Learn how to dance london
10 dance classes in London that’ll pump you full of endorphins
Photograph: At Your BeatWe round up the best dance classes in London for anyone looking for an endorphin fix with a side of club bangers
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So, you want to dance? Perhaps you’re worried that when you return to the club post-pandemic your moves will be reminscent of your uncle’s after two VKs and a Jägerbomb. Perhaps your body’s begging for an endorphin fix only moving in unison with 17 other cool cats will fix. Perhaps you just want to get a bit fitter this January. Do not worry. From ballet to Bollywood, via salsa and new jack swing, the city is full of places to master new moves and dance like nobody’s watching. But where to start? We’ve rounded up our favourite classes and courses from all ends of the dancing spectrum. So whether you’re a newbie with twerking trouble or a pirouetting pro, here are the best places to throw some shapes in the city.
RECOMMENDED: Sport and fitness in London.
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The best dance classes in London
Ross Gamble for City AcademyTap classes at City Academy
- Dance
- Clerkenwell
London’s prolific City Academy runs hundreds of classes, seven days a week, in over 40 locations across town. All types of dance are covered up to a professional standard and tend to be aimed at those with a performing arts itch to scratch. All will have you prancing in no time, but it’s the signature tap lessons that are a must for any budding tappers.
Pick your level (Beginner, Improver or Tap Dance Company), find a venue near you, sign up for a six- to eight-week course, and that scene from ‘La La Land’ will be yours in a shuffle. Saying that, there's even a dedicated ‘La La Land workshop’ to teach you the exact routine from the film.
Music Video class at Frame
For anyone who used to make up dance routines with their mates, Frame’s Music Video class is a guaranteed winner. Held at all of London's Frame studios, the classes take inspiration from the likes of Beyoncé and Rihanna. With moves ‘straight from MTV’ (think hair whips), classes work towards a full commercial routine complete with backing dancers and freestyle sections. It may not be the most serious of classes, but it’s serious fun and suitable for all levels. Frame also hosts ballet, dance cardio and the popular Frame Rave class, which has all the benefits of a big night out, minus the hangover the next day.
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Ballet Fusion at The Factory
- Sport and fitness
- Gyms and fitness centres
- Holloway
If you’re new to ballet or fancy giving it a twist, these classes are right on-pointe.
Set at The Factory’s small but perfectly formed gym, here you’ll learn the basics at the barre, master the correct posture and formation techniques, before moving to unsupported ballet sequences in the middle of the studio. Classes are set to music and the expert teachers will put your new moves to the test with energetic, fun and challenging routines. Expect to get your sweat on – in a graceful way, of course.
AYB Body: Dance Cardio & Tone at At Your Beat
At Your Beat’s motto is ‘everyone can dance, you just need to find your beat’. The empowering classes at this Instagrammer fave span dancehall, pop bangers and hip hop. AYB Body: Dance Cardio & Tone classes will have everyone sweating. There's no complex choreography, just dance sequences to killer beats. For routines you already know and love try VideoBeat, to learn how to dance like the pros.
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Callback at Gymbox
Don’t be put off by the mention of ‘gym’; this class has more choreography than chest pumps.
Held in all Gymbox venues across London, this is a hot and sweaty dance workout where hi-tops are definitely back on the block. The party vibes will guarantee you’re smiling by the end of the class, even if you haven’t quite mastered the running man. And, with tunes from the latest music hits and videos, you’ll be wooed by the soundtrack alone.
Hip Hop at Pineapple Dance Studios
- Sport and fitness
- Gyms and fitness centres
- Covent Garden
Pineapple Dance Studios has been keeping the city swaying since 1979. It still hosts over 250 classes a week, from contemporary to modern, with a couple of wildcards too – sensual samba, anyone? But if hip hop is more your thing, John G’s weekly class is the most accessible, fun and stylised of the lot. The same routine is built on each lesson (usually for four weeks), with the idea that you’ll add your own flicks as you improve. Arrive early as the drop-in classes are very popular.
And bonus points to anyone who turns up in a velour tracksuit.
