Cardio dance workouts have come and gone through the years. Since the early days of ballroom dance and the Swing Era to the Jane Fonda workouts of the 1970s and the latest fads of the new millenium, people have used dance as a means to get a cardio workout. Today, exercisers can head to local gyms, studios and even to the television to try out the latest dance craze while burning fat and calories. With all these dance fads popping up year after year, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you.
Staying Power
An innovator in the cardio dance industry, Jazzercise was launched in 1969 as a fusion of jazz dance and aerobics. Jazzercise has morphed since its inception to include resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing movements. While statistics show that the Jazzercise fad hasn't died out, its core clientele is certainly aging. A 2004 article in the San Diego Union -Tribune said that 77 percent of Jazzercisers are 35 and older.
Flirting with Fitness
One controversial cardio dance workout fad that has creeped into the mainstream is pole dancing. Several chain clubs, including Crunch Fitness' "Cardio Strip," have been offering pole dancing, chair dancing and lap dancing since about 2002, according to Athletic Business magazine. "The workout puts demands on all parts of the anatomy, from the chest and upper arms to the abs, glutes, and calves," writes Kerry Hannon in a 2007 "U.S. News & World Report" article. While pole classes are filling up quickly across the nation, pole dancing isn't for everyone. Men are strictly prohibited, and regardless of the fitness benefit, some women just don't feel comfortable performing sexually suggestive movements.
Zumba-mania
The most popular cardio dance fad is Zumba. According to the Zumba website, as of February 2011, 10 million people have taken Zumba classes in more than 90,000 locations in more than 110 countries. Created by Alberto "Beto" Perez in his home country of Colombia in the mid-1990s, Zumba blends Latin-dance rhythms and international music to create a party-like atmosphere during the hour-long cardio session. More age-inclusive than Jazzercise and less suggestive than pole dancing, it's not surprising that Zumba class offerings are popping up all over---from health clubs, to community centers, to church basements.
Stay-at-Home Workout Alternatives
If your dance moves aren't yet ready for primetime, a slew of new DVD and gaming system titles offer an alternative to attending a live class. Jazzercise sells several DVDs on its website that are to be used in conjuction with hand-held weights. If you'd like to try pole dancing, a variety of DVDs are available, including the "As Seen On TV" Flirty Girl Fitness program -- pole not included. If Zumba sounds like it would be for you, several videos are available online, and a virtual Zumba class can be accomplished via new titles available for the Wii Fit and Xbox Kinect.
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