In brief The heart rate responses of 13 professional ballet dancers were monitored during stage performances. When performing allegro (fast tempo) dance variations, heart rates increased rapidly to near-maximal levels. Mean peak heart rate during these dances was 184 beats-min-1, or 94% of the maximum age-predicted heart rate; the highest recorded heart rate was 197 beats-min-1. Accordingly, ballet stage dancing may be categorized as high-intensity, brief-duration exercise.