Dancing as a sport: choosing the right direction

Why is it worth doing dancing

Dancing regularly will make your body slimmer. During training, from 200 to 800 kcal are burned per hour - no worse than during fitness classes.
You will be able to strengthen the respiratory system and heart, increase the body's endurance, cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol.
A beautiful posture and gait is something that you can be proud of after regular exercise. Dancing will help you learn to hold your back correctly.
You will develop excellent coordination, responsiveness and body flexibility.
You will become sociable and self-confident.
Learn not to be ashamed of your own body and move beautifully to the music.
You will have the opportunity to express yourself. In the dance, a person is completely liberated, which contributes to psycho-emotional relief.
You are in a great mood. After a gym or fitness workout, many people feel tired, and after dancing, on the contrary, a surge of strength and vivacity.

Which direction to choose

Hip-hop

Hip-hop is a cheerful, perky and very energy-consuming youth dance direction. You will be able to express your emotions, feelings or protest, to be liberated thanks to the movements that the body itself prompts. This is drive and adrenaline, the spirit of competition and leadership. The rules and restrictions are blurred here, but at the same time, a bright, clear style is felt.

This direction is characterized by movements that are directed downward, relaxed bent knees and the body, which is in a low position. High jumps give way to sliding on the floor, there is a quick, unexpected transition from wave-like and slow movements to sharp and clear ones. The dancer should appear completely relaxed, and the dance should appear cheeky.

Who suits

Anyone who is young or feels so is confident and cocky. Hip-hop can be a healthy hobby for your child. It will help children and adolescents strengthen the musculoskeletal system, correct a slight stoop and form a proportional figure. Moreover, this dance direction fosters strong-willed qualities and dedication, helps to show individuality.

According to the study, hip-hop is the most useful dance direction for a child: 57% of the duration of a workout, a person is on the move. The most inactive scientists recognized flamenco: in this case, children were mobile only 14% of the time.

Peculiarities

The main distinguishing feature: hip-hop is not danced to the rhythm of the melody, but to the beat, which must be recognized and clearly captured in the musical composition.
It's not just a dance, but a way of expressing yourself and a lifestyle. Hip-hop lovers often wear clothes that emphasize their freedom: wide pants, sneakers, baseball caps, hooded sweatshirts.
Hip-hop is always open to experimentation and improvisation. An important role in this direction is played by character, namely - confidence, self-affirmation, a kind of stubbornness and perseverance. This type of dance will help you become more courageous, psychologically liberated and open in communication.
This dance perfectly works out the muscles of the legs, arms and shoulder girdle, improves fine motor skills.

Contraindications

Hip-hop can be considered a set of anaerobic exercises, so the contraindications are standard, as for regular workouts. It is worth treating such activities with extreme caution for people who have problems with knee joints, since they have a heavy load.

Strip of plastic

The workouts combine aerobic activity with seductive dance elements. Each lesson includes a warm-up, including stretching, and dance routines. The muscles of the legs and arms, thighs and buttocks, abdomen, back and chest get excellent stress.

Beginners will have to master the basic elements: waves with the body and arms, circular movements of the hips and chest, backbends while standing, sitting and lying on the floor. As the progress progresses, complicated dance ligaments with elements of acrobatics (splits, throws, stands) are included in the training.

Who suits

This type of dance is created for all girls and women, regardless of their physical form, appearance and age. If you not only strive for a beautiful figure and graceful gait, but also want to learn to love yourself, attract and seduce the opposite sex, then strip plastic is ideal for you.

Peculiarities

Strip plastic will make it easier to overcome complexes, will give you the opportunity to see your body and its advantages in a new way, as well as correct or hide flaws. After exercising regularly, you will not only look better, but also feel more confident and attractive.
When teaching this style, much attention is paid to posture and stretching, without which it is impossible to perform high-quality dance elements.
The program also includes a fashion show. It will take a few weeks, and you will begin to move smoothly and relaxed, and your gait will become light.
Another advantage is that many of the movements are done with lower back flexion. Usually these muscles are poorly developed due to a sedentary lifestyle. This type of dance will be an excellent prevention of diseases such as scoliosis and osteochondrosis.
During such a training, reincarnation takes place, you can reveal your sensuality and tell about secret desires, try on different roles - from a modest housewife to a vamp woman. You will learn the art of attracting men and learn to pique their interest.

