Dance-Specific Patterns of Relative Oxygen Uptake in Elite Slovak Standard and Latin DanceSport Dancers

Abstract

Background: DanceSport involves intermittent high-intensity efforts that may differ between styles and partners within a dance couple. However, dance-specific relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) in elite Standard and Latin dancers remains insufficiently described. Objective: This study aimed to characterize relative oxygen uptake during simulated competition in elite Slovak national team dancers and to examine (i) differences between Latin and Standard styles, (ii) variability across individual dances, and (iii) sex-specific patterns. Methods: Twenty elite dancers (10 couples) participated in the study. Five couples (n = 10 dancers; 5 females and 5 males) specialized in Latin dances, and five couples (n = 10 dancers; 5 females and 5 males) specialized in Standard dances. VO₂max was determined via an incremental treadmill test. During a simulated final round, breath-by-breath gas exchange was recorded using portable spirometry. Style-level differences were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA (Style × Sex), and dance-specific effects were examined using repeated-measures ANOVAs. Results: No significant difference in mean %VO₂max was observed between styles (F_{(1, 16)} = 1.31, p = 0.269, η²_p = 0.076). In the Latin group, relative oxygen uptake differed significantly between dances (F_{(4, 32)} = 22.45, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.737), with Jive eliciting the highest values (~103–105% VO₂max in males) and Rumba eliciting the lowest values (~88–89% VO₂max). No Dance × Sex interaction was detected in Latin dances (p = 0.526). In the Standard group, a significant Dance × Sex interaction was observed (F_{(4, 32)} = 8.80, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.524), with male dancers demonstrating higher %VO₂max during Quickstep (~96%) compared with other dances, whereas females showed a more uniform intensity profile (~80–86%). Conclusions: Relative oxygen uptake in DanceSport is highly dance-dependent and shows sex-specific metabolic patterns in Standard dances. Conditioning programs in elite DanceSport should therefore be structured according to individual dance demands and partnership-specific physiological roles.

1. Introduction

DanceSport is a highly technical and physically demanding discipline that combines endurance, power, coordination, and artistic expression [1]. At the elite level, competitive routines consist of multiple dances performed in sequence, exposing athletes to fluctuating physiological demands. Despite its artistic appearance, DanceSport requires substantial aerobic capacity and should be considered a high-performance sport requiring athletes to sustain high-intensity efforts that rely on both aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways [2,3]. Previous research has established that competitive dance places significant stress on the cardiorespiratory system, with reported lactate concentrations reaching 12.9–13.3 mmol·L⁻¹ and energy expenditures of 16.6 kcal·min⁻¹ observed in men during Standard-style finals [4]. More recent investigations have further emphasized the physiological and neuromuscular complexity of DanceSport, including kinematic determinants of elite performance and tremor variability under competitive simulation [5,6]. However, most available studies focus on single dances or averaged routines, report primarily absolute VO₂ values, and include heterogeneous or non-elite samples. Consequently, the physiological demands of DanceSport remain incompletely characterized [7]. Despite growing interest in the physiological demands of DanceSport, important gaps remain. Most available studies have examined either single dances, non-elite populations, or reported absolute VO₂ values, limiting cross-style and sex-specific comparisons. To date, no study has comprehensively characterized dance-by-dance relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) across both Standard and Latin disciplines in elite national team dancers. Furthermore, potential Dance × Sex interaction effects within specific styles remain unexplored [2,8]. This gap is particularly relevant given that Standard and Latin styles differ fundamentally in their movement patterns, hold requirements, and temporal structures, which may elicit distinct metabolic responses [9,10]. Within each style, individual dances vary substantially in speed, rhythm, and energetic characteristics. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether oxygen demand differs between styles, which specific dances impose the highest relative oxygen cost, and whether these patterns are consistent across sexes. Most studies addressing sex differences in DanceSport physiology describe overall differences in magnitude [11]. However, the distribution of physiological load across individual dances has not been systematically investigated. Elite national team dancers represent a highly selected population characterized by extensive technical training, high aerobic capacity, and consistent performance quality. Although sample sizes in such cohorts are necessarily limited, they enable precise within-subject analyses and provide insights directly applicable to high-performance DanceSport practice. To our knowledge, no previous study has comprehensively examined dance-specific relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) across all dances of both Standard and Latin styles in elite DanceSport athletes while simultaneously considering potential sex-specific differences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to (1) compare mean %VO₂max between Standard and Latin styles, (2) identify dance-specific differences in relative oxygen uptake within each style, and (3) examine whether these dance-specific oxygen uptake patterns differ between female and male dancers when expressed relative to individual maximal capacity (%VO₂max) obtained during spiroergometric testing. We hypothesized that:

H1: 

Mean %VO₂max would differ between Standard and Latin styles.

