Salsa Dancing Calories Burned Calculator
Calculate the energy you spend in every turn and shine.
Session Details
Burn Statistics
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Salsa Dancing for Fitness
A standard 60-minute salsa class burns approximately 300-450 calories. Advanced social dancing or professional rehearsals can burn well over 600 calories per hour.
Salsa is an explosive, rhythmic dance form that provides a comprehensive cardiovascular workout. Involving rapid footwork, multiple turns, and constant core stabilization, it effectively engages the entire body. Whether you're learning the fundamentals in a class or shining on the social dance floor, the energy required is significant.
Our calculator uses the current 2024 Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) indices. Salsa and Latin dance style MET values range from 3.5 for slow social dancing to 8.5 for professional competition-level efforts. This places salsa among the more efficient calorie-burning dance styles, comparable to brisk walking or general Zumba.
Factors Influencing Salsa Calorie Burn
Tempo & Speed
Fast salsa dura tracks demand much higher energy than slow boleros or sensual bachatas.
Amount of Turns
Frequent multiple turns require intense core engagement and leg power to execute and stabilize.
Social vs. Class
Social dancing is often more continuous than a class environment where there are instructional breaks.
Footwork (Shines)
Fast, solo footwork routines (shines) are higher-intensity than basic partner patterns.
Salsa Burn Projections
Calories by Session Length (70 kg / 154 lbs)
| Duration | Slow (3.5) | Typical (4.5) | Moderate (5.5) | Athletic (8.5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 64 | 83 | 101 | 156 |
| 30 min | 129 | 165 | 202 | 312 |
| 45 min | 193 | 248 | 303 | 469 |
| 60 min | 257 | 331 | 404 | 625 |
| 90 min | 386 | 496 | 606 | 937 |
Calories by Your Weight (30 min Typical Class)
Salsa vs. Similar Activities (30 min, 70 kg)
| 💃Salsa (Typical Class) | 165 cal |
| 🕺Zumba (Typical) | 239 cal |
| 🤸Aerobics (Low Impact) | 184 cal |
| 👯Dancing (General) | 184 cal |
| 🏃Running (6 mph) | 360 cal |
| 🧢Hip-Hop (Typical) | 257 cal |
Data source: 2024 Revised Compendium of Physical Activities.
Salsa FAQ
Standardized & Verified By
Manish KumarCertified Fitness Professional (NASM) • Latin Dance Specialist • Expert in rhythmic aerobic conditioning with 10+ years experience.