Adult Dance Classes vs. Dance Fitness: Which One Is Right for You?

Toronto has no shortage of ways to dance. From technique-focused studios to high-energy cardio classes, the options are vast and genuinely awesome. If you've been looking into moving your body through dance and found yourself going down a rabbit hole of studios, styles, and class formats, this is for you.

Let's break down the two main categories and help you figure out where you actually belong.

What Are Adult Dance Classes?

Adult dance classes are structured dance instruction for grown-ups. Studios like Steps Dance Studio, Underground Dance Centre, Studio North, and Run The Flex offer classes focused on learning specific styles and techniques, such as hip hop, heels, contemporary, jazz, ballet, Afrobeats and more.

The goal is skill development. You're there to get better at dancing.

If you're a time-constrained busy professional or parent looking for a good workout in a short amount of time, this may not be your best option.

If you've always wanted to learn a specific style of dance, if you love the process of breaking down choreography and mastering it over time, if performance or artistic expression is what calls to you, a technique studio is probably your place.

One thing to note is each class is usually designed by the teacher - sometimes with format/structure guidance from the studio, but often not. Teachers are considered the experts and hired by studios to teach, with a ton of freedom and flexibility in choreography and class design.

The instruction, choreography and teaching style can vary widely depending on which teachers' class you take. If you have a flexible schedule, love variety, and find a teacher that you really connect with, this is awesome. If you want more consistency amongst different days/times, you might struggle here.

What to expect: a learning curve. You'll repeat sections. You'll be corrected. You'll build on what you did last week. The focus is on the craft, and the progress is the reward.

What Is Dance Fitness?

Dance fitness uses movement and choreography as the vehicle for a workout. The goal isn't to become a better dancer. The goal is to get your heart rate up, move your body, build strength and endurance, and feel good doing it. There are several large players throughout the United States like 305 Fitness, Dancebody, Fly Dance Fitness, Jazzercise, and Housework. There are also several popular brands that train & license their formats to individual instructors, who will then teach classes independently.

In terms of instructors, Dance Fitness studios and brands often create set choreography that all Coaches adhere to with centralized hiring and training, so you get a consistent experience no matter which coaches' classes you take. However, the caveat is when Dance Fitness is added as an ad-hoc class to a gym schedule - this is often very instructor dependent.

Similar to a technique-based class, you'll still build rhythm and coordination in Dance Fitness, but the learning curve is often much smaller. In Dance Fitness, the moves are designed to be repetitive and balanced on both sides of your body so you get a well-designed, functional workout concealed as a dance party. In a dance class, the choreography is much more detailed and not balanced, which, without cross-training can lead to muscle imbalances over time.

Moreover, in a well-designed dance fitness class, the moves should have progressions and regressions, as well as equally timed reps and sets (for both strength and cardio) so you get the progressive overload needed to improve fitness. If Coaches are talking about training heart rate zones and/or specific muscle groups as well as consistent choreography amongst classes, this is an indicator of a studio with both fitness and dance expertise.

At SHINE FIT, we pride ourselves in being both dance and fitness experts. All choreography is designed and approved by our Head Coach Jess Takimoto, who has a 10 year competitive dance background with RAD training as well as holding numerous fitness certifications including CanFitPro Group Fitness Instructor, CanFitPro Personal Training Specialist & Precision Nutrition Coach. Many of the Coaches on the team also come from competitive dance backgrounds and all complete over 50 hours of fitness training before ever instructing a class solo.

All our classes are high-energy, music-driven, and built for women who want all the joy of dancing without any of the pressure of performance. You're not being graded. Nobody's watching your technique. The choreography exists to keep you moving and having fun, not to prepare you for a recital.

You can expect an awesome workout that is consistent no matter which Coaches' class you take, music that makes an hour feel like twenty minutes, and a room full of people who are there to work hard, have fun and cheer others on.

The Honest Differences

The intention going in is different. At a dance studio, you're a student. At a dance fitness class, you're focusing on improving your fitness level. Both are valid. They just serve different needs.

The pressure is different too. Technique classes require you to show up consistently and build on previous sessions, although many studios catering to adults will offer drop in classes. This makes it more flexible for busy people, but limits you on skill development. Dance fitness classes are designed to be drop-in friendly, although if coming consistently you'll get the skill development from a fitness standpoint.

The community feels different as well. Dance studios often attract people who are serious about the craft or have previous dance training experience, which creates its own kind of energy. Dance fitness studios, especially boutique ones like SHINE, tend to attract women who are there because movement makes them feel good. Warmer, less intense. The kind of room where nobody's evaluating you.

The results are different. With dance fitness, you can expect to see your fitness level improve - things like walking long distances, stairs, lifting heavy objects, and focus/mental clarity throughout the day should get easier. This is the most efficient way to improve your fitness level and build muscle. With dance classes, your coordination and rhythm should improve faster, but you won't see your fitness level change as quickly.

Lastly, the physical experience is different. A dance technique class will leave your brain tired in the best way. A dance fitness class will leave your whole body tired in the best way.

Can You Do Both?

Absolutely. Plenty of people take both technique and dance fitness classes. They scratch different itches. If you love dance and want to develop real skill, a studio like Underground Dance Centre or DanceLifeX gives you that.

If you want a consistent weekly workout that you actually look forward to, that's where we come in.

So Which One Is For You?

Go the technique route if you want to genuinely learn how to dance, you love the process of getting better at something specific, or artistic expression is the draw for you.

Go to a Dance Fitness studio if you want to move your body in a way that feels good and keeps you coming back. If you want a workout that doubles as the best part of your week or if you've always wanted to dance but never felt like you were "a dancer", dance fitness is an awesome place to start in a pressure and judgement-free environment.

At the end of the day, the best option is the one you'll actually show up for. If dance is what gets you there, Toronto has incredible options across the board.

If you're looking for experts in Dance Fitness, come try a class at SHINE FIT - we can't wait to dance with you✨

PS. Your first class is free. Book at shinefit.co or reach us at (647) 493-0822.