20 Ways To Mix Up Your Strength Training Routine

While Zumba kicked off the current dance cardio craze, it’s no longer considered “cool” to samba to the sounds of reggaeton while Pitbull blares from a gym’s old speakers. Now, dance cardio classes are only relevant if they have live DJs, nightclub lights and model clients. Some city studios ask students to wear sneaker wedges and lipstick, while others recommend sipping champagne to prepare.

These eight Beyoncé-worthy classes offer everything from toning exercises to obtain her legs and body rolls to feel like a music video come to life. If you snagged some  gear, you will want to wear it to these workouts.

1. The Vixen Workout

 was created by Janet Jones, a former Miami Heat cheerleader. Classes are offered in Miami and at New York’s Pearl Studios and Chelsea Studios. While the digs aren’t exactly glamorous, the class is sweaty, energizing and makes Jazzercise seem even more old school. The website recommends wearing wedge sneakers and lipstick, and the clientele takes those instructions seriously, with more than half of the class rocking wedges, long, loose hair and full makeup. The moves are straight out of a Beyoncé video, with instructors encouraging class-goers to yell, “Yasss!” and run their hands through their hair while singing along, loudly. Expect lots of hair flips, a move called “The Kitten” involving a cocked hip and hungry eyes, body rolls and getting low, with loads of encouragement from professional dance instructors wearing crop tops and flannels tied around their waists.

2.  Productions

has almost as much attitude as Beyoncé, making his class necessary for anyone attempting to channel their inner diva. There’s no stretching or toning, but there is true choreography and you even learn the queen’s three different types of walks. His athletic classes ensure that participants won’t stop dancing; they work up a sweat while he demonstrates the best way to hair flip and grapevine. His workshops are best when attended with at least one friend, as class-goers are asked to pair up for choreography. Mr. Wayne’s sass, use of the word “gals” to refer to his audience and insanely talented make you feel like you’re watching a  performance. While class-goers might not be able to booty pop like he does, he makes sure they feel confident enough to at least try.

3.  Productions 

A video posted by Banana Skirt Productions 🍌� (@banana_skirt) on Apr 14, 2016 at 8:15am PDT

Banana Skirt Productions was one of the first studios to offer the “Formation” music video choreography as a class, and it always sells out immediately. The dance studio was founded by former executive Akinah Rahmaan, so the class is always forward-thinking when creating a soundtrack. Their “Ratchet Zooba” class is a dance cardio class offering songs from Future, Drake and everyone else about to be number one on Billboard. With Pop Pilates, themed yoga and choreography, there are neon lights, loud music and instructors who could certainly give Bey’s back-up dancers some competition. It’s most similar to a Zumba class, but with less Daddy Yankee blaring. There’s no toning component, but you’ll still work up a sweat twerking, posing for selfies and grabbing the wall.

4.

Dance cardio at ModelFit’s small studio in the Bowery requires tiny, almost invisible motions with weights. While there isn’t actual dancing and it’s most similar to barre, the music is so distracting the workout goes by in a flash, despite the ankle weights and constant movement. It’s not high-impact, making it the perfect workout for those averse to sweat. If you do somehow work up a sweat, perhaps from standing in the window made famous by models, the products in the small changing room range from to . In a crowd of ultra-hip 20-something women wearing Outdoor Voices and Reformation, models blend in, although they advertise their devotion to the workout on Instagram:  and are both regulars. It might not make you feel like a pop superstar, but you’ll certainly look like one thanks to , who perfects weekly routines for his devoted clientele.

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The live DJ with his own booth will make you feel a bit like Beyoncé, but the intensive toning and sheer number of jumping jacks are less than “Formation”-worthy. With club-inspired lights, this workout happens in the dark and is the most sweat-intensive dance cardio offering, making your mother’s Zumba class look low-key. is not for beginners, but it is for gym regulars who want to mix up their repetitive routine. You won’t leave with new dance moves unless you’ve been hoping to break out a jazz square at the club, but if you attend enough classes in their underground studio you might gain a whole new body…and an appreciation for how hard Beyoncé must work to be performance ready all the time.