Exercise a new resolution: Dance your way into the new year

By Heather Staible

January 8th, 2010 at 6:14 PM

There’s a reason why most treadmills end up as clothes hangers. Hopping on the road to nowhere doesn’t exactly incite excitement, regardless of how many calories you can burn. Leave the drudgery of getting physical in 2009 and start a dance revolution worth sticking to.

When it comes to dance as a form of exercise, think jazz hands, not Jazzercise. Theatre Under the Stars and The Houston Ballet both offer dance classes for those who like to imagine themselves shuffle-stepping on the Great White Way.

TUTS Ballet Boot Camp classes are held Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hobby Center. The ballet class is for those who have danced before and those who always wanted to, and teaches a combination of ballet conditioning and muscle toning. Cardio Tap is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is a fast-paced, high-energy class. As with Ballet Boot Camp, dancers of all skill levels are welcome. Pop by classes are $15 and $160 for the block of 12 classes (Jan. 6-March 31).

The Houston Ballet’s open dance class program gives ballet dancers ranging from beginning to advanced a chance to reacquaint themselves with a simple plie’ or perfect their arabesque. Classes are open to dancers 14 and older and are offered Mondays, Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays. For something more modern, Houston Ballet teaches Extreme Street Jazz, a mix of street dance and technical jazz. The class is Thursday nights and requires some jazz and hip-hop experience. All of the classes are $15.

If you are saving your best dance moves for the privacy of the living room, get ready to bust a move at Nightclub Cardio Tuesday nights at Pravada nightclub from 6:30 to 7:30. The lights are club-appropriate low, which is nice for those who are prone to excessive glistening after the class. Nightclub Cardio incorporates free dance, stretching and some basic aerobic class movement and pairs it with disco, hip-hop and pop hits. Admission is $10 at the door, $8 if purchased online and $6 with the purchase of a monthly class pass.

Zumba is spicing up dance workouts across the city too, creating legions of faithful who sweat it out multiple times a week. The Zumba pack is led by Jerry Maese at locations across Houston, including Dancing City and Meta Morphocise. Interest in the Latin-inspired dance has grown, so many chain gyms and dance studios are also offering the class. Price per class varies, but most studios offer per class admission or packages.

For all dance styles under one roof, there’s always Houston Metropolitan Dance Company or “The Met” as dedicated dancers call it. Ballet, jazz, modern, tap and hip-hop are on the weekly schedule, with classes ranging from beginner to advanced. Class cost is based on hours taken per month and a single class is $12.

For something a little more refined and yes, sexy, learn the basics of tango at a Beginner Immersion Workshop Jan.16-17 at City Dance Studio. The seven hour class is $100 per person and dancers who finish will be able to participate in the Sunday afternoon practica at Rice University. Once bitten by the Tango bug (and the colorful and sassy shoes) check out Tango Houston for classes and events throughout the year.

Over the next few weeks, Heather Staible will take some of these classes and report back.