Dancing With the Stars puts dance as exercise in spotlight

Gaston Gazette - Gastonia, NC, USA - Millions watched “Dancing With the Stars” last fall and saw “Beverly Hills 90210” star Jennie Garth and entertainer Marie Osmond get in shape while learning upbeat dances like the samba and paso doble.

Now, dozens of area residents, hoping for similar results, are frequenting the Gastonia Parks & Recreation Department’s CardioDance, a multi-level class emphasizing complete body toning and workout, to practice similar dance steps and more.

“Out-of-the-box” workouts like dancing are this year’s top fitness trend, according to the American Council on Exercise. There’s good reason for that, said CardioDance instructor Judy Blankenship.

“I think people want to do something for fitness, but they’ve finally realized how important it is to do something fun and do something that’s not going to be too strenuous,” Blankenship said.

The class has taken place for years, but organizers updated its name a few months ago to emphasize the health benefits of dancing and to take advantage of the recent upswing in popularity of dancing as a workout.

The program also incorporates extensive stretching, techniques to flatten bellies and light hand weights for arm movements.

“It’s an ecclectic blend of all different kinds of dance, whether it be can-can or hip-hop,” Blankenship said.

The classes, offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons at the Gastonia Parks & Recreation Department, offer something for all ages. The morning classes are slower paced, with participants favoring music like remixed, upbeat classical tunes. The evening classes are faster with more rock and hip-hop.

No matter what music is played, once you get in the swing of things, it’s hard to stop, said Betty Surratt of Dallas, who participates in the morning classes.