H2: 

Significant within-style differences in %VO₂max would exist between individual dances.

H3: 

A Dance × Sex interaction would be present, particularly in Standard dances.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Participant Characteristics

The study included 20 elite adult DanceSport athletes (10 dance couples) representing the Slovak Republic as members of the National Team. All participants held the highest national performance class and were finalists in the Slovak National Championships. Inclusion criteria were: (1) current membership in the Slovak National DanceSport Team, (2) possession of the highest national competitive class, (3) active participation in national and international competitions during the study season, and (4) absence of acute injury at the time of testing. Exclusion criteria included: (1) musculoskeletal injury within the preceding three months that limited full training participation, (2) diagnosed cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disorders, and (3) use of medication that could influence cardiovascular or metabolic responses. The 10 couples (20 athletes) were divided into two groups of five couples each: one group specialized in Latin American dances and the other in Standard dances. The mean age was 24.86 ± 5.00 years in men and 25.17 ± 4.41 years in women. Mean body height was 179.04 ± 3.79 cm (men) and 165.88 ± 3.60 cm (women), and mean body mass was 70.74 ± 6.67 kg (men) and 55.83 ± 5.06 kg (women). The athletes had an average DanceSport training experience of 15.2 ± 4.3 years. All participants provided written informed consent prior to data collection. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University in Bratislava (No. 4/2024), and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess physiological responses under simulated competitive conditions. The testing protocol was designed to replicate official competition demands: Dancers performed their competitive routines following the official World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) final-round sequence for their respective style. To ensure methodological transparency, inclusion and exclusion criteria were predefined. Inclusion criteria comprised: (1) current membership in the Slovak National DanceSport Team, (2) possession of the highest national competitive class, (3) active participation in national and international competitions during the study season, and (4) full training participation at the time of testing. Exclusion criteria included: (1) musculoskeletal injury within the preceding three months, (2) diagnosed cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disorders, and (3) use of medication influencing cardiovascular or metabolic responses.

2.2. Laboratory Assessment of Maximal Oxygen Uptake

Laboratory testing was conducted at the National Sports Center of the Slovak Republic using an HP Cosmos treadmill (HP Cosmos Sports & Medical GmbH, Nußdorf, Germany) combined with a Cosmed spiroergometric system (Cosmed, Rome, Italy). The Cosmed spiroergometric system has demonstrated high validity and reliability for the assessment of VO₂max in laboratory settings, with measurement error typically reported below 3%. An incremental graded exercise test was performed to determine oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max). After standardized preparation and warm-up, participants were fitted with a face mask for baseline respiratory measurements. The test commenced at an initial running speed of 7 km·h⁻¹ with a 0° incline. Treadmill speed was subsequently increased by 0.8 km·h⁻¹ every minute until volitional exhaustion. Ventilatory and gas exchange variables were recorded continuously throughout the test, including at maximal workload. VO₂max was defined as the highest 30-s averaged VO₂ value achieved during the test. VO₂max attainment was verified using standard criteria, including volitional exhaustion and a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) ≥ 1.10. Although a clear VO₂ plateau was not required as a mandatory criterion, participants reached maximal perceived exertion and ventilatory limitation consistent with maximal effort testing.

