ACE Study Tests Effectiveness of QiDANCE®, Finds Class Burns More Than Cardio Kickboxing

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An independent study commissioned by American Council on Exercise (ACE) found QiDANCE^® can burn more than 400 calories per session and improve aerobic efficiency.

“Dance fitness continues to be a popular form of group exercise, and it’s easy to see why”

The study, conducted by a team of exercise scientists from the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, sought to evaluate the fitness benefits and calorie-burning potential of a typical 52-minute QiDANCE class.

Initially launched in 2005 as Batuka by Colombian music producer Kiki Santander and re-branded as QiDANCE in 2012, the group dance-fitness program brings elements of Bollywood and Latin-inspired dance together for a full-body workout.

Exercise physiologists began their research using a test group of 20 healthy females ranging in age from 18 to 25, all of whom had prior experience in aerobic dance classes. To establish a baseline of fitness, study subjects each performed a treadmill exercise test to measure their heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption. The women were then given a QiDANCE DVD to practice at least three times prior to the actual group-exercise session.

For the final test, the subjects completed a single QiDANCE class – taught by an experienced instructor – while wearing a heart-rate monitor.

All participants reached a heart rate maximum between 68 percent and 95 percent – an average of 158 beats per minute – which is well within suggested industry guidelines to improve cardiovascular fitness. They also burned an average of 8.3 kilocalories per minute (commonly known as calories) – or about 433 calories per class.

That’s more kcals per minute than cardio kickboxing, step aerobics or power yoga, modalities previously tested by University of Wisconsin La-Crosse researchers.

“Dance fitness continues to be a popular form of group exercise, and it’s easy to see why,” said ACE Chief Science Officer Dr. Cedric Bryant. “As this study confirmed, it provides an effective dose of exercise to improve cardio fitness and promote weight loss, and perhaps more importantly, it’s fun. We’ve found that having a good time while you’re moving or working out is the best way to ensure you’ll keep doing it. And as we all know, building sustainable habits is the key to long-term healthy change.”

Download a full copy of the QiDance study on the ACE website.

About ACE

Since 1985, American Council on Exercise (ACE) has evolved from a small nonprofit dedicated to educating people about proper fitness to a 50,000-strong network of certified Personal Trainers, Group Fitness Instructors (GFI), Health Coaches and Advanced Health & Fitness Specialists (AHFS). As the largest NCCA-accredited nonprofit fitness certification organization in the world, ACE provides quality continuing education to professionals and conducts independent science-based research to protect all Americans from unsafe and ineffective products. Our goal is to inspire people to live their most fit lives through free fitness resources including workouts, nutrition information and expert advice. For more information, call [phone] or visit ACEfitness.org. AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, ACE and ACE logos are Registered Trademarks of the American Council on Exercise.