Dancing offers an excellent workout that burns calories and tones muscles. It's a fun way to get in shape. The number of calories you'll burn with a dance workout depends on a number of factors, including what kind of dancing you do, how hard or fast you dance, how long you work out, and your current weight. Country Line Dancing Country line dancing has its roots in older folk dances. Dancers have no physical contact with one another and there is no need for an even number of male and female partners. A person weighing 140 pounds can expect to burn about 300 calories in one hour of country line dancing. Heavier people will burn more calories, while lighter people will burn fewer calories. Ballroom Dancing The I Village website reports that ballroom dancing provides a good workout for people just beginning a fitness routine. As strength and stamina increase, more difficult dances can be incorporated into the routine. Fast dances, such as the rumba, the samba, and the jitterbug, burn more calories than slower dances like the waltz, the foxtrot, and the tango. A person weighing 140 pounds can expect to burn about 200 calories in one hour of slow ballroom dancing and about 300 calories in one hour of fast ballroom dancing. Belly Dancing A sensual form of dance originating in the Middle East, belly dancing offers an excellent low-impact workout that strengthens the core muscles. People of all fitness levels can benefit from belly dancing. A person weighing 140 pounds can expect to burn about 300 calories in one hour of belly dancing. Latin or Salsa Dancing The rapid pace of Latin or salsa dancing makes this a great workout for burning calories. A person weighing 140 pounds can expect to burn about 300 calories in one hour of Latin or salsa dancing. Ballet Dancing Ballet dancing offers a great cardio workout along with strength training. It strengthens abdominal and back muscles as well as toning leg muscles. A person weighing 140 pounds can expect to burn about 320 calories in one hour of ballet dancing. Flamenco Dancing With roots in East Indian, Arabic, and Spanish cultures, flamenco dancing includes energetic footwork and graceful arm movements. A person weighing 140 pounds can expect to burn about 300 calories in one hour of flamenco dancing. Source
