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Sh'Bam! Dance your way to a slimmer waistline

16 JANUARY 2013

Who said exercise has to be boring? From hip-hop to the foxtrot, dance fever has swept the nation thanks to shows like Strictly Come Dancing.

And the latest word in the dance craze is Sh'Bam, a workout set to music that promises to burn up to 500 calories a session.

So why not make 2013 the year you slip on your dancing shoes and shimmy your way to a slimmer waistline. HELLO! Online takes a look at the some of the most popular dance classes on offer – along with the accompanying music, theme and fitness benefits.

 

Sh'Bam
Sh'Bam is a 45-minute dance workout that uses simple dance moves set to Latin and hip hop music. In a typical class you will dance to twelve different popular tracks, each with its own unique dance routine. Fun and fat-burning, Sh'Bam is already proving a big hit in 2013 with benefits including improved coordination, increased cardiovascular fitness and the chance to get in the fat burn zone without the 'hard work' workout


Zumba
Zumba is a popular fitness programme inspired by Latin dance, that has been described as a calorie-burning dance fitness party. Easy to learn, Zumba combines cardiovascular exercise with upbeat music for an aerobic workout thats fun and easy to do.

Since its inception in 2001, Zumba has grown to become the world's largest and most successful dance-fitness program with more than 14 million people of all shapes and sizes taking weekly classes in over 140,000 locations across more than 150 countries.

Bollywood
With roots in the Indian film industry, Bollywood dancing has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Known for being upbeat and expressive, it blends classical Indian dance forms with modern western styles, including hip-hop. The most popular type of Bollywood dancing is Bhangra, which originates from Punjab in northern India.

Benefits of Bollywood dancing include muscle tone and flexibility and stress relief as well as being a great aerobic workout.


Ugi
Ugi is a total body workout that involves a soft weighted ball used to do one-minute bursts of 30 exercises. Described as the 'ultimate barefoot workout', it combines strength, cardio and core training in a challenging but fun way.

Ugi is HITT – High Interval Intensity Training - a proven way to burn more fat, build core strength and improve endurance. It was devised by celebrity personal trainer Sara Shears, who numbers Salma Hayek and Rosario Dawson among her clients.

Ballroom

Ballroom is back in a big way thanks to shows like Strictly. And with so many styles from around the world – from the waltz to the tango – each with specific step patterns, there is something for everyone. Fancy footwork aside, it helps tone and strengthen muscles in your calves, thighs and buttocks, and because it is a weight-bearing exercise will also help maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

Thirty minutes of ballroom dancing also burns off between 200 and 400 calories – the same amount burned by swimming or cycling.


Salsa
Fun and flirty, Salsa fuses Afro-Caribbean and Latin styles into an energetic and passionate dance form. The basic steps are easy to learn and its partner format appeals to many couples looking to get fit and have fun together.

Salsa is a hugely popular form of exercise because it gives you all the health benefits of an aerobic exercise while also taking part in a social activity. It also helps build endurance, helps relieves stress and helps with weight loss – salsa dancing on average burns off 420 calories per hour.