2.3. Gas Exchange Assessment During Simulated Competition

Gas exchange parameters were assessed using a portable telemetric spirometry system (MetaMax 3B-R2, Cortex Biophysik GmbH, Leipzig, Germany), provided by the Slovak DanceSport Federation. The MetaMax 3B portable system has been previously validated for field-based gas exchange measurements and demonstrates high agreement with laboratory-based metabolic carts under dynamic conditions. The system enabled continuous breath-by-breath measurement of oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency, and related cardiopulmonary variables during unrestricted movement. Prior to testing, the device was calibrated according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and connected via Bluetooth to MetaSoft Studio software (Cortex Biophysik GmbH, Leipzig, Germany) for real-time data acquisition. Participants were provided with sufficient time and space for standardized warm-up and stretching before measurement. Participants were familiarized with the equipment prior to testing to minimize potential movement interference. The testing protocol simulated an official final round. Each dance lasted 1 min 30 s in accordance with official WDSF regulations. The order of dances strictly followed the official final-round structure for each style (no randomization was applied). A standardized 20-s transition interval was provided between dances, consistent with official competition conditions; no seated rest was allowed. All dancers performed their full competitive choreography used during the current competition season. Transitions were controlled using the official competition audio sequence to ensure identical timing across participants. Each athlete completed one simulated competitive round during which gas exchange parameters were continuously recorded. In the Latin group, the round consisted of five dances: Samba, Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive. In the Standard group, the round included Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep. Each dance was performed for 1 min 30 s in accordance with official World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) regulations. Musical tempo was set according to current WDSF competition standards for each dance [7]. During testing, participants wore a lightweight (<600 g) portable unit secured with adjustable chest-back harness straps to allow unrestricted movement, along with a fitted face mask for continuous respiratory monitoring. The simulated competition structure closely replicated official WDSF final-round conditions, thereby enhancing ecological validity. Randomization between Latin and Standard styles was not applicable, as dancers were specialized in a single discipline. However, within each style group, the order of dances during the simulated round followed official WDSF final-round structure to preserve ecological validity. To minimize potential confounding factors, all measurements were conducted during the competitive season under standardized environmental conditions. Participants were instructed to avoid strenuous training 24 h prior to testing and to maintain their habitual diet and hydration. All dancers were tested within the same training facility and under identical simulated competition conditions.

2.4. Outcome Variables

Relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) was calculated as the mean VO₂ during each 1.5-min dance expressed as a percentage of individual VO₂max obtained during the incremental treadmill test. Specifically, %VO₂max was computed as:

$${\%VO}_{2max}=\left({\displaystyle \frac{{VO}_{2,dance}}{{VO}_{2max}}}\right) \times 100$$

where VO₂_dance represents the mean oxygen uptake during a given dance, and VO₂max represents the highest 30-s averaged oxygen uptake achieved during the incremental treadmill test. For style-level comparisons, the mean %VO₂max across the five dances within each athlete’s specialization was calculated and used as the dependent variable in between-group analyses. VO₂ during dance was calculated as the mean oxygen uptake across each 1.5-min dance segment, whereas VO₂max was defined as the highest 30-s averaged value obtained during the incremental treadmill test.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The selection of statistical tests was based on the factorial design of the study, which included both between-subject factors (Style, Sex) and within-subject repeated measures (Dance). Accordingly, a two-way ANOVA was used for style-level comparisons, and repeated-measures ANOVA was applied to examine dance-specific effects within each style. All statistical analyses were performed using jamovi (Version 2.7; The jamovi project, Sydney, Australia) and Statistica (Version 13; TIBCO Software Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA). Data are presented as means ± standard deviations unless otherwise stated. Normality of residuals was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Homogeneity of variances for between-subject comparisons was assessed using Levene’s test prior to conducting the two-way ANOVA. For repeated-measures analyses, sphericity was evaluated using Mauchly’s test, and Greenhouse–Geisser corrections were applied when the assumption of sphericity was violated. To examine differences in mean relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) between DanceSport styles, a two-way between-subjects ANOVA was conducted with Style (Latin vs. Standard) and Sex (female vs. male) as fixed factors. The dependent variable was the mean %VO₂max across the five dances within each athlete’s specialization. Dance-specific differences in relative oxygen uptake were assessed separately within the Latin and Standard groups using repeated-measures ANOVAs, with Dance (five dances within each style) as the within-subject factor and Sex as the between-subject factor. In the absence of a significant Dance × Sex interaction, post hoc pairwise comparisons between dances were performed using pooled data. When a significant interaction was detected, simple effects analyses were conducted to examine sex-specific differences. Post hoc comparisons were conducted according to a predefined analysis plan. In the absence of a significant Dance × Sex interaction, pairwise comparisons between dances were performed within each style using Tukey-adjusted tests controlling the family-wise error rate across the five dance levels. When a significant Dance × Sex interaction was detected, simple effects analyses were conducted separately within each sex to compare dances, and between sexes within each dance. Tukey correction was applied within each family of comparisons (i.e., within-style and within-sex), rather than across all tests globally. Effect sizes were reported as partial eta squared (η²_p) and interpreted according to conventional benchmarks. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Effect sizes were interpreted according to conventional benchmarks for partial eta squared. An a priori power analysis was not conducted due to the limited availability of elite national team dancers. The sample size reflects the total population of eligible athletes at the national elite level during the study season. However, the large observed effect sizes (η²_p > 0.50 for within-style analyses) suggest adequate sensitivity to detect meaningful dance-specific differences. Because dancers were nested within competitive couples, potential non-independence due to dyadic clustering was acknowledged as a structural characteristic of the dataset; however, analyses were conducted at the individual level and clustering effects are discussed as a limitation. Physiological responses were measured individually and normalized to each dancer’s own VO₂max; however, shared choreography and pacing may introduce partial correlation within couples.

