How to Just Dance

My whole life I wanted to just dance, but I was terrified of doing so. I'm overweight, not very athletic, and sometimes a major klutz. But this past year, I decided to forget my reasons why not and just dance.

I'm still learning a variety of dance methods, which I like to do at home. Videos are a great way for the shy to get up and just dance.

So, here is how I set up my at-home dance sessions, which I try to do every day.

I am currently using the following "just dance" videos, which you can find on virtually any DVD website or bookstore. I will briefly review them and go over how I use them.

Dance and Be Fit: Brazilian Body

This is an exciting dance DVD that combines a cardio workout with Brazilian dance steps. The warm up and cool down segments are also ideal for any exercise, and have some yoga and dance blends in them. I am trying to use at least the warm up and the "Samba Reggae" portion (18 minutes total) each day, and am often doing the cool down. I like the instruction and this is ideal for those who want to workout and get their heart rate up and just dance at the same time.

Sensual Bellydance

Blanca is a beautiful instructor, and gives step-by-step instruction on both sensuality and belly dance. Right now, I am trying to do part of her step-by-step choreography at least twice in a row, so I can learn sensuous dance moves such as "goddess arms," "upper body sway," and "side meltdown."

Belly Dance Basics and Beyond with Jenna

This is the best video I've found for learning the basics of belly dance without having classroom instruction. I do the posture, part of basic arms, part of ribcage isolations, part of chest isolations, and part of footwork. Repetition is the key. I will do most parts two to five times in a row regularly until I feel I've got it down pat, and then review regularly.

Beautiful Belly

Hemalayaa gives a great six-minute warm up and three 12-minute cardio segments that incorporate Bollywood, belly dance, and yoga. I am doing at least part of this video, including the second workout, daily and am finding my hops and shimmies improving over time.

The key to getting up to just dance is repetition and dedication. You will see I have mixed cardio and traditional dance lessons on video to achieve maximum learning and health benefit. I am looking forward to taking my moves more publicly soon.