Diversity, the UK’s most successful dance group, has opened a new studio in the JQ. What better time to get those legs pumping to stay in shape – and have fun!

Dance fans across Birmingham will be delighted to hear that Diversity, the UK’s most successful dance group, has just opened a fantastic new dance studio in the Jewellery Quarter.

While we know that strutting yourself is a great way to stay in shape, for many of us the thought of going to a proper dance class is absolutely terrifying. But maybe it’s worth fighting the fear and embracing your inner Travolta because not only does dancing gets you seriously fit but it also helps you lose shedloads of weight. All while having loads of fun too.

So, to help you get over the hump here are just some of benefits of dance and why you should think about taking the plunge:

• Calorie and fat burning: Dancing is a great way to raise your heart rate. You can burn more than 400 calories an hour, helping with weight management.
• Improved coordination, agility and flexibility: Often your upper body and arms are moving in one direction, while your lower body and legs are doing something completely different. Keeping agile and flexible is especially important to maintain as you grow older.
• Improve concentration: Dancing is a mind workout too as you learn and remember new steps.
• Full body workout: Aside from heart-health benefits, dance provides a workout for the whole body. From head and shoulder rolls that loosen up the neck and warm up the upper body, to footwork that strengthens and stretches calves and ankles.
• Improved muscle tone and strength: Dancing really makes your muscles work hard, which helps to maintain and improve strength.
• Strengthen bones: Stronger bones helps reduce risk of osteoporosis.
• Increased aerobic fitness: Moving to the music is fantastic for aerobic fitness, building endurance and increasing the condition of your heart and lungs.
• Stress buster: Dance movement releases endorphins, improving your mood and helping reduce depression and anxiety.
• Increased empathy: To learn and practise a dance routine, you need to careful study and replicate the movement of others. Communicating in this way has been shown to improve levels of empathy and emotional recognition.
• Increased confidence: Feel good in your body and mind and you will feel more confident too.
• Makes exercise fun: You might find it hard to get excited about hopping on a treadmill but dancing is so much fun you’ll actually want to keep coming back for more. And all that smiling will stimulate your brain in a way few other things do
• It’s for everyone: There are classes for all levels and types, kids to grandparents. There are many styles of dance to choose from, each with its own attractions so one is bound to suit your needs.
• It’s social: Dancing provides a great way to meet fun and like-minded people.

So, if you’re feeling inspired and want to learn a new skill, get fit and meet new people, dancing could be a great form of exercise for you. Just remember to warm up, drink plenty of water and don’t push yourself too far or too fast, especially if you are a beginner.

TYPES OF DANCE

Pick a style that suits your personality and fitness goals and then just commit!

Ballet – Mostly performed to classical music focusing on strength, technique and flexibility.

Ballroom – For Strictly fans that love s bit of waltz, foxtrot, rumba and tango.

Hip-hop – This urban dance style involves breaking, popping and locking.

Latin – Lively and diverse including Salsa, Rumba and Samba. Expressive and sensual, it’s probably less suited to the self-conscious.

Pole – May not have initially sprung to mind but amazing for muscle endurance and all-round body strength.

Line – Performing a simple but choreographed sequence of steps is fantastic if you’re worried about free styling.