Just go to any night club and watch the people dancing. No matter what style it is. You will see arms swinging, feet moving, hips shaking and people are always SWEATING. That is the sure sign that they are getting great cardio exercise. And they do it for hours. A lot of dancers don’t even know how good dancing is for your body. It burns calories, improves circulation, tones and strengthens muscles, and even makes your heart function better. All of these things will lead to better endurance and flexibility. Free style and hip hop dancing for one hour burns more calories than running on a treadmill for two hours!
Ballroom dancing and other partner dancing will burn just as many but for two people instead of one. 
Did you know that it is a proven fact that people that dance their whole lives, live longer? That dancing actually relieves stress and tension? That dancers stay married longer?
So instead of getting expensive gym equipment and workout clothes that you will tire of quickly and will not introduce you to any new people and take up a lot of space in your home, invest in some dancing lessons. Dancing is cheap and convenient. All you really need is a desire to have some fun and the willingness to walk in the door. For most people that have never danced, the hardest part is walking in the door the first time. 
Have you ever wanted to learn salsa, jive or swing? You can get online DVD’s or watch Dancing With The Stars but it’s more fun to go to your local club or studio where other people are learning the same thing. It takes the fear out of it when you realize you are not the only one that doesn’t know how. Once you learn, your life will change.
People of all ages and abilities can dance. It is certainly more exciting in a group. Whether you just add dancing as an extra to an already existing exercise program to use it as your starting point for a new fitness regimen. You should approach “dancing to lose weight” as you would any other fitness program. A minimum of 20 minutes a day for at least 3 times a week. This is easier when you take classes or join a dance fitness program because most classes are an hour. Do this 3 times a week and you are already doing more than you really have to do to start a new fitness program. Take it slower if you have existing medical conditions that inhibit strenuous exercise.
For the elderly with no real fitness background, take less strenuous classes and don’t overdo it. If you are short of breath or have chest pain, sit down. Take it 20 minutes at a time until you build a tolerance. Increase as your body allows. Just listen to your body, it will tell you when what you are doing is enough or not. Always remember to warm up with stretching and cool down at the end of your lesson. A good teacher will always do this but since there are no regulations on who can teach dance, be aware of this.
Dancing is fun and if you don’t really need to go anywhere else to do it, you don’t have to. You can dance at home as a choice for fitness. If you are at home you are bound to be a bit more uninhibited and will burn way more calories.