Dance can be an ideal way to improve your fitness level and is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a "health-enhancing physical activity." Luckily, a number of dance fitness programs have been developed by personal trainers and dancers to help you get the fit, dancer's body in the comfort of your own home, or while at your health club. Try the different styles and intensities of dance programs to find the one that you enjoy the most.
"Hip Hop Abs"
"Hip Hop Abs," the dance fitness program DVD developed by choreographer and personal trainer Shaun Thompson, seeks to help you carve tight abdominal muscles with urban dance moves and high-intensity cardio. "Hip Hop Abs" uses a belly-tucking movement common in pilates to keep your abs stabilized while you do ab work without getting on the floor. Paired with popular club music, the fitness program features dance moves you can use at the club.
Zumba
Zumba is a fairly new dance fitness program, developed in 1999 by trainer and aerobics instructor Beto Perez. Zumba is a mixture of salsa dancing, cardiovascular activity and some hip hop moves, all set to raucous salsa-inspired music. Taught only in health clubs by certified Zumba trainers, those who enjoy Latin-flavored dancing and music will have a fun time moving their hips to better fitness.
"Core Rhythms"
The "Core Rhythms" DVD is the brain child of two professional dancers of "Dancing with the Stars" and is a mixture of several different dance styles, all formulated to help target your trouble ares. The "Core Rhythms" website touts dancing for a more slender body, and starts by teaching the basics of each type of dance. Subsequent DVDs help you focus on different muscle groups and are ideal for those who love ballroom dancing.
"Turbo Jam"
Chalene Johnson, the creator and trainer for "Turbo Jam," wants you to have fun while you exercise. That's why she created a series of fitness DVDs based on dance principles and martial arts. "Turbo Jam" is high intensity and relies on regular street music to keep exercisers pumped up and ready to burn calories. Dancers who want something more challenging will likely enjoy this take on dance fitness.
"Yoga Booty Ballet"
Those that have always craved the long, lean muscles of a dancer will love the "Yoga Booty Ballet" DVD. Led by trainers Gillian Marloth Clark and Teigh McDonough, "Yoga Booty Ballet" combines ballet moves, jazz moves, salsa and hip hop moves with yoga poses to create a fitness program to keep dancers interested. Each video focuses on a different type of dance for cardio, strength training and muscle targeting, which may help those looking to achieve overall toning.
Member Comments
janwolf January 11
I find it disappointing that you didn't include JAZZERCISE classes in with your recommendations for dance-fitness programs. JAZZERCISE has been an established program for more than 40 years and offers a blend of dance aerobics with yoga, Pilates and strength -- all in one hour or fun. Would love for you to research this long-standing and ever progressing program, so that you can modify your recommendations by adding JAZZERCISE to your list.