The Energy Cost of Aerobic Dancing

Abstract The energy cost of three intensities of aerobic dance (low, medium, and high) was determined on four graduate students at Teachers College, Columbia University. All subjects danced seven 2- to 3-minute routines alternated with six 15- to 90-second recovery intervals of continuous walking. The dances were metabolically monitored with a Max Planck respirometer which measured ventilation and collected .06% sample of expired air, which was then analyzed for O2 and CO2 concentration. Values were expressed as VdotO2 l/minute, VdotO2 ml/kg/minute, and energy consumption as kcal/minute, and kcal/kg/minute. Heart rates were monitored by telemetry every minute throughout the dance. The women utilized 3.96 kcal/minute, 6.28 kcal/minute, and 7.75 kcal/minute, for the low, medium, and high intensity routines, respectively, while the men utilized 4.17 kcal/minute, 6.86 kcal/minute, and 9.44 kcal/minute, respectively. The energy expenditure for the low intensity routine was metabolically similar to walking on the level, that of the medium intensity routine to playing tennis, and that of the high intensity to playing hockey. Mean heart rates were 114, 145, and 156 beats per minute (bpm) for women; 106, 129, and 141 bpm for men. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that aerobic dance can be useful as a modality for cardiorespiratory training and rehabilitation, as well as for weight reduction and maintenance.