Face the music and dance

Inspired by the success of TV's Strictly Come Dancing, Emma Pomfret finds out why you should take to the floor...

Whether you loved watching cricket bad-boy Darren Gough spinning around the dancefloor or Zoe Ball tripping the light fantastic, the enormous popularity of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing proved once and for all that getting into shape and having fun are not mutually exclusive activities. Indeed, what better to way to get the colour back into your cheeks and a smile back on your face for 2006 than by learning to tap dance like Gene Kelly in Singin' In The Rain or trying out the kind of elegant routines made famous by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers? So instead of slogging away on a treadmill, pounding an exercise bike or facing yet another gruelling session at the gym, it's time to try a different approach to fitness and get your dancing shoes back on!

"Walking is a great form of exercise because it is very simple and it doesn't cost you anything, but dancing has some additional advantages that go way beyond walking."

"Almost 75% of the UK population, both men and women, are simply not active enough and the consequences of this to the over-50s are really quite serious," says Len Almond, Foundation Director of the British Heart Foundation National Centre and Chair of the National Coalition for Active Ageing (NCAA). "From the age of 35 onwards, we start to lose muscle mass and strength which, combined with inactivity, means that our capacity to move and perform daily tasks is significantly reduced.

"Therefore it is absolutely vital for older adults to get into an activity such as dancing because it will help to slow down this functional decline as well as helping people to maintain their independence for much longer," he adds. And Almond says that regular physical activity will not only maintain core strength but it can also help to prevent diabetes, reduce the risk of heart disease, encourage strong bones and aid healthy sleep patterns. "The vast majority of people, even those who are quite active, will sit down for 19% of every day, but in reality they should be doing approximately 150 minutes of exercise every week - or five times half-an-hour - which is only 2% of their day," he explains. "That's where dancing comes in. Walking is a great form of exercise because it is very simple and it doesn't cost you anything, but dancing has some additional advantages that go way beyond walking," says Almond.

"Social clubs or community centres often organise regular dances where people meet to have afternoon tea and to dance. Simply choose a style you enjoy or would like to try - and join an appropriate class."

"Firstly, there is the benefit of doing an activity in a social context because friendship is one of the critical factors in people's lives in terms of mental health and general well-being. The mind is improved and stimulated when people have companionship and dancing offers a great opportunity to widen your circle of friends."

Dancing also helps to maintain bone strength, which is especially important for post-menopausal women, as well as promoting poise, balance and coordination, according to Almond. "Finally, the amount to be learnt and the practice required means that there is a huge amount to get out dancing - the potential is there for people to learn, develop a new way of thinking and hugely increase their confidence levels. Just look at Darren Gough's performance Strictly Come Dancing - it was tremendous to see such a dramatic transformation in both skill and self-belief," he smiles. "Years ago there was far more opportunity for dancing, whether that be country or ballroom, but culturally the overall popularity of dancing has been lost until recent years," says Almond.

"In one sense it became too sophisticated and sport dominated but now, in conjunction with shows like Strictly Come Dancing and the like, there has been a major increase in the number of over 50s who are signing on for dance classes. All you need to do to get started is to contact your local council who should keep lists of all current activities in your area," says Almond.

"Even if there are no classes, remember to ask around at your local leisure centre because they will certainly organise some if enough people in the area are interested in learning to dance. Of course, the major advantage is that many of these classes will be heavily subsidised and so won't break the bank like some gym memberships can."

However, dancing doesn't have to stop at organised classes - in fact the more you do the better you will get and so Almond recommends practising at home as well. "Dancing at home is great fun but the main difficulty is people over-doing things and trying to do too much too soon," he says. "Practising when injured or unwell should be avoided - you'd be much better off just resting for a few days. Just remember to start slowly and go at your own pace."

From ballroom to ballet, tap to tango and jiving to jazz, there are many different types of dance, but the most popular are repetitive, easy-to-learn folk dances, which include line and square dancing. Social clubs or community centres often organise regular square dances - performed to traditional string band music and the prompting of a caller - as well as tea dances where people meet to have afternoon tea and to ballroom dance. Other dance forms include tap, jazz, flamenco, ballet, belly, disco or modern dancing but you won't know what you enjoy best until you try. To get started, simply choose a style you enjoy or would like to try - and join an appropriate class.

For further information about a huge variety of dance classes across the UK visit www.danceweb.co.uk, www.hotcourses.co.uk or www.keepfit.org.uk or contact the leisure department of your local council, the number should be in the front of your Yellow Pages.