Want to Look like Julianne Hough? Learn to "Just Dance" with Julianne as Your Instructor!

Admired for her success on the dance floor (she won twice on "Dancing with the Stars"), Julianne Hough is sharing her winning style with her new fitness DVD, "Dance with Julianne: Just Dance!"

A Nashville recording artist and a new album due soon, Julianne stays sizzlingly shapely with her love of professional-caliber dance moves. Apolo Ohno and Helio Castroneves benefited from her teaching skills with championships on "Dancing with the Stars." If it seems as if her instructing ability should be shared with others, you're right, as evidenced in her entertaining new fitness DVD.

Dancing for exercise is deceptive: it's all too easy to dismiss it as "just play" rather than exercise. In reality, though, you're constantly moving, working your muscles, improving your cardiovascular strength, and practicing better balance and flexibility. Dance moves help you to burn calories more effectively, all of which make dancing a great way to get and stay in tip-top shape.

If you've used Julianne's first DVD, "Cardio Ballroom," for your at-home fitness, you may be wondering just how her new exercise routines differ. Her first DVD focused on the very structured dance moves that comprise ballroom, carefully choreographed. The new DVD, in contrast, is more relaxed, leaving room for you to interpret the moves and music to develop your own routine. The distinction is comparable, for example, to the difference between ballet dance and hip-hop - one is very focused on proper moves, while the other is more do-your-own style.

Understanding the Options in "Just Dance"

The fitness DVD includes a complete warm-up. Be sure to take the time to stretch out your body and warm up your muscles: it helps to avoid soreness the next day. Next up: three varied ten-minute dance routines. At the end of the DVD, Julianne provides a cool-down, complete with additional stretches.

You also can try out the One-on-One dance lesson section. Included in the DVD, it provides you with more slowly paced dance moves. If you're new to dance, you may want to repeat this section several times. In addition, be sure to use the option offered to follow one of the dancers who joins her to show modified moves for beginners.