Maine Roller Derby — with its fast-paced bouts, flirty uniforms and body slams — has created a sensation in Portland since the league formed in 2006. Many women have no doubt dreamed of joining, but are intimidated by the inevitable bumps and bruises, not to mention the significant time commitment.

Now these derby wannabes can embrace the edgy vibe without risking life and limb. A new exercise program, Derby Lite, just made its way to Portland. The first eight-week session starts Sunday.

“The tagline is ‘roller skating for fun and fitness,’ ” said retired Maine Roller Derby player Diane Kibbin (aka Vexacious D), one of the instructors. “It is a full-body workout on roller skates.

“We don’t expect anyone to come in with any skills. We take the time to teach the skating skills. It’s a little bit different than other forms of skating.”

Derby Lite was created by Barbara Dolan (aka Queen B) and Trina Bockus (aka New York Doll) in Chicago in 2007. Following huge demand for the classes in the Windy City area, the founders decided to hold certification sessions, training other instructors to lead the classes in their hometowns.

Kibbin and fellow retired player Lisa Bassett (aka Olive Spankins) took the certification class, and are now ready to pass on their roller derby skills.

The class is offered in beginner and intermediate levels. The upcoming beginner level session has already sold out, indicating a pent-up desire for women to get their derby on.

However, there are still spots available in the intermediate class, and a new round of beginner and intermediate classes are scheduled to begin in March. (Email DerbyLitePortland@derbylite.org to be notified about the next round of classes.)

“We didn’t think we’d have to create a waiting list,” Bassett said. “We’re shocked.”

The beginner class is geared toward people who have never participated in roller derby, while the intermediate class is designed for former players or people who have already taken a beginner class. Both classes are only open to women.

“If you’ve never had any experience with roller derby, we encourage everyone to start with beginner, because you’ll be learning the skater stance and how to fall,” Kibbin said. “We do falling drills to make sure people are using their protective gear in the way it was designed, which means falling forward on your padding rather than on your tailbone.”

The classes don’t involve actual roller derby bouts. Instead, they use the same drills that team members would experience during practice.

“Those drills incorporate skills like stopping and inevitably falling and agility-type drills, such as how to skate backwards,” Bassett said. “In the intermediate class, we do incorporate some contact, such as whipping, pushing and leaning.”

Those who take the classes can rent skates through the Turn Two Skate Shop in Portland, which is run by a current member of the Maine Roller Derby league.

Kibbin and Basset, both personal trainers, also run another alternative fitness program called Punk Rope, which blends jump rope with boot camp classes and takes place Tuesday nights at Riverton School. (GO wrote about Punk Rope in October 2010.)

Each Derby Lite class includes a warm-up and cool-down portion done in sneakers rather than skates. All classes take place at Happy Wheels in Portland, where the instructors will take full advantage of the facility’s sound system, disco balls and sirens.

“It’s also great for aspiring derby girls, because we’re going to teach them all those basic skills,” Bassett said.

Staff Writer Avery Yale Kamila can be contacted at 791-6297 or at:

akamila@pressherald.com

Twitter: AveryYaleKamila