Throughout the years, all sorts of dance classes have been popping up on group exercise schedules, dance centers and community centers with the purpose of getting people moving and having fun. Dancing can be a way for people of all shapes and sizes to improve their health, stay fit and even meet new friends.
Regular dance as exercise has many benefits, including:
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Increased muscular strength and endurance
- Weight management
- Better agility and flexibility
- Strengthened bones
- Increased balance and coordination
- Improved mood
- Reduced stress
- Greater confidence
- Improved self-esteem
There are so many different forms of dance and people dance for so many different reasons. Some people dance for fun and others dance to entertain. In some cultures, people dance as part of ceremony. You can dance alone, in a group or with a partner. If dancing in a group setting is not for you, you can dance in the privacy of your own home.
There is no right or wrong way to dance, which is what makes it so appealing as a form of exercise.
Wondering what to expect in a dance-based class? If you have never participated in any form of dance exercise class before, you can bet the instructor will choose upbeat music and moves of varying intensities to keep your heart rate up and your muscles engaged. In group exercise classes like Zumba, Line Dancing, Country Heat, Hip-Hop and Barre, you can burn up to 600 calories in one go.
For many women, dancing helps them accept their unique body shape as dancers come in all different shapes and sizes. Some dance moves, like hip shaking, are enhanced by curves. Older adults can benefit from dance classes like Square Dancing and Country Line Dancing that are not only physical workouts, but also involve learning new dances (which helps with brain function) and socializing.
Check the schedules at your local gym or at the YMCA. Once you decide on a style of class you think you will enjoy, show up to class a few minutes early so you can introduce yourself to the instructor and let them know it’s your first time.
Strawberry Square Dance Center in Plant City offers modern Western square dancing from entry to advanced levels. The center also offers beginner and higher-level choreographed ballroom dance classes.
Angela Fulgieri is a Program Director for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA. Write her at observerfitness@ gmail.com.