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Dance classes
A dance class is an aerobic exercise that encourages balance and co-ordination, develops muscle tone and strength, and helps you to meet people and have fun.
What is a dance class?What are dance classes good for?
Before you go
Precautions
What to expect from dance classes
Hot tip!
Afterwards
Different kinds of dance class
What is a dance class?
A dance class is a great way for people of varying age and ability to get together and learn dance steps. From foxtrot to tango, dance classes vary in terms of physical demands but offer the opportunity for exercise and expression in one, as well as being a great social activity.
What are dance classes good for?
The benefits of dance classes are really wide-ranging and absolutely worth looking into. Dance classes offer emotional, social and physical benefits. The physical benefits of dance classes vary according to which dance you're doing. Some are very physically demanding and you'll need to develop flexibility, muscular strength, balance, and aerobic ability. For other classes the moves are much more gentle and straightforward.
Emotionally, dance classes are great for getting your body moving. Your serotonin levels will be raised which will make you feel good generally, and concentrating on the dance steps and on co-ordinating with a partner is a great way to forget the stress of your day and relax. Socially, you will meet people of all ages and backgrounds.
The benefits of taking a dance class may include:
* better mobility and flexibility
* increased suppleness and stamina
* improvement in general fitness
* improved muscle tone and strength
* better co-ordination
* stress release
* improved sleep
* weight loss.
Dance classes can be a window on geography, culture and tradition as well and are a great way of learning more about a foreign, or your own, country.
Before you go
The best thing you can do before you go is a bit of research on what the dance class involves. Finding the right class for you will be the key to your success and enjoyment. You may have an idea of what kind of dance you want to do. Speak to the teacher beforehand and find out about the other students, age, gender, level and so on, as well as what they anticipate from you in terms of your fitness. Usually, you will just be encouraged to go along and enjoy it. Make sure you know what kind of clothes are appropriate.
Precautions
If you have any medical conditions or have recently been ill or had surgery it's worth checking with your GP as to whether you're ready to do the class, or what movements to avoid. This is also relevant if you are, or think you might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
What to expect from dance classes
Dance classes vary enormously depending on the type of dance, your level and the place where you're doing it.
Like any aerobic exercise,even a gentle one, the class will warm up gradually to you're your joints and muscles time to warm up. The movement will then increase and you'll spend some time learning steps individually and with a partner. Don't worry if you have gone alone, the teacher will pair you up or put you in a group if appropriate.
The teacher should be patient and explain and explain again any jargon or movements that you haven't seen before. As the class draws to a close you'll probably have some cool-down exercises to make sure you ease out of the activity in a way that is safe and soothing for your muscles. A dance class usually lasts between one hour and two.
Hot tip!
As with any exercise, don't push yourself if you're uncomfortable, or feel strain or pain. A dance class is absolutely meant primarily to be enjoyable rather than demanding. If you want to stop, stop. This way you'll enjoy yourself much more and get more benefits from the exercise.
Afterwards
Our experience is that dance classes leave you on a real high. As children, most of us spun, skipped and hopped around every day, and will have taken part in classes at school, too. As we get older, we find ourselves dancing less and less.
Going to a dance class reminds you how much fun it is, and what a different and satisfying activity it is from any other form of exercise. The physical benefits are almost a bonus. You'll feel satisfied even if you aren't a great dancer, because it's great fun, completely distracting and a good opportunity to meet people from completely different walks of life to yourself.
Different kinds of dance class
Dancing is increasingly popular and there are myriad different classes available:
Salsa Salsa is a spicy mixture of Caribbean, Cuban and Hispanic dance and musical influences. Salsa means "sauce" and it is the colour and flavour of the dance that makes it so popular. Passionate, flirtatious and joyful, Salsa is a dance step for couples and groups, is quite simple to get hold of and a great form of exercise.
Flamenco Flamenco is a traditional Spanish dance reflecting in its steps the cultural and political history of its origins. Made up of song, dance, guitar and rhythm, Flamenco is proud and bold, highly stylised and very poetic. Castanets accompany the beat of the shoes on the floor. These rhythms are formed by dancer and observers - clapping their hands, snapping their fingers, clicking their tongues and even banging on tables. Flamenco can be performed alone, in pairs or groups. Skill is needed to do flamenco well, as is strength but it develops both in the teaching so if you really want to learn something special and rewarding, Flamenco might really suit you.
Tango Tango originated in Buenos Aires at the turn of the 20th Century when it reflected the mixed dance traditions of all the various immigrants who came there from Italy, Spain, Britain, Poland, Germany, as well as from other South American countries. Tango is often described as a conversation between two people set to music, which is a very important part of its tradition and performance. It is a very expressive and emotional form of dance that can be used to reflect the feeling of the dancer. As a beginner, it is easy to get to a point quite quickly when you can tango successfully; at the same time there is always room for further development.
Ballet Ballet is a great class to develop flexibility, poise, co-ordination and muscular tone and strength. Available at many levels for all ages and for men, women and children, ballet can be particularly beneficial for people with joint or flexibility difficulties. It is a gentle, fluid and graceful form of dance.
Ballroom Increasingly and incredibly popular in the last few years as shown by various films and TV shows, ballroom dancing is a social class that teaches various traditional, formal dances from waltzes to foxtrots, offering various levels of aerobic exercise
Country dancing Country dancing is based on traditional British dances for pairs and "sets" or groups. Once part of community life, country dancing is great fun for all ages and all abilities and does not require any special technical ability. The music is simple and bright. The exercise can be quite vigorous for some dances, and gentler for others.
Gentle steps Gentle steps is a ballroom-based dance class for older people. It is great for mobility, socialising and gentle exercise, without being too demanding aerobically.
See also:
* Yoga
* Aerobics
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