Contraindications

Diseases of the respiratory system, heart, blood vessels and joints can become an obstacle to exercise. With osteochondrosis, there is a limitation: you cannot twist too much in the spine. At the same time, strengthening the muscles of the back and abs, stretching the muscles of the hips, shoulder girdle and pelvis will help to significantly alleviate the manifestations of the disease.

Belly dance

This is one of the sexiest areas, which helps to prolong the youth and attractiveness of a woman. Mandatory components of oriental dances are strikes (sharp movements of the hips) and vibration in combination with smooth waves, circles, eights. Coordination of movements is very important. The dance drawing should look holistic, capturing all the attention of the viewer.

Who suits

Ideal for mature women. Unlike jogging or aerobics, belly dancing is a gentle physical activity. This means that you can perform movements without undue stress on your knees, legs, and feet.

Peculiarities

You can start mastering the eastern direction even in poor physical shape: belly dancing will independently prepare your body for the necessary loads.
This type of activity helps to shape a feminine figure. Since the movements of the hips in this dance are quite complex in terms of coordination, those muscles that are difficult to use during normal exercises are worked out. Such physical activity promotes a healthy pregnancy and facilitates childbirth.
After 2-3 months of belly dancing, women feel better with gynecological diseases. Blood circulation improves, especially in the pelvic organs, inflammation of the appendages disappears, menstrual pains are forgotten.
Catching up only with oriental dances, you cannot create a perfect figure, since this is a rather uniform load. Not all muscle groups are involved here, for example, the back of the thigh, gluteus maximus, triceps practically do not work.

Contraindications

Classes are not recommended for gynecological exacerbations, as well as cardiovascular diseases and problems with the spine.

Latin American dances (salsa, bachata, cha-cha-cha, mamba, rumba)

Latin American dances are known for their incendiary, impulsiveness and positivity. The lessons consist of three parts:

Warm-up - semicircular rotations of the head, hips, circular movements of the shoulders, and the like.
The main part is learning movements and their repeated repetition.
The cool down is usually static stretching and dance moves at a slow pace.

Who are suitable

This type of training is ideal for energetic and emotional people. It embodies a fiery rhythm and clarity of movement. Latin American dancing is also a great way to warm up a couple's relationship or make new acquaintances.

Peculiarities

The main feature of such dances is the constant work of the muscles of the hips with a fixed position of the back and a springy step. Therefore, the main load falls on the muscles of the shoulders, lower back and legs. Also, this type of dance helps to improve the heart rate.
One of the important features is that you will not even notice the stress on the body as a whole. The maximum that you will feel is a slight pleasant fatigue. This is due to the proportionality of the load on the whole body.
Actively engaged in Latin American dances, you can not only lose weight, but also pump your hips, if you have a tendency to do so.

Contraindications

In the presence of cardiovascular diseases and problems with the musculoskeletal system, such dances are contraindicated.

Zumba

Zumba is one of the most popular weight loss workouts. It has spread to over 180 countries. This fitness program combines elements of hip hop, salsa, samba, merengue, mambo, flamenco and belly dancing. Its goal is to work out the maximum number of muscles, while not exhausting you with repeated repetitions of trivial exercises.

The direction was invented by the Colombian Alberto Perez in the late 90s. He was a professional choreographer and devoted his entire life to teaching others Latin dance. Later, zumba became the basis for the training of many stars (Shakira, Beyonce, Britney Spears).

Who suits

Zumba does not tolerate restrictions, it can be practiced by people of any age, men and women with any abilities and skills. All choreographic movements are simple and straightforward.

