A new study from the University of Oxford, published in Psychological Medicine on July 15, 2026, has found that taking weekly salsa classes may help reduce depressive symptoms in young adults.
The study followed 121 people between the ages of 18 and 24 who were experiencing mild to moderately severe symptoms of depression. Participants were randomly assigned either to attend salsa classes or to join a waitlist.
Those in the salsa group attended one class per week for eight weeks. By the end of the study, they reported a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than the participants on the waitlist.
The salsa dancers also experienced greater improvements in social anxiety and daily happiness. Many participants described the classes as welcoming and said that dancing improved their mood, gave them motivation to leave the house, and helped them become more comfortable around other people.
The classes took place alongside existing community salsa activities in Oxford rather than in a clinical environment. This meant participants experienced the program much like any other beginner joining a local dance class.
Why might salsa help?
Researchers believe salsa may be especially helpful because it combines several activities associated with wellbeing, including physical exercise, music, learning a new skill, and regular social interaction.
Partner dancing also creates a structured way to connect with others. Students do not have to arrive knowing anyone or rely entirely on conversation. The class provides steps to practice, partners to dance with, and a shared activity around which relationships can gradually develop.
The findings do not mean that salsa should replace therapy, medication, or professional mental health care. The study also compared salsa with a waitlist rather than another exercise or social activity, so it remains unclear whether the benefits were unique to salsa.
Still, the results provide encouraging evidence for something many dancers already recognize: a salsa class can offer much more than exercise. Along with the other physical and mental benefits of salsa dancing, it can provide community, personal progress, and something positive to anticipate each week.
Interested in experiencing salsa for yourself? Explore Salsa Vida’s city guides to find salsa classes and social dancing near you.
