Adéla Chlapcová

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.

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) were divided into Latin (n = 10) and Standard (n = 10) groups. VO₂max was determined via an incremental treadmill test. During a simulated final round, breath-by-breath gas exchange was recorded using portable spirometry. Relative oxygen uptake (%VO₂max) was calculated for each dance. 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 differences in mean %VO₂max were observed between styles (p = .269), nor were there main effects of Sex or Style × Sex interaction (p > .05). In the Latin group, %VO₂max differed significantly between dances (p < .001), with Jive highest and Rumba lowest, without sex interaction. In the Standard group, a significant Dance × Sex interaction was observed (p < .001). Male dancers showed higher %VO₂max during Quickstep, whereas females exhibited a more uniform intensity profile. Conclu-sions: Oxygen demand in DanceSport is strongly dance-dependent. Latin dances demonstrate comparable relative intensities between sexes, whereas Standard dances show sex-specific metabolic patterns, likely reflecting distinct biomechanical roles within the partnership. These findings support dance-specific and partner-sensitive approaches to physiological monitoring and training design in elite DanceSport.

Background and Study Aim. The aim of the study was to determine and compare basic kinematic characteristics in the key phases of the acrobatic element Salto backward tucked. Material and Methods. The research sample was created from two couples of the acrobatic rock and roll category Main class free style. The time, spatial, and time-spatial characteristics for both couples were determined based on a three-dimensional kinematic analysis. Measurements were carried out with Simi Motion 3D. The acrobatic element Salto backward tucked was chosen based on the fact that it is usually learned as the first overturn acrobatic element with the airborne phase. Results. In the time duration of the acrobatic element, a very similar duration was observed for both couples (CZ couple: 3.59 s and SK couple 3.55 s). The maximal height of the center of gravity the partner from the Czech Republic reach 3.54 m and partner from the Slovak Republic 3.35 m. The biggest difference noticed was between the male partners 14.59° in knee angle in the staff phase. Among the female partners, a difference was noted in the angle between the torso and the vertical plane at the moment of the end of the vertical displacement, when SK female partner has twice as much deviation of the torso, by exactly 19.49°. In the staff phase, differences in acceleration were also observed, when the male partner (16.56 m.s-2) and female partner (25.08 m.s-2) from the Slovak Republic achieved higher maximum acceleration. In the airborne phase was the biggest difference between female partners in the culmination point, namely in the angle in the knee joint (35.98°) and the angle between the torso in the vertical plane at the moment of opening the somersault (25.52°). Conclusions. The findings showed similarities and differences in various aspects of the performance, providing valuable insights into the kinematic structure of this acrobatic element in acrobatic rock and roll. Our study should contribute to the extension of knowledge of the kinematic structure of acrobatic element in acrobatic rock and roll.