Dance around the world

14th of 20 reasons why dancing is great for your well-being.  Here's the full list.

We keep on being told about the eight cups of water that we need to drink each day to avoid dehydration. Excuse a little cynicism, but maybe there are also some vested interests behind this message.  Petrol is expensive but it is only half the price of bottled water.  Although there are undoubtedly some health benefits in drinking plenty of water, I have never been one to suck on the cap of a plastic bottle of water, especially at the exorbitant price that bottled water companies charge.  The negative impact of discarding so many plastic bottles into our environment seems to bypass the logic and conscience of the water sellers and buyers.  -What does Evian spell backwards?

Maybe my view is a poor attempt to rationalise my lack of commitment to drinking water continuously all day.  I'll drink water, usually out of a tap, when I am thirsty and/or when I have worked up a sweat.  Dancing does both.  I don't have to consciously think about drinking water in this situation.  It comes naturally. Whether at dance classes or at dance venues, there is usually plenty of water available and this gives me the opportunity to drink close to the eight cup quota that others say I should drink.  Dancing also reduces the quantity of alcohol that I might otherwise drink.  A beer or two or a wine, at the beginning of the evening is usually enough to set the mood and I continue to dance while drinking only water for the rest of the evening.

 For more info on the global issues around bottled water you can read the report from Food and Water Watch, who have a particular perspective on this issue.  They state their goal clearly:

In a Nutshell...
We are working with grassroots organizations and other allies around the world to stop the corporate control of our food and water.  We are committed to creating an economically and environmentally viable future.

Here's another counter view on the eight glasses of water a day issue which contains a lot of common sense to me.

A quote from a compilation of Tom Parsons, used with permission http://www.dancer.com/tom-parsons/quotes.html

If you're on thin ice you might as well be dancing.
             --Source unknown

Chris Mitchell
www.dancetours.co.nz