BALLROOM dance is an umbrella term for partner dances that include the slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot, quick step, cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble and jive. Others often considered ballroom dances are the Lindy Hop, two-step, hustle, salsa and merengue.
CAPOEIRA is an Afro-Brazilian martial-art form. Classes combine dance, acrobatics and music with fighting techniques.
HIP-HOP classes vary widely, but all are inspired by types of street dance styles done to hip-hop music. The genre has been evolving since the 1970s, when break dancing first swept urban areas. Newer styles done in fitness clubs tend to be more upright than floor-based and are often choreographed rather than improvised.
NIA is a blend of martial arts, dance and healing arts that offers a cardiovascular fitness and wellness program. Pronounced “NEE-uh,” the name originally stood for “nonimpact aerobics” but now is an acronym for neuromuscular integrative action. Developed by Carlos and Debbie Rosas in 1983, Nia is done barefoot to music and delivers whole-body conditioning. Nia is self-guided, adaptable and safe for all fitness levels.
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ZUMBA combines Latin and international music in dance routines featuring aerobic and fitness interval training done to a combination of fast and slow rhythms. It was developed by Colombian fitness trainer Beto Perez a decade ago. One day Perez forgot his music for a class, so he took the tapes he had in his car and improvised a class. He called it “Rumbacize.” Perez brought the style to the United States in 1999 and, with two partners, created Zumba and launched the program worldwide.
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