Dance-Specific Patterns of Relative Oxygen Uptake in Elite Slovak Standard and Latin DanceSport Dancers

Background: DanceSport involves intermittent high-intensity efforts that may differ between styles and partners within a dance couple. However, dance-specific relative oxygen uptake (%VO2max) in elite Standard and Latin dancers remains insufficiently described. Objective: This study aimed to characterize relative oxygen uptake during simulated competition in elite Slovak national team dancers and to examine (i) differences between Latin and Standard styles, (ii) variability across individual dances, and (iii) sex-specific patterns. Methods: Twenty elite dancers (10 couples) participated in the study. Five couples (n = 10 dancers; 5 females and 5 males) specialized in Latin dances, and five couples (n = 10 dancers; 5 females and 5 males) specialized in Standard dances. VO2max was determined via an incremental treadmill test. During a simulated final round, breath-by-breath gas exchange was recorded using portable spirometry. Style-level differences were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA (Style × Sex), and dance-specific effects were examined using repeated-measures ANOVAs. Results: No significant difference in mean %VO2max was observed between styles (F(1, 16) = 1.31, p = 0.269, η2p = 0.076). In the Latin group, relative oxygen uptake differed significantly between dances (F(4, 32) = 22.45, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.737), with Jive eliciting the highest values (~103–105% VO2max in males) and Rumba eliciting the lowest values (~88–89% VO2max). No Dance × Sex interaction was detected in Latin dances (p = 0.526). In the Standard group, a significant Dance × Sex interaction was observed (F(4, 32) = 8.80, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.524), with male dancers demonstrating higher %VO2max during Quickstep (~96%) compared with other dances, whereas females showed a more uniform intensity profile (~80–86%). Conclusions: Relative oxygen uptake in DanceSport is highly dance-dependent and shows sex-specific metabolic patterns in Standard dances. Conditioning programs in elite DanceSport should therefore be structured according to individual dance demands and partnership-specific physiological roles.