The adult dance craze in Houston

Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Dance Craze
The adult dance craze in Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Doing cardio requires a lot of motivation for most of us, but one group of men and women are finding it easier to get moving, and that's because they're dancing.

Multiple times a week, Kerry Jackson leads jam-packed adult hip hop classes at METdance.

"I call it the Monday turn-up or the Wednesday turn-up because people come and forget they're exercising," said Jackson.

Benefits of dance

The class contains all dance levels and all ages and is just one genre of many adult dance classes now added to METdance, thanks to shows like ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

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"Reality TV has made dance popular, and I think people are looking for other forms of exercise before going to the gym," said Marlana Doyle of METdance.

"Cardio is NOT my favorite thing to do. I get bored with it," explains Vanessa Phung.

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Joining dance classes three years ago helped get her body into shape, but Phung didn't expect the brain benefits.

"I noticed a huge difference with my corporate job when I started dancing again," said Phung. "I remember small details from months ago that are important details that you need for my corporate job."

"Dance is great for your brain," said Doyle. "It teaches you coordination, which some people are really blessed with, and some people are not, and that's okay. It can be taught."

Memorizing steps and learning an eight count are also beneficial mental exercises and, as Doyle adds, " It's stimulating another side of your brain that helps you maintain your passion and your artistic quality in what you do."

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Finally, it's a challenge.

"I throw a lot at you, but it won't be that hard," said Jackson.

And if it is hard, there's always the back of the classroom!

METdance is offering major discounts for their twentieth birthday party on June 5th. Enjoy a class that day for just $3!