Aerobics followed flamboyant fitness guru Richard Simmons into relative obscurity but it is staging a revival in the South.
The sport was fashionable along with the perm and Rubik's Cube during the 1980s but people's attention gradually shifted and the sport went into decline.
However, New Zealand Competitive Aerobics Federation president Sean Cresswell believes aerobics is making up lost ground, particularly in Southland and Otago, where the sport is at its healthiest in New Zealand.
The national schools aerobics and hip hop championships were staged in Dunedin at the weekend and the King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre was full of noise.
Chants of ''up, up, up'' met every series of high kicks and squeals, and screams followed the impressive one-handed press-ups or handstands.
The rowdiest cheers were reserved for the local competitors, of course.
There were 180 competitors in the aerobics section and 140 entered in the hip hop category.
''Compared to last year I would say it is higher,'' Cresswell responded when asked about the level of competition.
''Otago-Southland is our biggest region, so a lot more athletes are able to attend because they don't have to travel.
''About 60-70% of our member base is down here, so it is much more popular down here.
''A few years ago the competition was supported by Sport Southland, so that helped [promote the sport].
''People down here love it. It is hard to get publicity and it's hard to get sponsors but the sport is growing. We've got around 800 members across the country and we are growing year on year. When people see the competition, they want to get involved.''
While the South had a numerical advantage, Christchurch schools dominated the aerobics senior open category.
Yifat Makgaomkar (St Margaret's College) produced an electrifying routine to win the title from Jo Parker (Christchurch Girls' High School) and Maddison Tennant (Burnside High School).
