Recent research suggests that dance therapy may be one of the most powerful mood boosters we have. A 2024 meta-analysis published in The BMJ reviewed 218 clinical trials and found that dancing reduced symptoms of depression more than walking, yoga, strength training, and even standard antidepressants. Only 15 of those studies focused specifically on dance, but the results were striking enough to capture researchers’ attention. The combination of movement, music, and emotion appears to give dance a unique edge in lifting mood.