We've all heard how good dancing is for you.  Here's something from the September 2010 issue of Chatelaine magazine:

Keeping your brain HEALTHY

Question to Dr. Oz: What other advice do you have to keep your mind sharp?

Answer: The best thing that you can do to prevent cognitive decline is physical activity.  For example, with DANCING, not only do you have to remember the moves, but your brain also has to tell you body to make those moves.  So your brain is using more powerful tools to make things happen than it would if you did a crossword puzzle, which uses just one part of the brain.

Question: So exercising our bodies literally exercises our brains too?

Answer: Yes.  And the other big benefit is physical activity also revs the heart and the blood vessels going to the brain, which become calcified over time.  Half of the dementia that we see is actually not Alzheimer's, it's infarction, little brain attacks, so you want or prevent those as well.

So, there you have it.  Dancing is very good for you mentally and physically.  And square dancing is good for you socially, too, because you are dancing in a group of 8, not alone.  TOGETHER you make the dance succeed; you have to cooperate and work together. It's all about interaction with others - who become friends.  How great is that!