"Great fun, great for your health and great for meeting people"

says Lesley Garrett, from the series Strictly Come Dancing. Latin American and Ballroom dancing gives physical, mental and emotional benefits and is one of the best forms of aerobic and strengthening workouts available. It offers:
Great for the body
Burns calories - As Lesley Garrett found when she lost over a stone in Strictly Come Dancing, regular dancing will help avoid putting on those extra pounds and also to loose weight.
A complete workout - It offers cardiovascular benefits to dancers of all ages and abilities from gentle exercise to a challenging workout which is the equivalent of any aerobic class. In a typical dance session, you will not only build your heart's strength but boost your endurance and energy levels.
Tones and strengthens - once you have mastered the basic technique, Ballroom and Latin dancing combines a series of movements that tones and strengthens muscles throughout the whole body.
Keeps joints supple and bones strong - according to the American Journal of Medicine the best way to avoid arthritus and joint problems is to continue to use the joints in a controlled manner. This also helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis by putting a strain on your bones and therefore helping them to remain strong and dense.
Improves posture and balance and co-ordination - Ballroom dancing naturally encourages one to adopt the right posture and the combination of movement and dance steps builds better balance and co-ordination.
Great for the mind
Boosts confidence & self esteem - as you master the steps, gain a real sense of achievement and learn to enjoy dancing in a social and fun environment, your confidence will be boosted. Many people feel uncomfortable in social situations especially when attempting to dance. Learning to dance will make these kinds of social situations more enjoyable
Reduces stress - the comination of physical exercise and mental stimulation is a great way to invigorate yourself and alleviate the stresses of the day.
Mentally stimulating - the combination of exercise and the challenge to remember new groups of steps is good for the mind and stimulates the memory. Research has found that regular Ballroom dancing can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Make new friends - make new friends and have fun with like-minded people on a regular basis.