By AMANDA JAMES

aaj006@latech.edu

 

Dance can be a way to show off new moves or a new outfit. Dance may even help a shy guy or girl attract some wanted attention from the opposite sex. But many people may not realize dance is healthy for the body.

“[Dance] classes really develop all the components of fitness, which are body composition, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness,” Dr. Wendy Miletello, an assistant professor of health and exercise sciences, said. “There are four components of fitness, [but] many people think that there is only one.”

The first component of fitness is cardiorespiratory fitness.

Miletello said the main emphasis of cardiorespiratory fitness is getting the heart in shape, and dance classes increase cardiorespiratory fitness.

“Cardiorespiratory fitness [is] the heart’s functional capacity or ability to deliver oxygen to the exercising muscles,” she said. “[Cardiorespiratory fitness] is related to the development of heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes. Increased cardiorespiratory fitness means a decrease in risk of the development of heart disease.”

The second component is muscle strength and endurance.

Carrying body weight on the lower extremities during dance leads to muscular development, she said.

“Muscle strength and endurance [is] the muscles’ level of strength and endurance [and] is related to a person’s ability to do activities of daily living without fatigue,” Miletello said.

A low level of this means a person may become tired during  daily chores and activities, she said.

The third component of fitness is flexibility.

Light to deep stretching takes place during warm-ups and cool-downs in dance classes.

Flexibility is the level of stretching that can be done in the lower back and hamstrings. A low level of flexibility is related to lower back pain,” Miletello said. “Increased flexibility means a reduced risk of development of lower back pain.”

The fourth component of fitness is body composition.

Body fat, a part of body composition, can be reduced through dance, she said.

“A healthy body composition is vital for wellness throughout life,” Miletello said. “Unhealthy body fat levels are related to hypertension, impaired immune function, heart disease, back pain and arthritis.”

Andrea Newby, a graduate student of theatre, said she is enrolled in a dance class, and dancing has helped her maintain a regular workout schedule. 

“Before school started, I would work out four times a week at Curves,” Newby said. “Now, I don’t have time with class, but dance has helped keep me active and counterbalanced anything like weight gain. And now I’m more aware of my body and how it moves.”

Katie Stephenson, a junior English major, said she has been interested in taking a dance class at Tech.

“I really wanted to take one last quarter, but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule,” Stephenson said. “It seems like it would be a lot of fun and a good break from the stress of more demanding classes.”