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Patricia BoardSwing dance classes with Swing Patrol
Lindy hop until your heart’s content with the lovely, lively Swing Patrol gang. Found at venues across town, this friendly community will welcome you with open arms – and then spin you around, swing you out and get you jiving all over the studio. Teachers specialise in lindy hop, but there’s also balboa and blues at different levels. The group rotates during each lesson, so don’t worry about bringing a partner, they’re a friendly bunch – they also host social dances and the annual London Swing Festival.
Anna KissWorld dance classes at Danceworks
- Sport and fitness
- Gyms and fitness centres
- Mayfair
Dance around the world without leaving Zone 1. Just off Oxford Street, Danceworks bills itself as an accessible place for those of all abilities, so even those with two left feet should be okay.
There’s a packed class schedule, but their world dance range is the most impressive. With classes ranging from bhangra, salsa, Argentine tango, Afro Fusion, and Jamaican dancehall, it’s the place to go if you want unique additions to your moves. Most are also drop-in classes, so a spontaneous Saturday samba is always on the cards.
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Pole Dance Beginner at Kelechnekoff Studio
You’ll find London’s most badass dance class at Kelechnekoff Studio in Peckham. The pole dance sessions here don’t just teach beginners how to spin and climb, they’re a huge body confidence boost. You’ll be sliding down the pole like a firefighter in no time.
Caramelo Latin Dance School
- Dance
- Ballroom and Latin
- Maida Vale
Caramelo, based at Paddington Academy, offers more Latin classes than you can shake a pair of maracas at. Salsa, bachata, cha cha cha, kizomba and Brazlian zouk are covered from beginner up to advanced level.
All classes are taught in four-week stints, but Caramelo also hosts great one-day beginner courses, which let you give Latin a go without putting your hips out. There’s also separate sessions dedicated to specific technique building, such as spinning, shines and women and men’s styling. Fancy.
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Find more places to get your sweat on
The best hot yoga and bikram in London
- Sport and fitness
- Yoga and Pilates
Get seriously sweaty in these classes at the city’s best hot yoga and bikram spots.
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Adult dance classes in London for beginners
Dance is an incredible way to keep fit. Here are some beginner classes you can try in London, whatever style you’re interested in.
Dancing, as a workout, is having a huge resurgence in popularity right now. And what better workout is there post-pandemic? It’s joyful, sweaty and an amazing way to connect with people.
It’s also beginner-friendly and an accessible way to work out if the idea of stepping into the weights section of a gym or heading out on a run on your own feels intimidating.
Or if you do already have a workout routine in place, dancing is a great way to add some variation.
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Of course, this might mean turning your speakers up to full volume on a Friday night and dancing around your kitchen, or maybe even learning the latest trending TikTok routine. But if you’re ready to start learning some choreography and technique with like-minded people, why not try a group dance class?
Fortunately, there are so many dance classes across London that are suitable for beginners. Whether you’re looking to become a Latin dancer in order to impress your friends at an upcoming wedding, or you want to make your Cardi B-esq music video dreams a reality with a heels class, there’s a class out there for everyone.
Here’s a round-up of our favourites…
Dance Fusion at Factory London
Based in north London, The Factory offers dance, holistic and fitness classes.
Their dance fusion class is open to all levels and it’s the perfect all-rounder class if you’re not sure which style of dancing appeals to you just yet. Drawing on jazz, musical theatre and commercial styles, The Factory describe this class as ‘Beyonce meets Bob Fosse’.
Book a Dance Fusion class at The Factory here.
Themed workshops at Frame
Frame is one of London’s most well-known dance fitness studios with locations across the capital. Alongside their regular classes they also offer workshops, where you can learn choreography to one of your favourite artist’s songs. Past workshops have been inspired by Dua Lipa and Rihanna, and the next one, taking place on 21st October, will be (wait for it) Beyonce themed. What’s not to love?
Book a Frame workshop here.
Latin classes at Carmelo Latin Dance Academy
Convinced your partner to learn to salsa with you? Even if you haven’t quite got there, Carmelo Latin Dance Academy offers beginners’ dance courses for anyone looking to learn the art of Latin, and you don’t need a dance partner to attend.
Based in north-west London, you can learn the basics of classic Latin dances like the salsa, the cha cha cha and the mambo in just four weeks at Carmelo’s Dance Academy.
