Which dance or combination of dances gives the best workout?

[Sagitta]

I've been thinking about fitness related issues and it struck me that we have never discussed which dance or combination of dances gives the best workout. What do you think?

[Chris Stratton]

Well's there's the legendary Viennese-Quickstep-Samba-Jive until only one is left standing marathon supposedly run at a college comp a while back...

[pygmalion]

aerobic? High speed samba, jive, quickstep. Oh yeah, and certain C&W lne dances, such as cotton eye Joe. Holy cow!

If you're after muscle development, go for bolero. The first class where I did bolero, I literally could not walk the next day, that's how much my quads and hamstrings hurt. I wasn't used to using them that way. ( That was before I started lifting weights. LOL.)

[Dancegal]

Lindy Hop.

[SDsalsaguy]

Jive

[cocodrilo]

Try doing about 10 minutes of shines- will get you sweating like a DAWG!

[tasche]

Paso if you do it right and throw your whole body into it and keep your form

[Sabor]

hmm.. interesting query.. never thought about it from this angle..

cant be sure because in a number of dances there is the faster beat and the slower one.. and how an individual chooses to dance definetely is a factor.. but .. to my knowledge .. the highest speed beat i've heard are that of wicked fast sambas and merengues.. if they are danced to the extreme activity and motion they definetely would be top heart stoppers in my opinion...

but aside social dancing.. i think ballet gives the overall best fitness..

[Sagitta]

Brazilian samba definitely has a wicked fast tempo. And the way you shake to it is nothing compared to ballroom samba!! :)

[cocodrilo]

Brazilian samba definitely has a wicked fast tempo. And the way you shake to it is nothing compared to ballroom samba!! :)
That's the only samba I know, and boy is it tiring!!! Gets repetitive after awhile, no?

[Sagitta]

Brazilian samba definitely has a wicked fast tempo. And the way you shake to it is nothing compared to ballroom samba!! :)
That's the only samba I know, and boy is it tiring!!! Gets repetitive after awhile, no?

Yup. That's why it is good to mix it in with merengue/cha cha as part of the latin cycle of cha cha, bachata, salsa and merengue...oh yes forro and cumbia...

[ShyDancer]

Id have to agree with SD

Jive.

Getting those knees up is a task all in itself! No areobic class I have ever taken has had my leg muscles going like jive does. The upper body tension in swivels/twists is fabulous for your stomach too.
The bounce gets your heart rate pumping to extreme levels....maybe thats why we always have Rumbas played directly after the Jives!

[Pacion]

but aside social dancing.. i think ballet gives the overall best fitness..

does this mean we will be seeing photos of you in tights very soon :wink: :D

[tintinnabula]

I agree with Sagitta, brazillian samba is def. a workout.

[pygmalion]

Hey tintinabula. Do you do Carnavale samba and ballroom samba? If so, could you explain the differences? (or could one of you lurkers? LOL) I love ballroom samba, but I have a feeling I'm missing something great by not knowing authentic samba.

[salsachinita]

From what I've seen, one has almost NO resemblence to the other, Jenn :shock: .

I am only familiar with the Brazilian Carnaval one, as my friend Paulina (our local SambaQueen) puts on a show regularly at the club floor 8) !

Maybe there's a clip to be found on Google :? .....?

[cocodrilo]

Once, after watching a couple dance what I thought was a foxtrot, was suprised to hear they were doing a samba!!! What th'??? :shock: Bet you anything they don't dance like that in Brazil!!!(But then again it just goes to show ya I don't Idon't know ballroom, either :oops:

My Brazilian buddies do a step to the left, then quickly shuffle a tad MORE to the left, then repeat this with the right foot and continue a gazillion times. The proper way to do this and not look like a total buffoon is to get your butt wiggling(gawd did this take me a while to get the hang of!!!). This seems to be what they are doing at Carnival...Gotta get some sequined pasties, tighten up my g-string, and maybe go over there & join 'em someday! :D

[Flat Shoes]

The most exhausting is probably Lindy Hop at high tempo. Try dancing 200+ bpm with lots of aerials, lifts, jumps and throws, for five minutes. It'll have you flat on the ground heaving for air.

