This week, I have "8 Dance Questions" for Lindsay Oliver. Lindsay has been teaching dance for more than 20 years. She has a B.A. in exercise physiology and a M.S. in physical education and dance. She is currently teaching ballroom dance as well as children's ballet, tap and jazz at the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene.

Q. Lindsay, dance has been a form of great exercise for a very long time. Are there forms of dance that work better for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise regimens?

A. In reality, any form of dance can be an aerobic workout. Dances that have slower, more controlled movements could be considered anaerobic, however, it really depends on skill mastery and current fitness level.

Q. Can dance improve your posture, flexibility and agility across all your motion ranges and muscle groups?

A. Absolutely! All forms of dance require proper body posture in order to execute the moves correctly. Flexibility and agility will come with stretching and increased skill performance. Some forms of dance demand quick foot work and level changes, which add to the intensity of the workout.

Q. Zumba was pretty big a few years ago. What's new in the dance world? What is trending in dance regimens that you see becoming popular?

A. Over the last few years, dances from other cultures have found their way into some classical dance genres, i.e. Bollywood. Hip-hop is very popular with children and young adults and has made its way into other dance forms as well. For fitness, I think NIA is probably the latest trend. This combines many styles of dance with martial arts and fitness, and it's easily adapted for your workout goal.

Q. If someone wanted to make dance their sole form of exercise, would it be enough to maintain their fitness over the long term?

A. Yes. As with any form of exercise, start off at a comfortable pace to match your fitness level. Start off with a proper warm up for the type of dance, and include some type of cool down when you're done dancing. It doesn't take long to start reaping the benefits; with the right music and some dance knowledge, you can have fun and get fit simultaneously.

Q. Which dance routines would you recommend for people just getting started with dance? How often should they plan to do a dance regimen each week to be effective as a fitness program?

A. I would recommend either ballroom or line dancing to get started. Once you get used to learning new dance skills, you can progress to any form you like. Dancing three times per week is optimum to be effective as a fitness program. As with other forms of exercise, depending on your goal, the amount will vary with each person.

Q. I have seen research suggesting dance can reduce stress and improve memory. What can you tell us regarding dance, better memory and reduced stress?

A. Dance definitely helps with memory because you're always learning new movements. Some patterns require knowledge of basic skills first, and then new movements are added or changed to make it more challenging. Dance will also reduce stress because you're being social, moving to the beat of the music and, most importantly, having fun!

Q. What are benefits of freestyle dance over the more formal classical dance routines? Do they both deliver a great workout from a fitness perspective?

A. Freestyle dance can deliver a great workout just as much as classical dance routines. Other benefits of freestyle dance are that you can do this just about anywhere and pick only the moves you enjoy performing. The key is to keep moving for a given amount of time. You can burn just as many calories dancing as running, swimming or any other sport or fitness activity.

Q. Are there great options for dance classes and dance programs in our area? Do you recommend different programs based on age and physical ability?

A. Yes, there are a lot of options for dance classes and programs in our area. There are several studios, health clubs and NIC all offer several types of classes and/or programs. The Kroc also has a great program. I would recommend you take whatever class or type of dance that sounds fun for you. Age doesn't really matter; it has more to do with physical ability.

Thank you Lindsay for your great answers. If you're interested in more information on dance, contact Lindsay through the Kroc Community Center.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.