Latin Dance Exercises

Many Latin dances have a fast tempo style that make for fat-burning cardiovascular exercise, as well as major core strengthening. Latin dance steps require a constant small bend in your knees, which engages your lower body with emphasis on glutes. This movement is effective for lifting and toning your butt and thighs. The twisting movements of Latin dance engage your entire core, your stomach, back, hip and pelvic muscles with emphasis on your waistline. You can do Latin dance steps individually or with a partner, making this style of dance great for exercise or social dances.

The Mambo Combo

The mambo combo is a combination of a mambo dance step with directional marches to increase the intensity of the dance move. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, pulling your spine tall. Lift your shoulders up over your hips and keep your head in neutral alignment, neck tall. March forward with your right foot first for four counts. Proceed into a mambo by stepping your right foot forward and slightly to the left on count five. Bend your front knee softly as you step into the mambo, pushing your hips to the right and lifting your left foot slightly. Shift your weight to your left foot on count six, step your right foot behind your left on count seven and pull it back to center on count eight. March back four counts switching your lead foot to the left and repeat the mambo with the left leg stepping forward on count five.

Cha Cha

The cha cha is a basic Latin dance step that engages your lower body and entire core, with emphasis on the muscles that form your waist. You can do the cha cha in any direction, forward, backward or cross-stepping to the sides. You can add turns to increase the level of difficulty of your cha cha step. To do the cha cha individually stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, in proper dance posture, back and neck tall and shoulders up over your hips. Step your right foot forward on count one while lifting your left heel slightly. Bring your right foot back to center on count two. Lift your feet left, right and left to a triple count on three, and four. Repeat the entire sequence on your left.

The Samba

The samba is a classic Latin dance move that engages the lower body and core with emphasis on your glutes. To do a samba for exercise, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, engage your abdominals by pulling your bellybutton in toward your back and lift your torso tall. Step your right foot forward on count one with a small bend in your knees. Close your left foot into your right foot on count two, with partial weight. Shift your weight back to your right and step your left foot backward on count one again. Close your right foot into your left on count two, with partial weight. Repeat the sequence with the counts continuing, one-a-two, one-a-two.