Lester Fernandes of the Shiamak Dawar Institute of Performing Arts highlights the fact that dance takes the tedium out of exercising

Gal mitthi mitthi bol, loud claps, thumping and whoops of delight — you can hear all this and more. And surprisingly it’s a fitness class in progress. The music is high-energy, the movements synchronised and the assorted class of girls and boys is sweating it out — and enjoying it. Not unpredictably, Bollywood-style dancing as a fitness therapy is going from hot to hotter.

A typical gym session is a monotonous affair as opposed to the group dance class. “Counting sit-ups and crunches and sweating it out on the treadmill is boring,” says market researcher, Kavita Aneja, who has ditched the gym for Bollywood-style dancing.

Students at Dance Matrixxx make the best of Bollywood beats to improve stamina

There are other reasons why Bollywood-style dancing scores over the gym. Lester Fernandes, trainer with Shiamak Dawar’s Institute of Performing Arts (SDIPA), says: “Gym sessions stress on right postures but here the music takes over.” The SDIPA centre at Delhi’s East of Kailash focuses on dancing for fitness. The classes, held thrice a week, cost Rs 2,900 for one-and-a-half months.

But what does Bollywood-style dancing entail? “It’s a mélange of Bollywood style thumkas, coupled with Bharata Natyam and Kathak mudras, salsa moves and Hindi film dance steps — at a strenuous pace, with an element of fun. “The entire body moves in dance,” says Anshul Garg who runs Dance Matrixxx in Delhi. Garg’s classes, held thrice a week, cost Rs 1,200 a month.

According to Vishal Louis (not in picture) dancing beats gymming as it burns almost 500 calories per session

The classes usually begin with warm up and stretching exercises. The dance moves follow, first slowly and as the tempo builds up, really fast before cooling down. Delhi based fitness instructor Reema Sarin, who charges Rs 500 per session, has an added programme for the abdomen, buttocks and thighs.

Pradeep Adwani (centre) prescribes dancing to improve neuro-muscular coordination and flexibility; (below) fitness instructor Reema Sarin uses remixed tracks with an increased tempo for an intense workout

Also, with Bollywood in focus, chartbusters like Dum maro dum, Dhinka chika and Character dheela are in demand. The students quickly get into the groove with the current hits. “People enjoy attending the class and drop-outs are few,” says Fernandes.

Anindita Mitter, manager, Gold’s Gym, Calcutta says: “Bollywood style dancing is a cardiovascular workout which combines fitness with fun.” The gym plans to hold dance workshops in June and July.

But besides the fun factor, Bollywood dancing provides a full body workout too. Srishti Monga, 17, lost almost 10kg in five to six months attending classes thrice a week at Pradeep Adwani’s Institute for Performing Arts in Delhi. The classes cost her Rs 2,100 per month. Aneja too feels the difference. The classes are perfect for those who do not want hunky gym bodies but prefer to get toned with all that dancing.

The trainers insist that dancing is sometimes even better than gymming. Vishal Louis, who has 10 branches of his Viva Vishal Louis Centre in Delhi and NCR, says: “You can lose almost 500 calories per session whereas a gym workout settles into a pattern and the weight loss becomes negligible.” His thrice-a-week classes cost Rs 1,200 per month.

Sarin, whose Bollyfit programme is all about working out to remixed tracks, says: “At 140 beats per minute the high tempo provides an intense workout.” Sarin further ups the intensity by incorporating stepping up and down on the step board during sessions.

Adwani highlights some more benefits: “Dance improves neuro-muscular coordination as the mind, body and the soul are involved.” Additionally, excessive gymming stiffens the body but dancing makes it flexible.

Louis adds that the classes also help coordination bet-ween the limbs and music. “Indians love Bollywood music and the endorphins released due to being happy while dancing create a feeling of wellness,” he says.

Adds Garg: “Dance exercises almost all the muscles while gym routines target only specific muscles. Dance improves stamina — essential for fitness and also an added advantage for other exercises, be it lifting weights, jogging or even gymming.”

So, all the more reason to put on your dancing shoes, oops, your sneakers for that toned look.

Photographs by Rupinder Sharma