Peculiarities

The workout is like a party where everyone dances using simple combinations of movements.
You don't need any special physical training to get started, so Zumba is great for beginners.
The dance program is very diverse, which means that it will not be boring.
The emphasis in training is on the lower body, which allows you to well tighten the muscles and get rid of cellulite.

Contraindications

The categorical contraindications are hernias of the lumbar spine, displacement of the vertebrae, diseases of bones, ligaments, joints, thrombosis, problems with the heart muscle, high blood pressure, post-traumatic period, pregnancy at any time.

Contemp

Contemporary is a combination of dance techniques from Western (classical dance, modern jazz) and Eastern (qigong, taijiquan, yoga) arts of movement.

The main exercises are built by analogy with classical and modern ones: from simple to more complex. The lesson includes exercises on the ground (floor work), relaxation techniques, and stretching.

Who suits

For amateurs and professional dancers. Height, weight, complexion of a person are not important here. Contempo will suit you if you want not only to keep in good shape, move beautifully, but also to know yourself.

Peculiarities

Globally, contemporary differs from other dance directions by its inward orientation, interest in the quality of a moving body, its relationship with space, time, and a partner. The dancer accumulates energy, thoughts, emotions inside himself, and then gives them to the viewer.
The peculiarity of the dance also consists in alternating tension and relaxation of muscles, falling and rising, abrupt stops (often on straight legs), balancing.
Breathing during the contempo should be measured, as if it continues to move. Martial arts brought this demand to dance.
Contempo gravitates more towards the floor, while emphasizing the ease and expressiveness of movements. Usually danced barefoot.

Contraindications

Standard limits for physical activity. Moreover, this type of dance is quite difficult, exhausting, and you need to be in excellent psychological shape for training. Prolonged stretching, practicing jumps can exhaust a person with a fine mental organization and lead him to a state of depression.

Celtic dances

This is a rather complex set of movements, during which you need to keep the whole body in tension. Workouts are often grueling and stressful enough. Before starting, a 15-minute warm-up is required to warm up the main muscle groups, after which the basic elements of the dance begin to be worked out. To perform this style, not only the dancer's movements are important, but also his appearance, especially shoes. The most famous type of Celtic dance that everyone knows about is tap.

Who are suitable

Patient people who are attracted to the topic of social dancing. This style is characterized by complex combinations, the elements of which will have to be learned not only in the classroom, but also at home (perhaps even mentally).

Peculiarities

You will have to get used to a rather unusual position. The dance is performed on half-toes (the dancer raises his heels and stands on his toes), the upper body is motionless, the arms are always lowered. The basic rule is fast footwork.
This is a group dance, so, on the one hand, you will have to give up all liberties, on the other, develop a sense of partnership, when you feel like one with other people. Psychologists assure that such training is especially useful for those who have difficulty joining a team or are afraid of communication.
Music has a clear rhythm and requires the same precise steps. It is important to hit both the note and the leg.
Another curious feature is that it is better not to practice any other dances before training. Classical choreographic training often gets in the way. For example, in ballet, the feet and hips are strongly turned to the sides. Here, on the other hand, the legs are always crossed. And about the hands in general should be forgotten.
The system of Celtic dances is extremely interesting in that it heals the spine without missing a single section, no worse than a real doctor. The habit of keeping your back straight will develop after a few weeks of regular exercise.
Constant training will help build your perfect calf muscles. Although any kind of dance has a positive effect on the muscles of the legs, the Celtic ones receive a well-deserved gold medal.
This type of activity does not give any load on the hands, therefore, if necessary (or if desired), you need to work out this zone separately.

Contraindications

Large shock loads (jumps) do not allow those who have problems with the heart, blood vessels, spine and joints to practice Celtic dances. Progressive varicose veins are also contraindications.

We have considered several main dance directions from which you can start acquaintance with the world of dance. Take a few classes and you will find out which is right for you. When choosing, consider your age, training difficulty, your physical condition and goals.