Physiological characteristics of elite dancers of different dance styles

The present investigation was aimed to study international level dancesport dancer's aerobic capacity during incremental test and competition simulation in relation to the gender, dance style and international ranking. A total of 30 couples (12 Standard, 7 Latin American and 11 Ten Dance; aged 22.8±6.6 years male and 22.0±6.4 years female) performed an incremental treadmill test and competition simulation. In this study for the first time we carried out longer than one round competition simulation and compared three different dancesport styles (Standard, Latin American and Ten Dance). The results showed that dancers of these three dance styles had similar aerobic capacity values. The average maximal oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O 2max ) values were 59.6±5.1 and 51.2±6.2 ml·min −1 ·kg −1 for male and female dancers, respectively. Competition simulation showed that Latin American Dance discipline is physiologically more intensive compared to Standard and Ten Dance styles especially for the female dancers. It appeared that male and female Standard dancers tended to perform at lower intensity than anaerobic threshold (AT) during competition simulation (male 97.3±2.9%; female 97.9±3.6%), while Latin (male 101.4±2.9%; female 106.7±5.9%) and Ten Dance (male 100.7±6.4%; female 99.2±5.6%) competition intensity was higher compared to AT level of athletes. The highest heart rate during competition simulation was always found during the last dances (Paso Double, Jive or Quickstep) and in the last round of each dance style. No significant relationship between [Vdot]O 2max values and international rankings was registered.