Learn to dance the cha cha, samba, cumbia, salsa, mambo and bachata. Previously, you would learn these dances at a traditional dance studio, but now they comprise exciting workout options with upbeat music that energize your body, spike your heart rate and get you sweating. Latin cardio exercise is fun, easily learned, challenges and strengthens your body and can be done in a group class or in the comfort of your home.
Zumba
"Beto" Perez, originally from Colombia, created Zumba Fitness to combine enticing Latin music with easy moves from dances like merengue, samba, salsas, cumbia and bachata. The motto "Ditch the workout, join the party" describes a fun environment with upbeat music, sexy hip movements and basic dance steps that anybody can follow. The rhythmical music energizes the group and provides a variety of faster and slower songs for interval training. You can join a Zumba dance class for an exciting and complete body challenge at any of the 60,000 locations in 105 different countries where it is taught, or, if you prefer, you can work up a sweat by dancing along with "Beto" in the Zumba DVDs.
Core Rhythms
World champion Latin dancers Jaana Kunitz and Julia Powers created Core Rhythms to target your core and increase your heart rate simultaneously through moves from Latin dances like salsa, merengue and rumba. Core Rhythms DVDs cover material ranging from a dancer's diet to beginning dance moves to a full body workout. These fun Latin dance moves target your abdomen and can lead to the sexy, lean midsection of a professional dancer. Also, these motivating and interactive DVDs provide you with helpful tips about the steps from Jaana and Julia.
Latin CARDIO
Another Latin dance workout, Latin CARDIO, was developed by Cuic Suarez, a salsa and ballroom dancer. He created this workout as a progressive plan. He offers a simple explanation of the steps, and then the next DVD has an easily learned basic workout, which leads to the exciting 45-minute full body workout that incorporates full body, fun and fat burning Latin dance moves.
Music
Part of Latin cardio exercise's allure is the rhythm of Latin music. Slower dances like rumba and bachata offset the upbeat and fast music of salsa and merengue. Each dance and each type of music brings a different energy, making the workout more exciting.
The Dances
TV shows such as "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" have displayed Latin dances and increased people's interest in learning salsa, merengue, rumba, samba and other Latin dances. Some people choose to learn in a dance class, while others learn in a Latin dance club. Whether you dance in a salsa club or in a Latin cardio exercise class, Latin dancing gives your body a rewarding workout to the sexy and exuberant Latin beat.
