By elements Fitness Advisory Board Member Lena Pereira

Did you know that the average weight gain between Thanksgiving and Christmas is between 7-10 pounds? Holiday parties can be so much fun, but also so fattening! I've got the perfect solution to avoiding adding the holiday pounds this season…instead of spending time around the buffet table at your holiday parties, get out on the dance floor!     

So much attention is placed upon preparing the food and drinks while just as much attention could be placed on preparing the dance tunes and dance floor atmosphere/experience for the party. My suggestion is to prepare party songs with just as much consideration as you put into preparing your pumpkin pie.  This year, why not also focus your attention on getting people moving and grooving?  I'm sure that if you try and remember which of the parties you ended up having the most fun at, they will most likely be the ones that you danced your holiday butt off at!

Think you may want to brush up on your dance skills? Feeling shy about dancing in front of others?  Here’s a suggestion: Try a dance fitness class! Dance fitness classes are popping up at every gym, spa and fitness center nowadays, including elements for women. Dance fitness classes are for EVERYBODY.  You do not have to have a "dance background" to enjoy most of these classes that are being offered today.     

Classes range from hip-hop to Latin, from house style (club dancing) to country line dancing.  It's now possible to go into a class and learn traditional /cultural dance steps from four different countries - in one hour!  Instructors are usually more than happy to teach and demonstrate specific steps before or after the class if you would like to get a particular step mastered.  

What's great about these classes is that they also help students feel more confident about their bodies and about dancing (in front of and with other people) in general. Dance fitness classes are less choreographed and "technical" than a dance class at a dance studio, making it easier, more appealing and eventually addictive to all participants.

When choosing the music for your holiday party, be sure to include music that is appropriate for all ages.  Include multi-cultural music for big parties to please everyone.  Include crowd-pleasers like "Electric Slide", “Cha Cha Slide" and (YES)  "Macarena."  Sounds corny?  It's ok.  It's fun. Really, the sillier, the better.  Great family pictures can be taken of Grandma singing and dancing to the "Macarena”! Classic Motown songs like "Respect" by Aretha Franklin and some oldie, but goodie Michael Jackson tunes always make the crowd move (think "Pretty Young Thing").  

Here’s a list of the ultimate dance party songs. I use these songs in my classes...and they are guaranteed to get people of all ages MOVING:

ALL-TIME FAVORITES (Most of these are GREAT for ELECTRIC SLIDE!):

"GIVE IT TO ME BABY" - Rick James
"SUPER FREAK" - Rick James
"YOU SHOULD BE DANCING" - Bee Gees
"CANDY" - Cameo
"WORD UP" - Cameo
"PRETTY YOUNG THING" - Michael Jackson
"DON'T STOP TILL YOU GET ENOUGH" - Michael Jackson
"EASY LOVER" - Phil Collins
"BRICK HOUSE" – The Commodores
"JUNGLE LOVE" - Morris Day and the Time
"ALL IN ALL" - Joyce Simmons

POPULAR, NEW DANCE PARTY SONGS:

"GREEN LIGHT" - John Legend
"LEAN BACK REMIX" - Fat Joe
"LIKE I LOVE YOU" - Justin Timberlake
"GOLD DIGGER" - Kanye West
"STRONGER" - Kanye West
"DAY AND NIGHT" - Crookers Remix
"CAN YOU KEEP UP - LOSE MY BREATH" - Beyonce
"BACK TO LIFE" - Soul to Soul

AND OF COURSE. . .MOTOWN!:

"RESPECT" - Aretha Franklin
"GET READY" - Rare Earth
"50 MILES" - Edwin Starr
"DO I DO" - Stevie Wonder
"HEAT WAVE" - Martha and the Vandellas

Try out a dance fitness class at an elements for women or gym in your area and see what hot, new steps you can pick up in time for the party. Along with the new steps, you will pick up new friends, new confidence and you may end up losing some unwanted weight before the parties. This year, initiate the Electric Slide at your next party. Your friends and family will love and thank you for it!

Discover more about Lena by clicking here!