3. Results

Descriptive statistics for laboratory VO₂max and dance-specific relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) across styles and sexes, including 95% confidence intervals, are presented in

Table 1. Descriptive statistics for laboratory VO₂max and dance-specific relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) in the Latin (n = 10; 5 females and 5 males) and Standard (n = 10; 5 females and 5 males) groups.

Variable	Sex	Mean ± SD	95% CI
%VO2max—Latin	Female	95.4 ± 8.0	85.5–105.3
	Male	99.8 ± 9.6	87.8–111.7
%VO2max—Standard	Female	93.5 ± 11.2	79.6–107.4
	Male	91.3 ± 11.3	77.3–105.2
VO2max (mL·kg−1·min−1)—Laboratory treadmill test (Latin group)	Female	46.2 ± 5.3	39.7–52.7
	Male	50.6 ± 2.6	47.4–53.8
VO2max (mL·kg−1·min−1)—Laboratory treadmill test (Standard group)	Female	44.8 ± 3.6	40.3–49.3
	Male	50.4 ± 2.5	47.3–53.5

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). VO₂max was determined during incremental treadmill testing. Relative oxygen uptake during dance is expressed as a percentage of individual VO₂max.

,

Table 2. Relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) during individual Latin dances in elite Slovak DanceSport athletes (n = 10; 5 females and 5 males).

Style	Dance	Female (Mean ± SD)	95% CI	Male (Mean ± SD)	95% CI
Latin	Samba	97.5 ± 9.0	86.4–108.7	102.5 ± 11.0	88.8–116.2
	Cha Cha	95.6 ± 8.5	85.0–106.2	101.7 ± 11.2	87.8–115.6
	Rumba	87.6 ± 8.8	76.7–98.6	88.4 ± 10.1	75.9–100.9
	Paso Doble	96.4 ± 7.3	87.3–105.5	100.8 ± 8.7	90.0–111.6
	Jive	99.7 ± 8.7	88.8–110.5	105.4 ± 10.3	92.6–118.2

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Relative oxygen uptake is expressed as a percentage of individual VO₂max obtained during incremental treadmill testing.

and

Table 3. Relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) during individual Standard dances in elite Slovak DanceSport athletes (n = 10; 5 females and 5 males).

Style	Dance	Female (Mean ± SD)	95% CI	Male (Mean ± SD)	95% CI
Standard	Waltz	86.2 ± 7.2	77.2–95.1	84.3 ± 11.1	70.5–98.1
	Tango	82.0 ± 4.7	76.1–87.8	91.0 ± 8.0	81.0–101.0
	Viennese Waltz	84.3 ± 4.8	78.4–90.3	91.0 ± 10.9	77.5–104.5
	Foxtrot	80.8 ± 4.9	74.7–86.8	88.2 ± 9.4	76.6–99.9
	Quickstep	85.5 ± 7.0	76.8–94.2	96.5 ± 8.5	85.9–107.0

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Relative oxygen uptake is expressed as a percentage of individual VO₂max obtained during incremental treadmill testing.

