Aerobic Dance Steps

If you're considering taking an aerobic dance class, you've set yourself up for a fun fitness experience. Aerobic dance might seem complicated and, in some cases, intimidating if you aren't a dancer. In truth, aerobic dance steps incorporate very basic dance moves that you've probably done hundreds of times. These classes aren't advanced jazz or ballet classes that require a wide range of motion and high fitness level. Aerobic dances step instructors repeat basic moves throughout the class to elevate your heart rate. Let's look at some of the basic aerobic dance steps.

  1. Step Touch

    • Step touches involve taking a step to the right and bringing the left foot next to the right with a tap onto the ball of the foot. Transfer weight and step left, bringing the right foot next to the left with a touch. This basic dance move is used on just about any dance floor in the country. Step touches often function as a transition into other aerobic dance movements. Step touches can also be used as a basic warm-up movement.

    Grapevine

    • The grapevine sounds far more complicated than it really is. This simple step involves taking a step to the right with the right foot and stepping behind with the left foot. Transfer you weight with another step to the right and bring the left foot next to the right with a touch movement. The sequence includes step, back, step and touch. Go back the other way in a reverse motion leading with the left foot. Listen to the beats of music and step in time to the beat.

    Knee Lifts and Kicks

    • Instructors use dance steps during this type of exercise to help elevate your heart rate and make you sweat to burn calories and fat. Knee lifts involve lifting the bent knee directly upward in time to the music. Kicks involve the same movement to work the legs by kicking out between floor and knee height. Kicks add variety to simple step routines. There's also the added benefit of a workout for your legs. Kicks and knee lifts occur on a beat. Consider the lifting portion of a knee lift or actual kick the equivalent of a step.

    Mambo

    • Some moves simply lend themselves to spicing up a dance routine. Instructors often add a mambo dance step to routines without warning. While these steps might sound complicated, each one represents a simple 1-2-3 beat step that's just slightly faster than a 2-beat dance step. Essentially, you're cramming 3 steps into a 2-step count. The mambo involves taking one step forward with one foot, shifting the weight slightly onto the lead foot and bringing the foot back to center. This step is foot specific so you don't change feet at all.