My husband, Eddie, will rarely admit how much he likes to dance. But you should see the big smile spread across his face--and mine--as he spins me across the floor. It makes us first-date giddy.

For the record, Eddie would like you to know that he is a certified "Tough Guy": a veteran of the Ironman Triathlon and the Eco-Challenge. He is living evidence against all claims that dancing is for sissies. "If we could make dancing an extreme sport," he says, "I could be the Lance Armstrong of swing!"

Raise Your Heart Rate
As fit as he is, even Eddie breaks a sweat while cutting a rug, so it must be a pretty good workout.

Eddie's dancing prowess was one of the things I found so attractive. On an early date, he confessed one of his deepest, darkest secrets in an effort to impress me: "I was the swing dancing champion of my sophomore class." My ears perked up. "Oh, really?"

Eddie claims he's regretted those words ever since. The goofy grin suggests otherwise. He's a smart guy, and he has learned what every man should know: Most women will forgive just about anything if you only take them dancing.

Find the Dance for You
Learning to dance is like learning foreign languages. Once you master one, the others come easily. Eddie and I started with the West Coast Swing; then we learned a few others to keep things interesting. Here's our take on the ones we tried.

1. West Coast Swing
This classy dance goes hand in hand with the dashing, romantic music of the Big Band era.
Where to use it:At wedding receptions
Great practice song: "In the Mood," by the Glenn Miller Orchestra

2. Hustle
Born in the seventies, this disco-style version of the swing is fast, smooth, and filled with elaborate turns. We liked it because you can dance it to just about any popular song.
Where to use it:In nightclubs
Great practice song: "Hot Stuff," by Donna Summer