Does Dancing Build Muscle?

Exercise physiologist and Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Alexander Rothstein, Ed.D., is quoted extensively in a Women’s Health article discussing how dance benefits the body’s muscles. Rothstein explains that while dancing does positively impact muscles, hypertrophy—growing muscle size—is not a common result. He notes that muscle growth can simply come down to body type and genetics; someone carrying extra weight may observe only weight loss, while a smaller person might see defined muscle.

“Most individuals, when they’re dancing, don’t get to that level that would result in significant muscle growth,” Rothstein says. However, he adds, “if you’re a beginner [to exercise], every stimulus builds a lot of muscle quickly.” 

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