A growing number of women are putting their best feet forward by working out in dance fitness classes, according to a new survey which highlights key trends in the fast-growing dance sector.

Around 13.7 per cent of women in England participate in dance fitness every year, according to a national survey of 1,500 people by the Exercise, Movement & Dance Partnership. Meanwhile, nearly 1.5 million women took part in dance classes at least once a month as of March 2015 – reflecting a 25 per cent increase since December 2013.

Dance fitness classes like Zumba, SOSA Dance Fitness and Clubbercise are credited with the upswing in participation, while inclusivity across social groups is also cited as a key factor.

Participation figures for dance fitness from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups and for those with a disability are in line with general population statistics (13 per cent and 21 per cent) – a unique result within the sport and fitness sector which typically struggles to engage these groups.

In addition to the health benefits of a dance workout, the social aspects were also flagged as a key driver of participation – particularly among older participants – with 42 per cent of women aged 55+ saying they attend classes on their own as a way of meeting people in a ‘fun, sociable environment.’

“We’ve always known how popular dance fitness is, with over 1.5 million women a month taking part,” said Emma Forward, COO of the Exercise Movement & Dance Partnership.

“This fascinating survey provides us with a much clearer understanding of what makes dance fitness so appealing to women of all ages and all demographics, and we plan to build upon these strong motivating factors and continue to draw people into the world of dance fitness.”