Dancing for fitness, fun and good health

By James Kane
Translated by S. Ying

Ever tried salsa dancing? How about hip hop or flamenco? You'd be surprised by what you can sign up for to stay healthy and fit. Dancing on a regular basis is great for losing weight, maintaining strong bones, improving posture and muscle strength, increasing balance and co-ordination, and beating stress.

One of the best things about dancing is that it makes exercise fun, which is great for those who find hours on the treadmill mundane. You can work out to some great music, meet new friends and learn more about the country that this art form originates from. Dance classes and groups tend to be friendly places that welcome participants of all skill/experience levels, including beginners. These sessions are also relatively inexpensive, with some offering discounts for block bookings.

If you're not sure which dance style to try, below is a small selection of popular dance opportunities currently available in the city:

Latin Dance: Salsa & Bachata
Salsa is a combination of different dance styles and considered the "king of Latin dances" with huge popularity around the world. Bachata, originating in the Dominican Republic, is a sensual dance that has gained growing attention in recent years.

Salsa and bachata classes are held at Nancy Dancing Studio. Nancy Huang is an experienced teacher who runs weekly classes, from beginner to advanced levels. She also hosts salsa parties twice a month.

Flamenco
Those wanting a highly-energetic experience can try this fiery, expressive art form, which originated in Spain. Although challenging, it can be a highly-rewarding and beautiful dance to learn.

Hip Hop
Evolving from the street dance movement and hip hop culture, this style isn't just a dance for college kids, as studios and fitness centres now include various styles of hip hop on their dance class schedules.

　
Left: Learn to dance hip hop, a style that began in 1970's New York.
Right: Elegantly-dressed flamenco dancers at MiRaiz Flamenco Espacio.

Where to go
Studio classes (featured here):
Nancy Dancing Studio (Salsa and Bachata)
0920-853-053; www.salsapassion.url.tw

MiRaiz Flamenco Espacio (Flamenco)
(04) 2316-6610; www.facebook.com/FlamencoCentro

Gyms:
The following gyms provide a variety of scheduled dance classes, including salsa, hip hop, mambo, cha cha, samba, rumba, ballroom, zumba and belly dance. Please call or check their website for times and prices:

World Gym 0809-018018; www.worldgymtaiwan.com
TRUE Dance (04) 3700-0000; www.truedance.com.tw
Fitness Factory (04) 2326-1155; www.fitnessfactory.com.tw