Dance your ass off - at home! Best dance workout dvds

Who doesn't want a dancer's body?!?  AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Dance your ass off premiers June 29 on Oxygen.  The show combines dance training and performance with weight loss.  Meet the contestants at the official website.

Cardio dance is a great way to burn calories while having fun!  Check out these five awesome, calorie torching videos that won't have you watching the clock.  Get your groove on this summer - I promise you've never enjoyed fat burning this much.

1.  Dance You Body Thin

This video is part of the 10 minute solutions series, and comes with a soft, weighted belt that goes around your hips to increase core work while you dance.  There are five, ten minute segments total - two toning and the remaining three are devoted to cardio.  The segments have a good variety of different styles, and you can set your DVD to play as many segments as you want, in any order.  The entire workout is definitely on the lower impact side, and the general difficulty rating is intermediate.

2.  Dance Off The Inches Hip-Hop Party

Dance off the inches hip-hop party, with Jennifer Galardi is a 45 minutes workout utilizing three kinds of hip hop.  The first segment is old-school or classical hip hop moves, while the second incorporates a little more of a sexy vibe.  Finally, the video wraps up with some Latin and Bollywood style moves.  Jennifer and her crew definitely have a good time, and those who like to get down will too.  To maximize your calorie burn make sure you have plenty of space to make the movements as large as possible, but even then this video is on the easier side intensity wise. 

 3.  Elements Ballet Conditioning

 Want the amazing, sleek, streamline legs of a ballerina?  This is the video for you!  Calming music and serene outdoor backdrop will help you focus and breathe before your legs start to shake and burn.  We all need some yin to our yang right, and this video just might be the perfect complement to any high-energy cardio routine.  There is a brief "cardio" section including jumps, and also some Pilates-inspired ab work at the end.  It's also worth noting that you in no way need to be familiar with ballet to truly enjoy this effective workout.

 4. Dance and Be Fit: Brazilian Body

If you're looking for something completely different, and challenging this is your video!  This unique dance workout features three types of Brazilian dance: Maculele (traditional, high-energy Brazilian dance), Samba Reggae and finally Capoeira (a blend of martial arts and dance).  Each section is uniquely challenging, and if you're a cardio junky you'll love the kickboxing-like Capoeira section at the end.  This video will definitely make you sweat, it has a combination of high and low impact sections, and will give you an intermediate workout.

5.  Balletone: Beyond Balletone

I've always been a fan of the Balletone method, because I think it's movement that every person needs.  Plus, there is not a single thigh or glute in the world that wouldn't benefit from this video!  Beyond balletone takes traditional ballet movement and creates challenging, flowing sequences that will get your heart rate up, but leave you feeling refreshed and energized.  Shannon Fable is also a wonderfully fun, straight forward instructor; you'll love her cardio segments, her toning segments and everything in between.  The entire workout is 56 minutes long, is low impact and will give you an overall intermediate workout.  Also - if you like this one check out the Sole Synthesis workout, which is a fusion of yoga, pilates and dance, and will kick your butt in a compact 39 minutes!