PhD, Associate Professor S.A. Grigan¹
PhD S.A. Romanchenko²
PhD, Associate Professor S.A. Shengelaya^3
1Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, North-Western Institute of Management, St. Petersburg
²Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University, St. Petersburg
³Rostov State Transport University, Rostov-on-Don

Keywords: physical qualities, physical form, age-related changes, tests, dancing.

Introduction. Studies have proven that in inexperienced dancers, dance practice can cause brain plasticity at both structural and functional levels. Different volumetric dance practice (years of experience) can affect PF and cognitive functions in older people in different ways. Consequently, the subjects can reach the plateau of PF and cognitive functions at different times.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of ballroom dancing on the physical development of middle–aged dancers.
Methodology and organization of the study. The study included 31 people with an average dance experience of three years, who do not take medications and do not engage in other types of physical exercise along with dancing. The participants were recruited from a dance sports club based on the sports school of the Olympic reserve of the Rostov region "Todes" in the city of Rostov-on-Don. The study lasted for six months of ballroom dancing classes from March 2022 to August 2022, and then after the fall season. At the beginning and end of the experiment, anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness (PF) and reaction time (RT) were evaluated.
The results of the study and their discussion. A six-month practice of ballroom dancing in middle-aged people has a positive effect and is reflected in reaction time (RT) indicators, but does not affect physical fitness. In addition, RT improvement persists four months after the end of the practice.
Conclusions. Thus, a six-month dance practice can become an effective means to improve the reaction time of middle-aged people, as well as for the development of social adaptation, self-expression in society and the formation of certain moral aspects. Further research may help to establish more precise mechanisms that underlie this positive influence, and to determine the most effective methods of using dance practice to achieve the desired results in the field of physical and social development.

Used literature

1. Baranov A.A. Physical development of children and adolescents of the Russian Federation / A.A. Baranov, V.R. Kuchma. – Moscow: Pediatrician, 2013. – 192 p.