.

Two-way between-subject ANOVA (Style × Sex) was conducted to examine differences in mean relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) between Latin and Standard groups. No statistically significant main effect of Style was detected, F_{(1, 16)} = 1.31, p = 0.269, η²p = 0.076. Similarly, neither the main effect of Sex, F_{(1, 16)} = 0.06, p = 0.817, η²p = 0.003, nor the Style × Sex interaction, F_{(1, 16)} = 0.54, p = 0.472, η²p = 0.033, reached statistical significance.

3.1. Relative Oxygen Uptake During Latin Dances

Descriptive statistics for relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) during individual Latin dances are presented in Table 2. Overall, Jive and Samba elicited the highest relative intensities, whereas Rumba demonstrated the lowest values across both sexes. Upper confidence interval bounds slightly exceeding 100% reflect statistical estimation around mean relative values and should be interpreted in the context of the VO₂max definition and averaging procedures described in the Section 2.

In the Latin group, a repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of Dance on relative oxygen uptake (F_{(4, 32)} = 22.45, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.737), indicating substantial variability in physiological demand between individual dances. No statistically significant Dance × Sex interaction was detected (p = 0.526), and no main effect of Sex was detected. Similarly, no significant main effect of Sex was found, F_{(1, 8)} = 0.62, p = 0.455, η²p = 0.072. Post hoc comparisons (Tukey-adjusted) demonstrated that Rumba elicited significantly lower %VO₂max values compared with Samba (p = 0.006), Cha Cha (p < 0.001), Paso Doble (p = 0.001), and Jive (p = 0.001). No other pairwise differences reached statistical significance. Estimated marginal means indicated that Jive produced the highest relative intensity, whereas Rumba represented the lowest physiological demand. These dance-specific intensity profiles are illustrated in Figure 1.

Overall, relative oxygen uptake during DanceSport performance approached high aerobic intensity levels across both styles.

3.2. Relative Oxygen Uptake During Standard Dances

Descriptive statistics for relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) during individual Standard dances are presented in Table 3. Relative intensity varied across dances, with Quickstep eliciting the highest values in male dancers, whereas female dancers demonstrated a more uniform intensity profile across dances.

In the Standard group, a significant main effect of Dance was observed (F_{(4, 32)} = 9.38, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.540). Importantly, a significant Dance × Sex interaction was detected (F_{(4, 32)} = 8.80, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.524), indicating sex-specific differences in intensity distribution across dances. The effect remained significant after Greenhouse–Geisser correction. Importantly, a significant Dance × Sex interaction was observed, F_{(4, 32)} = 8.80, p < 0.001, η²_p = 0.524, indicating that relative intensity patterns differed between female and male dancers. In contrast, the main effect of Sex was not significant, F_{(1, 8)} = 1.79, p = 0.218, η²_p = 0.183. Simple effects analyses (Tukey-adjusted) demonstrated that male dancers exhibited significantly higher %VO₂max during Quickstep compared with Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Foxtrot (all p < 0.05). Additionally, Foxtrot elicited significantly lower %VO₂max values than Viennese Waltz (p < 0.01). In female dancers, no pairwise differences between dances remained statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Estimated marginal means indicated relatively uniform intensity profiles in females (approximately 80–86% VO₂max across dances), whereas males demonstrated greater variability, with Quickstep reaching the highest relative intensity (approximately 96% VO₂max). The interaction between Dance and Sex in the Standard group is illustrated in Figure 2, which presents the estimated marginal means of relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) across individual Standard dances for female and male dancers.

