds are you weren’t curating your very own museum exhibition, unlike Anderson Taylor, who has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the youngest male museum curator in the world.

Euronews 58m ago

Scientists discovered Amazon fungus that eats plastic even without oxygen

Deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, scientists discovered a fungus with an extraordinary ability that could offer new clues in the fight against plastic pollution. Known as Pestalotiopsis microspora, the fungus can break down polyester polyurethane, a widely used type of plastic, and use it as a source of carbon. Even more remarkably, laboratory research found that strains of the fungus could degrade the material without oxygen.

Times of India 1h ago

'Mind-blowing' ancient bones discovery sparked by family holiday

The "once in a lifetime" discovery in Pembrokeshire could rewrite history, researchers say.

BBC News 1h ago

Taking salsa classes can improve mental health, Oxford study suggests

Related Stories

Four engine failures abort Starship's 13th launch bid at the last second

Dinosaur-loving nine-year-old boy recognised by Guinness World Records as youngest museum curator

Scientists discovered Amazon fungus that eats plastic even without oxygen

'Mind-blowing' ancient bones discovery sparked by family holiday