Do you want to break free from your stress-ridden life, personal inhibitions or monotony? If yes, then head for a dance class. Groove to some racy or slow orchestrated music to find yourself in a space of your own. "Dance brings sheer joy and makes you carefree, something you desperately long for," says Aanchal Gupta, owner and director of Arts in Motion Dance Studio. So, here's what your favourite dance form says about you:

Cha-cha-cha
Origin: Cha-cha-cha has its origins in Cuba, where it corresponds to the introduction of cha-cha-cha music by Cuban composer Enrique Jorrin. Cha-cha-cha is danced to Latin music only
Personality type: It appeals to romantic, sensual as well as fun loving people
Difficulty meter: 2/5

Waltz
Origin: This graceful dance form has its origins in suburban Vienna and the alpine regions of Austria. The peasants of Bavaria, Tyrol and Sytria did the first 'turning' dances to simple yodelling melodies. Waltz has two forms namely the English and Viennese waltz
Personality type: Waltz lovers are prim and proper by nature. "They are emotional and romantic by nature but a bit on the conservative side," says Aanchal.
Difficulty meter: 3/5 

Tango
Origin: The tango was popularised in the lower-class districts of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay. The music is fusion of different European music styles. It has variations like the Argentine tango, ballroom tango and Finnish tango.
Personality type: "It's a very elitist form of dance. You need to be very determined, passionate and hardworking to master it. It's also very romantic and intimate," opines Aanchal
Difficulty meter: 4/5

Salsa
Origin: Salsa has its roots in the Caribbean nations of Cuba and Puerto Rico, North and Latin America. Today, it has different styles like Cuban, Los Angeles, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan Salsa all of which have variations in the music beats and steps
Personality type: "People who love salsa are uninhibited. They are stylish and outspoken. Salsa involves a lot of physical intimacy so it's not meant for conservative people," says Aanchal
Difficulty meter: 3/5

Jive
Origin: Jive, a vigorous form of dance derives its name from 'jive talk', which means badmouthing. This dance evolved out of the native dances of the African American slaves who moved to a continuous drum bass
Personality type: It's a hot favourite with fun-loving, hyper, gregarious and energetic people who don't mind going overboard
Difficulty meter: 2.5/5

HEALTH BENEFITS
* Dancing pumps your adrenaline levels, which helps in battling depression
* It's a form of aerobic exercise that benefits the heart and core muscles
* A strenuous form of dancing like salsa or tango can exercise every muscle of your body improving your fitness levels
* Dancing strengthens your legs, shoulders and arms
* Certain dances like salsa and tango may help in improving your reflexes and memory
* It helps in weight loss. You can burn around 400 calories per hour of salsa and 230 calories per hour of jive
* Dancing helps you release toxins from your body via sweating
* Builds stamina and endurance levels
* May help lower blood pressure and cholestrol levels 
* Jive or ballroom dancing can help develop your circulatory system

urmimala.banerjee@mid-day.com