Unlike many exercise classes which work on specific parts of the body, dancing is an excellent way to achieve all-round fitness because it strengthens, tones, improves posture and flexibility - and is a great cardiovascular workout into the bargain.
Here, we explain the fitness benefits of three more dance styles
Ceroc
Modern, sociable and a great way to keep fit, ceroc is the fastest growing dance style in Britain and now boasts over 350,000 members.
Ceroc was invented by a half-French dancer called James Cronin in the early 1980s - and classes, which involve dancing with a partner, are designed to be fun, sociable and easy-to-pick up. There are now over one hundred ceroc venues in seventy towns nationwide.
The movements are based on a blend of jive, salsa, rock 'n' roll and hip hop. There are over 600 simple moves to learn, but teachers say you only need to pick up a handful to look like a professional dancer.
Ceroc has been hailed by the British Heart Foundation as the ideal way to stay in shape. It claims the aerobic effects bring fresh oxygen to your lungs and tissue, helping to keep your heart strong. Aerobic exercise can also help protect against osteoporosis - a bone thinning disease.
'The great thing about ceroc is that you don't even realise you're exercising because you're having such fun,' says Alpa Dodhia of Ceroc Enterprises who organise classes around the country.
The movements are based on spinning, sliding and lifting your arms in the air which tones and strengthens upper and lower limbs.
Fans claim you can burn up to 350 calories in an hour and going to classes one to two times a week is an ideal way to lose weight.
For classes in your area, visit Ceroc Enterprises www.ceroc.com, or call 0208 846 8563.
Jazz dance
For those looking for a funky workout that is based on a variety of dance styles from Charleston and break dancing to hip hop, jazz could be for you.
The fast-moving movements - which involve spinning and jumping - are particularly good for toning legs and bottom. The music played in classes ranges from soft, lyrical jazz tones to more funky beats.
The gentle routines are said to be particularly good for loosening stiff joints by working the soft connective tissue between muscles.
Teachers say more advanced jazz routines incorporate good strengthening exercises aimed to make you use more muscle fibre than usual, which means your muscles will function in a more efficient way. Teachers claim you can also burn at least 150 calories an hour.
Beginners are advised to wear trainers to protect their feet when jumping, but more serious dancers can buy jazz sneakers which have thicker soles to protect the foot and heel.
For more information on jazz dance classes in your area, contact the Association of Teachers of Dancing on 01635 86888. A typical class costs from £3 to £8 an hour.
Belly dancing
Not for the inhibited, belly dancing is a growing trend that's all about feeling sexy and feminine.
Based around traditional gypsy dancing which has evolved from the Indian subcontinent, Turkey, Russia or Egypt - depending which style of belly dancing you choose - there are over two hundred different moves to master.
If you're looking for a dance class that tones up your middle, belly dancing is the quickest way to a flatter stomach. Although belly dancing did not originally evolve as a fitness programme which explains why your average dancer appears voluptuous, teachers claim twenty minutes of pelvic tilts and circles each day can develop firmer abdominal muscles in just six to twelve weeks.
There are plenty of health benefits too. Teacher Tina Holbin, says belly dancing is particularly popular among new mothers, because the circular movements involved bring oxygen to the pelvic area improving blood circulation which helps the body to get back in shape after pregnancy.
Some of the typical moves also help strengthen our pelvic floor muscles - the deep muscles that support the bladder but can weaken after childbirth. The moves are also said to massage the internal organs such as the kidney, liver and womb.
The health benefits don't stop there. According to Tina Holbin, the circular movements can also help prevent the early stages of arthritis because it encourages lubrication of our joints.
'Women love belly dancing because it makes them feel sexy and improves posture,' says Tina. 'This is because the action of lifting your rib cage up and dropping your shoulders naturally aligns your spine.'
Those wanting to take up belly dancing can wear loose trousers or a skirt. Teachers say bare feet are best for unrestrictive movement.
For more information on belly dancing classes in your area, contact the the Association of Middle Eastern and Egyptian dance on 01299 832515. A typical class costs from £3 an hour.
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