It’s National Fitness Day on May 4! Now, we know that each of you know everything there is to know about fitness, but did you know there are quite a few fitness regimens rooted in dance?
Check out these four (extremely popular) exercise programs that wouldn’t exist today without dance and its groovy goodness.
1. The Bar Method
This workout was created by Burr Leonard, an avid lover of ballet and jazz who was inspired by the Lotte Berk Method, a curriculum created by German dancer and dance teacher Lieselotte “Lotte” Berk. After discovering Berk’s barre classes in New York City in 1981, Leonard decided she wanted to create her own version of the workout, but one that would work for all ages and physical abilities. After working with a team of physical therapists to hone her version of the technique, Leonard opened her flagship studio in San Fransisco in 2001. Seventeen years later people around the country are able to use this dance-inspired workout to stay healthy and happy.
If you’re curious about what the workout looks like, here’s a video from The Bar Method’s YouTube channel.
The Bar Method Class- Bar Restore
www.youtube.com
2. Zumba
Created by Colombian choreographers and dancer Alberto “Beto” Perez in the 1990s, Zumba is an exercise program that incorporates hip hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo dace styles.
Check out what a Zumba class looks like here.
Sacude – Julio Cesár Meza | Zumba Choreography
www.youtube.com
3. Jazzercize
When dance teacher Judi Sheppard Missett was teaching at a dance studio in Chicago in 1969, she noticed her classes had high dropout rates. She realized most students wanted to attend class for physical fitness, not to become technically proficient dancers. So, Sheppard Missett decided to hold classes that were just for fun. Over time these classes developed into what we all know as Jazzercise. The company now has more than 8,300 franchises in 32 countries.
If you’re like me, you grew up watching your mom do Jazzercise with legwarmers and leotards, but according to the Jazzercise website, this is no longer your mother’s ’80s workout. Just rebranding? Maybe. But we don’t mind, we think any dance-inspired workout is positively fabulous!
Ben and Kellie Get Their Jazzercise On! – Pickler & Ben
www.youtube.com
4. The Vixen Workout
Created by former Miami Heat dancer Janet Jones, this all-female workout class uses commercial choreography and stage lighting to allow women to, as their website says, “pretend you’re opening for the VMAs, and perform the moves you see by your favorite artists.” It’s all kinds of fierce. It’s a dance class that everyone can get in on!
Check out their army of instructors kill it here.
CONFIDENT
www.youtube.com
