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Dancing Feat, Move to the Beat

From folk to flamenco, dance is a simple way to spice up workouts

By Kristin Boyd
   FIVE minutes of stretching.
   Fifteen minutes on the treadmill.
   Fifteen minutes of weight lifting.
   Another 15 minutes on the treadmill. Sip of water.
   Repeat.
   Tired of the same old gym routine? Then, this year, toss your sneakers — and slip on your dancing shoes.
   According to experts, incorporating some fancy footwork into your fitness schedule is a simple way to spice up workouts. From folk to flamenco, tango to tap, any style of dance will do, as long as it makes you kick up your heels and move your body.
   ”Dance is really a win-win-win when it comes to exercise,” says Avery Faigenbaum, a professor of exercise science at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. “One win is for health, one win is for skill and one win is for the social aspect. Any way you slice it… dance is a wonderful activity.”
   Fitness organizations recommend adults clock in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, and even if you have no rhythm or two left feet, dancing can be a fun way to work up a sweat. “You can split that (time) any kind of way,” Mr. Faigenbaum says. “But for me, activities like dance or martial arts are high on my list on what to do.”
   Dancing, while helping you stay in shape, can increase strength and flexibility, as well as improve agility, balance and coordination. And it can also be a wonderful social activity and confidence builder, Mr. Faigenbaum says.
   ”A positive social experience can be powerful as far as maintaining an exercise routine,” he says. “It could provide a sense of community, and it could provide a sense of self-expression. Then it provides for personal growth because you see yourself improving.”
   Mary Pat Robertson agrees. She finds gyms boring and has always considered dance her daily workout. She especially enjoys how the constant movement and interaction make her feel, both physically and mentally.
   ”When you’re dancing, it’s like being in a pick-up basketball game. You get to see your friends, and you’re working off of each other,” says Ms. Robertson, director of American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School. “There’s a lot of group feeling that you can’t get if you’re on a treadmill.”
   Unlike the treadmill, which has only three options — walk, run or jog — there are numerous styles of dance to choose from, including salsa, swing, hip hop, ballet, ballroom, Zumba, Hawaiian, Middle Eastern and country line dancing.
   Ms. Robertson teaches ballet for eight hours a week and also takes two additional ballet classes, which help keep her ankles strong and make her feel comfortable in her body.
   ”It’s my insurance policy,” she says, laughing. “It looks easy when you’re watching someone on stage. But if you’re standing by a bar with your arm extended, by the time you’ve finished, you’re arm is really burning. It’s a tremendous workout.”
   The most popular dance courses for adults at ARB’s Princeton Ballet School include beginning ballet, beginning theater dance and hip hop, Ms. Robertson says, adding all three help with heart health, muscle toning and balance.
   The school also offers tap classes, which can help with balance, coordination, strength and mobility, adds Christine Bragg, a tap dance teacher and marketing director for ARB. “And also, it’s a really good mental workout,” she says. “We do a lot of steps using different patterns and rhythms.”
   Elaine Jacob of Princeton prefers folk dancing on Tuesday nights with Princeton Folk Dance at Riverside Elementary. She got involved with the group several years ago after seeing an ad in The Princeton Packet, and dancing has since become a great form of exercise that helps her with balance and rhythm.
   ”I was absolutely hooked by it. It was the music,” she says. “I really love it because it’s fast and challenging. My feet don’t stay still.”
   Folk dancing is what people did at the end of the day to relax or on weekends to celebrate, she explains, adding there are folk dances from various countries, including Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Greece and Macedonia. Her favorites are the Bulgarian and Balkan dances.
   Although Ms. Jacob says they’re generally very simple dances, they can provide quite a workout. “It’s movement, it’s rhythm, and these are very important things,” she says. “It’s something you can do when you’re young, or something you can do when you’re older.
   ”It helps the whole body so when you’re dancing, you’re working different muscles,” she continues. “But you don’t even think about what you’re working on. It just becomes natural to you.”
   The same goes for Kim Leary, who says belly dancing is a great alternative workout for women of all ages, sizes and walks of life. The dance, which can help with cardio, sculpting and toning, is based on natural body movements, so no previous experience is necessary, she says.
   ”Belly dance is fun,” says Ms. Leary, co-owner of the Drum & Dance Center in Bordentown, which offers a variety of courses, including flamenco, belly dance and West African dance. “It’s a great way to move and exercise while learning a skill.”