Dancing for Fitness: Benefits, Calories, and Techniques

Dance is a powerful full-body workout that can burn over 500 calories per hour while improving coordination and hip flexibility. Discover the physics behind dance movements and learn conditioning exercises to build strong, lean muscles like a ballerina.

How Long Should I Dance to Burn 500 Calories?

Published Jul,08 2011 | By Betty Holt

You may not ever qualify as a contest on "So You Think You Can Dance", but if you let your inner dancing diva out to play, you can burn some serious calories. Dance is an excellent form of aerobic conditioning and enjoyable enough for some people that they don't consider it exercise.

Betty Holt began writing professionally in 1966 as co-editor of a summer mimeographed newspaper, "The Galax News." She has written for "Grit," "Mountain Living," "Atlanta Weekly" and others. Holt received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Master of Education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her articles specialize in health, fitness, nutrition and mental health.