Best type of dancing getting in shape and getting "dancer legs"

justinejacksonm

I've never taken a dance class but used to do vintage dancing as a hobby a number of years ago.

Keto lower body workouts but feel like I'm getting more of an athletic bulky look to my legs said than what I'd like.

I know dancers notoriously have great legs and dancing on a regular basis in general is great for your health, plus it's fun for me.

That said if I were to consider taking a beginner adult dancing class what kind do you think produces the nicest legs?

I keep thinking tap but I don't know.

Unknown

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GiddyupTim

My sister is a former ballerina. I don't know if that means she knows anything ... But she used to take Jazzercize classes.

Leila02124

Salsa dancing !

DancingMoosie

Ballet? Barre is also really popular right now. You might like Zumba. If you just want really slim legs, you need to stay in a calorie deficit.

lorrpb

It depends on what you mean by “nice legs”? Great dancers have very muscular legs and I assume that by “bulky” you mean muscular. If you mean slender vs thicker, overall leg shape is mostly determined by genetics and your overall body weight.

AliNouveau

I'm often getting compliments on my legs, I have since I was about 16 🤣😂
Running actually help nicely shape my legs
Pilates is good for stretching and strengthening
I'd suggest a barre class. If you want to do some dance classes ballet would work or ballroom of any kind as it teaches you to stretch and gives the illusion you are elongating your legs.
It's good to get a lesson from a pro though to teach proper turn out because that makes a huge difference.
I attribute my leggy success to good genes and the fact my height comes from my legs and I've been doing a leg intensive sport for over 40 years

pest3147

ZUMBA baby!!!

corinasue1143

Ballet for longer, leaner. Hula is great for thigh muscles. Barre classes are easy to find right now.
I love hip hop, but I don’t especially think it’s best for legs, good, just not sure it’s great.
Yoga stretch classes are also good for leaner looking legs.

cupcakesandproteinshakes

Lifting. Squats deadlifts lunges . Plus some accessory moves like hamstring curls, leg extensions, calf raises and leg presses. As part of a well written hypertrophy programme.

ElizabethKalmbach

Do what you enjoy and you will end up with the kind of legs you need to support doing more of that thing.

Dancers come with legs in surprising variety of shapes and sizes. Most of the professional dancers I know don't keep it to one form of dance or even one form of exercise. Many of them swim and hike and lift weights and dance in their kitchen with their kids as well as on stage.

Find the kind of dance you enjoy, eat at a mild deficit and enjoy your sport. The legs will follow naturally.

jeagogo

ElizabethKalmbach wrote: »

Do what you enjoy and you will end up with the kind of legs you need to support doing more of that thing.

I couldn't agree more. And if those legs happen to be big and strong that's awesome, too! Try to celebrate what your body allows you to do rather than trying to fit a specific mold or vision of what is healthy/athletic/attractive. We all have very different shapes and what fitness looks like on each person is different.

If you enjoy dancing, then just dance in whatever way brings you joy.

autumnblade75

If you dance, then you are a dancer. If you dance and have legs, then you have a dancer's legs.

AnnPT77

Two things:

1. Keep in mind that professional dancers are selected, in part, for their "look" (alongside skills, of course). Each of us works within a certain genetic framework, and the joy is in valuing and optimizing who we individually are, IMO.

2. As a vast overgeneralization, dancers have done a lot of things that involve muscular endurance: Repeating movements, usually bodyweight movements, thousands of times, and cumulatively probably literally millions of times. This has different results from "strength training", in the sense of doing much more limited repetitions of movements with heavier resistance.

Any style of dancing will tend toward producing "dancer's legs" if you do a lot of it. If you wonder what kind of legs from different types of dancing, look up photos of professionals in the type of dance that interests you (keeping in mind my point #1 above).

Best wishes!

Merinov75

Salsa music !!!