Cardiorespiratory responses to isolated dance steps in young girls

Dance is mostly performed at light aerobic intensities and rarely reaches the recommendations of 50% of the total class time at moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The goal of this study was to verify oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) responses to different isolated dance steps, relating them to participants’ first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). Sixteen girls, aged 8–12, performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test and had cardiorespiratory responses to 13 dance steps (Plié, Relevé, Tendu, Chassé, Skip, Sauté, Grand Battement, Spin, Floor Work, Pendulum Pas De Bourré, Waves/Snake and Swing Arms) evaluated by a protable gas analyser (K5 COSMED). Statistical Analyses: Friedman and Fisher tests (p ≤ 0.05). Results are presented as mean±SD. All dance steps achieved VO2 values (mL.FFM−1.min−1) similar to participants’ VT1 (28.5 ± 7.9). Chassé, Skip, Sauté and Grand Battement achieved VT2 (43.8 ± 12.4). Similar pattern was found for HR (bpm) at VT1 (123.8 ± 13.3) and VT2 (167.0 ± 13.2), respectively. VO2 and HR analysis showed that dance steps with technical characteristics (Tendu) and/or increased level of complexity (Spin) were at low aerobic intensity. Dance steps performed with greater range of motion (Grand Battement) were at moderate aerobic intensity. Small jumps and across-the-floor (Skip) sets were at high aerobic intensity. Dance classes can be structured to induce MVPA levels.