traditional dances-can be a fitness work-out

[shootingstar]

Some "traditional" dances are definitely fitness oriented. Like this winning performance for world championship for the dragon dance. (which has 2 people underneath that hot costume...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BftIBp-U5jc

Or Highland dancing, tap dancing or some of the dance numbers from the Carribbean.

We might tend to be unaware with all the costumes or not sitting up close to see the physical effort.

[channlluv]

Hula is a good workout.

Roxy

[azfiddle]

Irish step dancing is very demanding for short spurts. A sprint, rather than a marathon- a really great championship dancer can't go full force for more than 1 1/2 or 2 minutes!!! Group (ceili or set dances) are a little less energetic and go longer.

Also, an evening of contra dancing, while not so energetic, will burn up a few calories, but probably not do so much

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Also, an evening of contra dancing, while not so energetic, will burn up a few calories, but probably not do so much

Yikes, I'd have to respectfully disagree!
I started contra dancing 2 years ago, and it's a huge all-over workout. In fact, a 3 hour dance wipes me out far more than a 50 mile bike ride with rolling hills. When I first started contra dancing, I was biking and fitness walking a lot and I thought I was in pretty good shape. Contra dancing made me aware of all the other parts of my body from head to toe that had not been getting a workout. I love all the twisting, stomping, twirling, sliding, dodging and balancing that is done when the music is really in high gear. Woo-HOOOO! http://youtu.be/j9L0dz3qmsc

[shootingstar]

So how different is contra dancing from square dancing?

(I did some (mandatory) square dancing in the early 1970's when I was a kid in phys. ed. class. Those were the times, when girls and boys touched each other in a sanctioned way for first time ...pubescent years.

I probably sound positively luddite here..I went to co-ed public school the whole way through.)

[azfiddle]

A lot of the moves in contra dancing are the same as square dancing- swing your partner, do si do, circles, etc. In contra dances, two lines of couples dance together, 2 couples at a time. The entire sequence repeats every 32 bars and then you move on to a new couple to dance with. In a square dance, you have 4 couples in a square and often there are alternating sequences of moves with a kind of "chorus" in between (at least in traditional squares- modern squares are just an entirely different kettle of fish).

There are New England squares and southern squares, but I don't really know that much about the difference.

Bleeker St. Girl- I haven't danced as much as I've played, and not as much lately. In any case- there are people who say that contra dancing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[shootingstar]

Yes, the hula. Which reminds me that I could hardly as a kid get the hula hoop going around more than 5-6 revolutions.

Wow, azfiddle. Obviously you've tried some of it?

[azfiddle]

My son did competitive Irish dancing for 12 years. I have played for Irish dancers, and learned a beginner's reel and jig. I have done ceili dancing, played for set dancers and ceili dancers, and was a long-time contra/traditional square dancer and contra dance musician.

No hula or lion dancing, I'm afraid!

[FlyingScot]

I was a competitive Highland dancer until a couple of years ago. It's absolutely grueling! The problem is that part of the scoring is on "deportment" which in our world meant make it look easy so people never really understand how hard it really is. It also gives you huge calves which is not good for skiboots.

[shootingstar]

Flying Scot you must have developed good lungs also...useful for cycling also.

Have you this dance clip for fusion of cultures for dancing?

http://vimeo.com/9247640

It's annual event in Vancouver that combines Robbie Burn's day & Chinese New Year's.

Only in ....Canada?

[channlluv]

I took the toddler hula class along with my then two-year-old daughter, who is 1/4 Hawaiian. I used to be able to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in Hawaiian and do all the hand movements. "Imo, imo, hoku iki..."

Ah, good times.

That competitive Irish dancing is fascinating to watch. I wonder how many calories those dancers are burning in an hour.

Roxy