Dance for fitness

From hip-hop to the foxtrot, dance fever is sweeping the nation, fuelled by popular TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's Got Talent.

Whether you like to jump or jive, tap or tango, shake your hips or your booty, dancing is 1 of the most enjoyable ways to get moving.

Regular dancing is great for losing weight, maintaining strong bones, improving posture and muscle strength, increasing balance and co-ordination, and beating stress.

There's also evidence that regular dancing can improve heart health in older people.

One of the best things about dancing is that while you're having fun moving to music and meeting new people, you're getting all the health benefits of a good workout.

This guide will help you get started in dancing, including wheelchair dancing, introduce you to some popular dance styles taught in the UK, and help you find a dance class in your area.

Before you start

Most accredited dance schools hold beginners' courses and welcome people with disabilities.

Schools are friendly and a great way to socialise. If you do not want to go on your own, get a friend to go with you.

Classes can cost as little as £5 to £10 for a 90-minute session.

If the first class you try falls short of your expectations, do not be put off. It's worth trying a few different classes until you find the right one for you.

Wear clothing that gives you freedom of movement. Some dance styles, such as ballet, tap or jazz, may require specialist footwear, so check before turning up.

Avoid wearing jewellery such as earrings, rings and necklaces, which can scratch you or get caught in clothing.

Find a dance class

The easiest way to get into dancing is to contact a dance agency in your region on the One Dance UK website to find dance classes near you.
Find your nearest school or teacher accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT), the national standards body of the professional dance industry.
Find a class near you on EMD UK's classfinder website. Search for different fitness classes nationwide. The site features blogs on the latest trends in group exercise.
Dance Near You has a database of 1,000-plus dance classes of all levels run by dance teachers, dance schools and studios located across the UK.
London Dance, set up by the Arts Council England and Sadler's Wells Theatre, has a directory of dance classes offered across London.
If you cannot wait to get your dancing shoes on, visit Change4Life's Let's Dance section for free online dance routines, games and ideas for all the family.
To get into wheelchair dancing and find classes near you, contact Para Dance UK.

Dance styles

Not sure which dance style you'd like to try? Below is a quick guide to some popular dance styles taught in the UK.

Modern jive

Modern jive, popularly known as LeRoc and Ceroc, has evolved from jive and swing into 1 of the simplest of all partner dances.

There's no footwork to learn, so within half an hour your local club will have you turning and spinning to the biggest chart hits of today and yesterday, with lots of different partners.

For more information, including classes near you, visit The LeRoc Modern Jive Federation or Ceroc.

Street dance

Street dance describes urban dance styles that evolved on the street and in school yards and nightclubs, including hip-hop, popping, locking, krumping and breaking.

These dances are practised competitively, as well as being an art form and a great workout.

For more information, including classes near you, visit Dance Near You.

Ballet

The first ballet school, the Académie Royale de Danse, was established in France in 1661.

Today there are 3 main forms of ballet: classical, neoclassical and contemporary.

Ballet's conventional steps, grace and fluidity of movement are a great foundation for dance in general.

For more information, including classes near you, visit the Royal Academy of Dance or the British Ballet Organisation (BBO).

Contemporary dance

Unlike dances such as ballet, contemporary dance is not associated with specific techniques.

In contemporary dance, people attempt to explore the natural energy and emotions of their bodies to produce dances that are often deeply personal.

For more information, including classes near you, contact your regional dance agency on the Dance UK website.

Line dancing

Line dances are choreographed dances performed in unison by a group of people in rows.

Anybody can do it and the steps are easy to learn.

From their first lesson, beginners can enjoy dancing to a whole range of line dance routines to all genres of music, like country, Irish, Latin and pop.

You do not need a partner, so it's great for meeting people.

Find a line dance class using DanceWeb.

Salsa dancing

Salsa dancing is a fun and flirtatious form of partner dancing, fusing steamy Afro-Caribbean and Latin styles into simple and lively movements.

The word "salsa" is Spanish for "sauce" (usually hot and spicy), which is an appropriate description for a dance that's energetic, passionate and sexy.

The basic steps are easy to learn and you'll salsa your way across the dance floor before you know it.

For more information, including classes near you, visit Salsa Jive UK.

Ballroom dancing

Ballroom dancing has made a comeback in recent years, partly thanks to TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing.

There are many styles of ballroom dancing from around the world, such as the waltz, tango and foxtrot, and each has specific step patterns.

It's essential for both partners, the leader as well as the follower, to know the steps so they can dance together.

For more information, including classes near you, visit the British Dance Council.

Zumba

Zumba is a popular fitness programme inspired by Latin dance.

The word "Zumba" comes from a Colombian word that means to move fast and have fun.

Using upbeat Latin music together with cardiovascular exercise, Zumba is aerobic dancing that's great fun and easy to learn.

For more information, including classes near you, visit Zumba Fitness.

Flamenco dancing

From Andalusia in Spain, this is the dance of swirling skirts, castanets and breathtakingly fast heel stomping.

Flamenco's musical and dance traditions are centuries old, blending gypsy, Moorish and Andalusian influences.

Flamenco is a solo dance characterised by hand clapping, percussive footwork and intricate hand, arm and body movements.

For more information, including classes near you, visit Dance UK.

Tap dancing

Tap dance uses shoes with small metal plates on the soles to make the dance itself part of the music.

Tap evolved in America and has its roots in African dance, Irish dance and clog dancing.

It's as popular today as it was in the heyday of the great Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly musicals, and companies like Tap Dogs demonstrate how contemporary it can be.

For more information, including classes near you, visit the tap section on the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) website.

Bollywood dancing

Bollywood dancing stems from the Indian film industry and is now popular throughout the world.

It's known for being upbeat and often helping to tell a story or show emotions.

Bollywood dance blends classical Indian dance forms, with its intricate hand gestures and footwork, with modern western styles, including hip hop and jazz.

For more information, including classes near you, visit Akademi.

Modern jazz dance

Jazz dancing is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick turns.

Jazz dance evolved alongside jazz music and was popularised in ballrooms across the US by the big bands of the swing era.

It offers a full body workout, developing dance ability, flexibility, strength and rhythm.