There have been times at social dancing when I get so tired I can hardly finish a song, and that's without aerials.

But as a workout I don't think it's the best still. Nothing beats a nice hour of running in the forest.

The difference between running and partner dancing is that when running you keep going in a nice steady rhythm for a full hour without breaks. While when dancing you dance a little, rest a little, do some slow song, some quick songs etc. And most of all, you should be able to socialize. It will never be the same as dedicated workout.

When I stopped running, and started dancing (because of injury) I quickly gained several pounds. And even though I now work out several times a week, dancing and karate, I'm still 30 pounds heavier than I was back when I was running 3-4 times a week.

So I would never advice partner dancing to keep fit.

[cocodrilo]

I would really like to try that, Flat Shoes!!! :D
I'm always up for a good workout!

[Flat Shoes]

I would really like to try that, Flat Shoes!!! :D
I'm always up for a good workout!
Try what? Go running, or dance Lindy till you drop? :lol:

I can recommend both :-)

[cocodrilo]

I would really like to try that, Flat Shoes!!! :D
I'm always up for a good workout!
Try what? Go running, or dance Lindy till you drop? :lol:

I can recommend both :-)

I already run! I meant the dancing! We've got our teeny salsa clique and then the senior ballroomers around here, but I will look into Lindy! (Good luck any Japanese guy is gonna have trying to do an aerial with me, though! I'm 5'8"!) :?

[Sagitta]

The difference between running and partner dancing is that when running you keep going in a nice steady rhythm for a full hour without breaks. While when dancing you dance a little, rest a little, do some slow song, some quick songs etc. And most of all, you should be able to socialize. It will never be the same as dedicated workout.

When I stopped running, and started dancing (because of injury) I quickly gained several pounds. And even though I now work out several times a week, dancing and karate, I'm still 30 pounds heavier than I was back when I was running 3-4 times a week.

So I would never advice partner dancing to keep fit.

Well, when I started dancing I dropped 4-6 pounds. At that time I was running a couple times a week, swimming once a week, biking, playing badminton once a week, working out with weights...However, I did dance non-stop at that time. I would dance, grab someone who was leaving the dance floor, and dance again, and repeat. Now I do more socializing and so it isn't non-stop, so I can see your point Flat shoes.

[dancin_feet]

I find waltz much more demanding physically than any of the latin dances. The control and rise and fall ...... my legs are aching just thinking about it! :shock:

[cocodrilo]

I can't say that I've ever waltzed, but I like to watch people DO the waltz!
I imagine exactly what Dancin_feet says- those rises & falls, and when the couple stops short to do a - what is that move called when the woman arches backwards and does that turtle-like sideways move with her head?
Boy, does that look painful! :shock:

[pygmalion]

That's supposed to be beautiful, not painful! :wink: :lol: If I understand what you're describing, quite a few patterns in smooth/standard use that extended back followed by head styling in a new direction, followed by a move in that new direction. It doesn't hurt at all. 8) Oh yeah, and she's not supposed to look like a turtle. She's supposed to look like a swan! :lol: :lol:

[dancin_feet]

I can't say that I've ever waltzed, but I like to watch people DO the waltz!
I imagine exactly what Dancin_feet says- those rises & falls, and when the couple stops short to do a - what is that move called when the woman arches backwards and does that turtle-like sideways move with her head?
Boy, does that look painful! :shock:

I would call it a hesitation step(??), and having just learnt to do it properly (without the back arch, that's more comp style) it is not immediately painful, but practice it enough and my calves and hips ache!

[Angelo]

Slavic folk dancing?

[borikensalsero]

The best workout comes from salsa, since it is the only one I do. It has got to give me the best fitness results. :tongue:

[Purr]

Bolero. The dance combines elements of both rhythm and smooth dancing. To do it well is quite the challenge. :friend: