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Family Life Article on Families on-the-go Magazine
January / February 2007

Ballroom Dancing Putting FUN in Exercise

Many couples looking to get fit, the dance floor offers an exhilarating alternative to the drudgery of the gym, and experts say sticking to an exercise regime is easier when it's not a chore.

"That's why we lead such sedentary lives. Many of us haven't had fun being physically active since we were children," said Cedric Bryant, chief science officer at the American Council on Exercise.

Ballroom dancing is helping change the way people see exercise, especially for older Americans attracted by the sense of nostalgia it evokes. Adding to the attraction in recent years are pop culture hits like "Dancing with the Stars" and "Shall we Dance?"

Membership in USA Dance, a ballroom dancing organization, has doubled to 20,000 over the past decade. And that only represents a small fraction of the people in the country who dance recreationally, said Ken Richards, the organization's spokesman.

Depending on the step, ballroom dancing can burn anywhere from 250 calories to 400 calories an hour - about the same as a brisk half-hour walk on a treadmill, and the more demanding dances like the salsa, samba and cha-cha can be comparable to an intense session at the gym, Richards said.

Dancing works muscles in different parts of the body and sharpens balance and coordination. Memorizing steps, kicks and twirls also flexes the mind - a critical benefit for older Americans.

"You don't get that from walking in place on a treadmill," said Dr. Ferdinand Venditti, spokesman for the American Heart Association and chief of medicine at Albany Medical College. For baby boomers and older people, Venditti said, the duration and frequency of physical activity are more important than the intensity. "And if you enjoy it, you're more likely to do it a lot," he said.

Although most people who take up ballroom dancing tend to be older, more young couples also are walking into the studio these days. Richards of USA Dance agreed that the age of dancers seems to be "coming down more and more." Some universities have ballroom dance clubs.

Not all those who take lessons are couples - many arrive alone and are paired up in class Put Dancing into your exercise routine in 2007, it may change your life.

Pictured is Anette Kendall with her dance instructor Stefan Dobrev of Fred Estaire Studio. Photography courtesy Dream Makers Studio, St. Petersburg.