“I don’t do balls,” I used to say.
Like many other dancers I knew growing up, I formed an identity around being a dancer with no interest in activities involving balls, pucks, paddles, etc. (unless I was dancing with it).
In high school, I almost failed P.E. class because I flat-out refused to participate in any sports activity. As a result, in later years, whenever someone would throw me a ball I’d duck away rather than catch it, or if I did attempt a catch, it would be in a stiff and panicky state. It was embarrassing.
Ki’ilani (seen in the video) changed my relationship with catching. She loves balls more than anyone I’ve ever met. Every trip to a large store includes a visit to the sports aisle to feel balls. She even keeps a ball in her pocket for comfort tossing. One of our quarantine activities has been ‘dance catch.’
If you are home with another person, grab a ball, put on some music and:
Stay in motion the entire song;
Focus on where the ball is (even while dancing);
Move the ball around before throwing it (try taking it high or low, swing it, or swirl it around you);
If you miss, keep on dancing!
If the ‘dance’ element feels intimidating, increase the frequency of the catch/toss (this keeps the focus on the ball). Just remember to at least step or rock to the beat the entire time.
As seen in the video, you can make this a cardio activity, make it sexy, or work on various other skills while playing. If you have a pole, play dance catch with the pole.
@RADroller balls are my personal favorite due to the density, weight, and size. Plus, you can roll your body all over them for fun or self-massage — double win.
If fun isn’t reason enough to try this, think about movement longevity. Throwing and catching improves balance, hand-eye coordination, and reactivity—all things that tend to dwindle with age. Catching has even been shown to help prevent falls in older adults.