McClatchy Melanie Brown, a.ka. Scary Spice, is in this season's ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ Her partner is Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

If you've watched “Dancing With the Stars” or “So You Think You Can Dance,” you may have noticed that all the contestants are all well-muscled and have nary an inch to pinch.

According to fitness experts, dancing gives a good cardiovascular workout because it increases your heart rate for a sustained period of time, which burns calories.

Here are two styles of dance that may help get you in shape:
 
HIP-HOP

Kendra Hill, president and founder of Hype Cheer and Dance Inc. in Milwaukee, said dancing is also a good way to get in shape because it's fun.

Those who do hip-hop burn calories from the fast movement, but they also work muscles because they must isolate them, she said.
 
ZUMBA

Amanda Nelson, fitness coordinator at the United Community Center in Milwaukee, teaches Zumba, a fitness program inspired by Latin dance.

Nelson said Zumba classes also rate high when it comes to burning calories, and that exercisers can get cardiovascular benefits similar to that of running a six-minute mile. However, with Zumba you use more muscles than when you run, she said.

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