MET 9.8 · Compendium code 03031

Calories burned irish dance

Irish Dance is classified in the Compendium of Physical Activities as “Nightclub or folk dancing, vigorous effort (e.g., nightclub, disco, folk, line dancing, Irish step dancing, polka, contra)”, with a MET value of 9.8 — about 723 calories per hour for a 155-lb person.

Body weight	15 min	30 min	45 min	60 min	90 min	120 min
100 lb (45 kg)	117	233	350	467	700	934
110 lb (50 kg)	128	257	385	513	770	1027
120 lb (54 kg)	140	280	420	560	840	1120
130 lb (59 kg)	152	303	455	607	910	1214
140 lb (64 kg)	163	327	490	653	980	1307
150 lb (68 kg)	175	350	525	700	1050	1400
155 lb (70 kg)	181	362	543	723	1085	1447
160 lb (73 kg)	187	373	560	747	1120	1494
170 lb (77 kg)	198	397	595	793	1190	1587
180 lb (82 kg)	210	420	630	840	1260	1680
190 lb (86 kg)	222	443	665	887	1330	1774
200 lb (91 kg)	233	467	700	934	1400	1867
210 lb (95 kg)	245	490	735	980	1470	1960
220 lb (100 kg)	257	513	770	1027	1540	2054
240 lb (109 kg)	280	560	840	1120	1680	2240
260 lb (118 kg)	303	607	910	1214	1820	2427
280 lb (127 kg)	327	653	980	1307	1960	2614
300 lb (136 kg)	350	700	1050	1400	2100	2801

FAQ

How many calories does irish dance burn per hour?

About 723 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, 583 for 125 lb and 863 for 185 lb, using a MET value of 9.8 (Nightclub or folk dancing, vigorous (disco, line dancing, Irish step, polka, contra)).

Is irish dance a good workout?

At 9.8 METs, irish dance counts as vigorous-intensity activity. Federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate (or 75 minutes of vigorous) activity a week.

Compare with other dance activities

Activity	MET	kcal/hr (155 lb)
Ballroom DanceSport competition (Standard and Latin)	13.0	960
Ballroom dancing, competitive, general	11.3	834
Musical theater, singing and dancing	10.3	760
Nightclub or folk dancing, vigorous (disco, line dancing, Irish step, polka, contra)	9.8	723
Polynesian dance, Samoan slap, Tahitian	8.8	650
Flamenco dance	8.5	627
Aerobic dance, general (e.g. Zumba-style classes)	7.3	539
Aerobic dance, high impact	7.3	539
Chinese square dance, aerobic dance	7.3	539
Polynesian dance — fast hula, Samoan sasa, tinikling	7.0	517
Ballet, modern or jazz — performance, vigorous effort	6.8	502
Ballet exercises (pliés, tendus, jetés, rond de jambe, grand battement)	6.3	465
Salsa dancing to a video	6.3	465
Afro-Cuban salsa (cha-cha-cha, mambo, Afro rumba, son steps)	6.0	443
Ballroom dance, recreational (waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, swing)	6.0	443
Polynesian dance — slow hula, haka, Tongan	5.8	428
Ballroom dancing, fast	5.5	406
Anishinaabe jingle dancing and other traditional American Indian dancing	5.5	406
Square dancing, American Western, country	5.5	406
Chinese square dance, Ballet & Tibetan dance	5.5	406
Ballet, modern or jazz — general, rehearsal or class	5.0	369
Aerobic dance, low impact	5.0	369
Folk dancing, moderate effort	5.0	369
Tap dancing	4.8	354
Salsa dancing with a partner	4.8	354
Ethnic or cultural dancing (e.g. salsa, merengue, flamenco, belly, hula, swing)	4.5	332
Jazz dancing, general	4.5	332
Contemporary dancing, nightclub	4.3	317
Contemporary dancing, general	3.8	281
Caribbean dance (Abakua, Beguine, Bellair, Jonkonnu and others)	3.5	258
Ballroom, slow (waltz, foxtrot, slow dancing, samba, tango, rumba, mambo, cha-cha)	3.0	221

kcal = MET × kg × hours (1 MET ≈ 1 kcal/kg/hour; we use 1.05 to match 3.5 ml O₂/kg/min). Source: Compendium of Physical Activities. Estimates only.