I knew that the first dance workout I did had to start with a bang; for me, that meant starting with a One Direction medley. Their songs are catchy and I know the lyrics for all the songs in the video by heart after hearing them on the radio countless times growing up.

Difficulty of the dance moves

Have no dance experience? This workout doesn’t require it. Even with my lack of dance expertise, I could follow along with Madfit as she went through the various moves. However, there were some moves that I found harder to grasp. But since each song is played for its entirety, I could always try again and get it right the next time the verse or chorus came along.

The dance steps include lots of head-bopping, jumping, hip-shaking, and other fun movements to get your heart pumping. There are the occasional squats and lunges throughout to really work your legs.

Fun level

For the 15 minutes I danced with Madfit, it was fun from start to finish. The songs chosen were all upbeat and I was singing throughout the whole dance even when my lungs were burning. I loved that the chorus for each song incorporated lots of jumping which really get me into the mood to party and enjoy myself. The moves were also repeated a few times throughout each song which I really enjoyed as, by the end, I felt like I had mastered each one. My confidence really skyrocketed as time went on.

At the end of the fifteen minutes, I kid you not, I clicked the replay button to do it all over again. I just hadn’t had enough and wanted to continue!

How much did it burn

This workout is very cardio-based which left my calves and thighs burning the next day. From the moment I got up, my legs were so sore and I could feel them screaming at me. So if you are looking for a sure-fire way to get your leg muscles working, this workout is for you.

Don’t like One Direction?

If you aren’t a fan of One Direction songs, she has other dance workouts featuring songs from the 2010s, Dua Lipa songs, and more!

The day I did this workout, I was looking for something quick and easy that I could slip into my daily routine. I found this seven-minute workout by Danielle Peazer and thought it’d be a great way to start off my morning. And while it definitely was, I was fooled into thinking this workout would be easy just because it was seven minutes long. TLDR; this made my legs burn for the rest of the day.

Difficulty of the dance moves

While the dance moves in this dance were mostly easy to follow, I had an issue with one of them: the side step and swing. For some reason, no matter how I tried to copy Danielle, I felt like a fish out of water. I just couldn’t get into the groove that she was in. For those who are more into the groovy feel of things, this workout might be a bit easier for you!

Other than that, everything else was simple to imitate. The main elements were squats, punches, and side steps.

Fun level

While it was definitely fun, the seven minutes of exercising were not as enjoyable compared to the other workouts I tried. The music was mostly instrumental so there weren’t any lyrics I could sing along at the top of my lungs to while my muscles burned. However, the bass of the music was really loud so I could easily move my body along to the beat which helped me stay focused until the end.

How much did it burn

As I mentioned before, this workout left my legs burning. Most of the seven minutes were spent in a half-squat position and rocking from side to side. The alternate horizontal kicks also really activated my glutes and outer thigh. While the title says it’s a dance to work the abs, they weren’t that sore even though I kept them tense the whole way through. However, it was a killer leg exercise that I would definitely recommend if you want to tone your legs.

Want more intense workouts at under 10 minutes?

Danielle hasn’t posted a new workout routine in months. However, she has a nice archive of dance workouts on her channel that are under 10 minutes – so you can’t say you have no time to spare! They are great for new mothers who have little time away from their little ones but still want to stay on top of their health.

After the previous workout, I wanted to go back to dancing to songs and singing loudly – trust me, it’s more fun that way. So I searched a bit and came upon this dance workout. Elizabeth Chu is a smaller fitness YouTuber than the others on this list, but she definitely knows how to make a dance invigorating and exciting.

Difficulty of the dance moves

Simple but effective – those are the words I would use to describe the steps in this workout. I found that the way to make full use of each move was to really put all my energy behind it. Even a simple swing of the arm had to be done with purpose and energy.

If you are planning to do this dance, make sure you are ready to get down into a plank position nearing the end just when things are getting tough.

Fun level

With four songs that I could bop to, this dance session was entertaining. I shook my hips and was able to really enjoy myself without anyone watching. Some of the moves were taken from the actual Twice dances and it was exciting to actually do them. I even got carried away and made embarrassing facial expressions you would find in a comedy show. Embarrassing in hindsight, but it did wonders to motivate me to get to the end.

I was also kept on my toes the whole time – I was constantly moving from side to side to the beat.

How much did it burn

Halfway through the whole thing, I forgot about the pain and simply enjoyed myself with the dance. However, when it ended, I was definitely exhausted. My whole body was aching from my legs to my arms. It was a full-body workout that helped me sleep a full nine hours that night.

I woke up the next day feeling sore all over. But it was a good kind of sore – the kind that let me know I had worked my body but I did not overdo it.

Do you prefer rocking to oldies? This workout by Pamela Reif is for the old at heart and uses music from the 60s to the 20s. She is undoubtedly one of the biggest fitness YouTubers out there so I was excited to try out a dance routine of her. And, well, it definitely gave me a run for my money.

Difficulty of the dance moves

All the steps in this workout made use of the whole body. There wasn’t a time when any part of me was at rest. This can be quite difficult for those who have trouble coordinating their limbs (such as myself). There were also points where I felt that I was doing everything so wrong. However, each move is repeated a few times so I got the hang of most of them by the end of the 15-minute dance session.

Fun level

This exercise is all about feeling yourself. With every movement of your hips, robot body pumps, and the dance sequence for Hung Up by Madonna, I was able to live it up in my own living room.

How much did it burn

Out of all the workouts I did, this was the most difficult to get through. My whole body was moving the whole time. My legs and arms simply had no chance to rest. I was feeling the burn even before the midway point and had to struggle to finish the routine. This is definitely one for those who are looking to be challenged and left breathless. And just to give some sort of gauge – I wore a Fitbit and got about 1500 steps with just this 15-minute exercise alone.

If you are inspired to start your own dance workout journey, here are some tips from me to you:

• Make sure you have enough space all around you. Front, back, left, and right! You will have to jump around, get on the floor, and move in all directions during your workout and you don’t want to have to stop because you banged into something.
• If you are worried about not getting the moves right, you can first watch the video and try out each one to get the feel of it. This will definitely help you gain more confidence during the workout itself.
• Pick workouts with songs that you know by heart. I enjoyed the workouts where I could sing along the most. The catchy music helped keep me motivated to finish the video.
• Just let loose. Don’t worry about how you look; dance like nobody is watching! The more energy you put into it, the more you will reap from your workout.

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