4. Discussion

The present findings confirm that DanceSport is metabolically heterogeneous at the level of individual dances. As hypothesized, significant within-style differences in relative oxygen uptake were observed in both Latin and Standard disciplines. However, sex-specific modulation of intensity patterns was evident only in Standard dances, partially supporting our third hypothesis. While dance-specific variability in %VO₂max was anticipated based on known tempo differences between dances, the absence of sex differences in Latin style was less pronounced than expected. In contrast, the significant Dance × Sex interaction observed in Standard dances suggests that biomechanical role differentiation may exert a stronger metabolic influence in closed-hold disciplines. Sex-specific modulation was evident in Standard dances but not in Latin dances when oxygen uptake was expressed relative to individual maximal capacity. This heterogeneity in physiological responses aligns with previous evidence demonstrating substantial variability in energetic and metabolic demands across DanceSport routines [12]. Similar physiological characteristics have also been reported in other artistic and aesthetic sports, where intermittent high-intensity movement patterns impose considerable aerobic and anaerobic demands on athletes [8]. These findings align with previous research showing that different exercise modalities elicited similar physiological responses under comparable perceived exertion [10]. The elevated relative intensity observed in Jive and Quickstep corroborates evidence that higher tempo and complex movement sequences increase aerobic demand compared with slower dances such as Rumba [4,13]. Relative values exceeding 100% VO₂max can occur when VO₂max is defined as a short (30-s) peak during incremental testing, whereas dance oxygen uptake is averaged across longer (1.5-min) performance segments. Differences in averaging windows, oxygen uptake kinetics during intermittent exercise, and inherent measurement variability of portable systems may contribute to apparent values slightly exceeding 100%. Additional support for tempo-related increases in cardiorespiratory strain has been reported in dance-specific workload analyses [14]. Importantly, Rumba consistently demonstrated the lowest %VO₂max values, confirming substantial metabolic heterogeneity within the Latin style [15]. The significant Dance × Sex interaction observed in Standard dances suggests that male and female dancers may adopt distinct biomechanical execution strategies to meet choreographic demands, particularly during high-intensity dances such as Quickstep. This may reflect partnership dynamics, where male dancers typically generate propulsion and maintain frame stability, potentially increasing relative metabolic demand during high-velocity segments. Evidence from movement analysis and partner interaction research supports the notion that leadership roles and locomotor initiation patterns differ between partners in DanceSport dyads. These findings highlight the interaction between choreographic structure and sex-specific execution patterns in shaping physiological load [13]. Practically, the results indicate that DanceSport should not be considered metabolically homogeneous. Training programs should account for dance-specific metabolic demands, especially the high aerobic requirements of Jive and Quickstep [16]. The observed higher relative oxygen uptake in male dancers during Standard dances, particularly Quickstep, may be explained by sex-specific biomechanical roles within the dance partnership. The male partner typically initiates movement direction, rhythm, and floor progression, generating horizontal propulsion and maintaining frame stability. In contrast, the female partner primarily responds to movement initiation and maintains upper-body positioning, which may involve comparatively lower propulsion demands. In high-tempo dances such as Quickstep, these differences in force generation and locomotor initiation may translate into higher metabolic cost in male dancers. From a physiological perspective, dances such as Jive and Quickstep likely approach the upper limits of aerobic power due to their high tempo and continuous locomotor demands, potentially increasing reliance on the slow component of oxygen uptake. In contrast, slower dances such as Rumba may involve greater intermittent recovery phases and lower average metabolic strain despite technical complexity. These findings align with contemporary models of intermittent high-intensity performance, where movement frequency and propulsion demands are primary determinants of relative aerobic stress. Latin dances are characterized by higher movement frequency and greater involvement of rapid lower-limb actions, which may increase metabolic demand. Conversely, Standard dances emphasize sustained frame maintenance and continuous floor progression [17]. These distinct physiological profiles underscore the necessity of style-specific conditioning protocols to optimize performance and mitigate injury risk in elite DanceSport athletes [18]. These findings support the concept that DanceSport styles should be treated as distinct physiological tasks during training and conditioning. Consequently, periodization strategies must account for the varying metabolic intensities across Latin and Standard disciplines to ensure comprehensive physiological development. Furthermore, the identification of sex-specific metabolic responses in Standard dances indicates that conditioning programs should be individualized to address the distinct physiological roles and biomechanical demands placed on male and female partners within the dance couple [19]. Individual dances within the same style showed markedly different relative oxygen demands, demonstrating that these styles are physiologically heterogeneous. While absolute oxygen uptake is influenced by sex-related physiological characteristics, relative measures provide insight into how closely dancers operate to their individual limits [4]. The elite national team sample ensured high technical proficiency and reduced performance variability, thereby strengthening the internal validity of the observed metabolic differences across dance styles [20]. Repeated-measures designs enabled robust within-subject comparisons despite a limited sample size, and the homogeneous nature of the elite cohort minimized confounding variables related to technical proficiency [21]. Importantly, the large partial eta squared values observed in within-style analyses (η²_p > 0.50) indicate substantial practical relevance despite the modest sample size. It should be noted that the absence of statistically significant between-style differences may partly reflect limited statistical power due to the small subgroup sizes (n = 5 per sex within each style). Therefore, non-significant findings should not be interpreted as evidence of true equivalence. Practically, these findings indicate that conditioning programs in elite DanceSport should be structured not only by style but also by individual dance characteristics. High-tempo dances such as Jive and Quickstep may require targeted aerobic power development and repeated high-intensity interval exposure. Additionally, male Standard dancers may benefit from conditioning strategies addressing higher propulsion-related metabolic demands. Integrating dance-specific physiological profiling into periodization planning may enhance performance optimization and load management. Several limitations should be acknowledged. Due to the restricted availability of elite national team dancers, the sample size was necessarily limited, which may have reduced statistical power for detecting smaller between-subject effects and interaction terms. Consequently, null findings particularly regarding sex differences in Latin dances should be interpreted with caution. An additional methodological consideration concerns the dyadic structure of the sample. Dancers performed within fixed competitive couples, which may introduce correlated physiological responses due to shared choreography, tempo, and interaction dynamics. Although analyses were conducted at the individual level, and oxygen uptake was normalized to individual VO₂max values, residual clustering effects cannot be fully excluded. Given the limited number of dyads, mixed-effects modeling with couple as a random factor was not pursued. Future studies with larger samples should consider multilevel modeling approaches to account explicitly for dyadic nesting. An a priori power analysis was not conducted, as the cohort represented the total accessible population at the highest national competitive level during the study season. Although the homogeneous elite sample strengthens internal validity and ecological relevance for high-performance DanceSport, it limits generalizability to non-elite, youth, or recreational dancers. Future research should therefore aim to replicate these findings in larger and more heterogeneous cohorts to determine whether the observed sex-specific metabolic patterns and dance-specific intensity profiles are consistent across different competitive levels and age groups [22]. Furthermore, the present study focused exclusively on oxygen uptake as a marker of internal load. DanceSport performance is inherently multidimensional, and future investigations should integrate additional physiological and biomechanical variables, such as heart rate variability, blood lactate concentration, and kinematic analysis, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of physiological demands and mechanical efficiency in DanceSport performance [23]. Additionally, variability in individual choreography execution and technical style between couples may also contribute to differences in physiological responses. Incorporating these measures would allow for a more precise evaluation of metabolic pathway contribution during high-intensity segments and the specific role of anaerobic endurance in overall performance capacity [14].

5. Conclusions

The results of the present study indicate that relative oxygen uptake during elite DanceSport performance varies primarily according to the specific dance performed within both Latin and Standard styles. Although no significant difference in mean %VO₂max was observed between the two styles, substantial variability was evident across individual dances. In Latin dances, relative intensity profiles were similar between female and male dancers, whereas Standard dances revealed a significant Dance × Sex interaction, suggesting sex-specific differences in metabolic demand for certain dances. Because male and female dancers perform within the same partnership during competition, these results suggest that relative physiological strain may not be uniform between partners in certain Standard dances, particularly in high-intensity events such as Quickstep. However, this interpretation is limited to oxygen uptake responses and does not encompass other physiological or biomechanical dimensions of performance. Relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) proved to be a useful indicator of internal load, highlighting meaningful differences in metabolic intensity across dances. From a practical perspective, conditioning programs in elite DanceSport should account for dance-specific intensity profiles, with particular attention to high-tempo dances that approach maximal aerobic strain. Additionally, sex-specific metabolic responses observed in Standard dances may justify individualized load monitoring within elite dance couples. Future research should include larger samples, longitudinal designs, and multidimensional physiological assessments to further clarify style-specific metabolic demands and their implications for performance optimization.