Book a latin course at Carmelo Latin Dance Academy here.
Blokbeat at Blok
If you’re looking to get into dance workouts in order to de-stress and up your cardio, Blok’s BlokBeat classes are perfect for you. Instructors teach a dance routine in this 60 minute, high-cardio workout, suitable for all abilities.
Book a BlokBeat class here.
Absolute beginners heels class at Dance Works London
Impressed yourself on a night out with just how well you can dance in heels? Why not try your hand at learning some specialised choreography at Dance Works’ London beginners’ heels class. With a central location just off of Oxford Street, Dance Works offers classes for complete beginners to advanced professionals so this is the perfect place to get started.
Book a class at Dance Works here.
Video Beat at At Your Beat
Based in south London, At Your Beat aims to make fitness and dance accessible to all, creating a positive environment for dancers of all levels. If you’re looking for a dance class that’s all about having fun, their Video Beat class is the one for you. In these classes, you’ll learn choreography from music videos you used to mimic, with fun and energising commercial routines. At Your Beat also offer classes dedicated to K-pop and R&B, respectively.
Book a class at At Your Beat here.
Beginners’ Tap at City Academy
If rewatching classic musicals became a bit of a lockdown hobby for you and you’ve dreamt of dancing like Ginger Rogers, it’s probably time for you to take your first tap lesson. Tap dancing is perfect for people who are looking to learn technique and skills. Plus, pulling out a pair of tap shoes is a great party trick. City Academy’s tap classes for beginners will help you master the basics, as well as learning choreography from West End shows.
Book a beginner’s tap class at City Academy.
Ballet Beginners at Pineapple Dance Studios
Pineapple Dance Studios is a London institution and they offer a range of classes suitable for beginners. If you’re a barre devotee and you’re looking to level up your skills, Pineapple’s beginners’ ballet class is the perfect place to start. Teaching you the basics of ballet, you’ll learn the important techniques in this class, giving you a solid foundation for barre and beyond.
Book a Ballet Beginners class at Pineapple Dance Studios here.
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Topics
- Dance
- Dancing
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The Academy of Dance opened in London - RUTÁGE
To dance means to be outside of yourself, bigger, stronger, more beautiful.
In the dance - power, in the dance - the greatness of the Earth, it is yours - take it entirely.
Agnes deMille, American dancer and choreographer
The FLOW DANCE LONDON dance academy has recently opened in London, where you can not only have a good time learning to move beautifully, but even if you want to become a professional, perform at competitions and discover a whole new life! Academy owners Elena Pleshchenko and Carlos Custodio talk about how the desire to dance brought them to London.
Owners of the FLOW DANCE LONDON dance academy Elena Pleshchenko and Carlos Custodio
Elena, r tell us how did your dancing career start ?
I started ballroom dancing when I was 7 years old, in Chisinau. Then I began to successfully represent Moldova in numerous competitions. When I turned 18, I went to Portugal to dance with Carlos Custodio, who is currently the co-owner of the Flow Dance Academy.
We were among the top 20 couples in the world in Latin American dancing and taught at the same time. We have always dreamed of opening our own dance academy in London.
Why London?
Carlos and I have always dreamed of bringing together students and teachers of all levels and styles. For such a scale, London is the perfect place. Talent from all over the world is known to flock to London, and this has allowed us to find teachers of the highest level in all types of dance.
What difficulties did you face when starting your own business ?
It was hard to find the ideal site, close to the center, with convenient transport accessibility and the right size. For us, that was the determining factor. The studio was supposed to be a place where you can communicate, train and teach, regardless of the level of training, age and style. We are lucky to have a great team. Everyone has their own specialization and role in the implementation of the project, whether it is organizing a party, a master class with world-class dance stars, or planning and preparing for competitions.
How do you select teachers?
All our teachers are professionals of the highest level in their specialization. At the same time, I can proudly say that we managed to create a very family and warm atmosphere in which all teachers and students feel at home.
Many people dream of learning to dance, but just can't get started. What would you advise these people?
Based on our many years of teaching experience, I can say with confidence that everyone can dance, the main thing is to start! For everyone to have the opportunity to try, we offer a free 30-minute consultation lesson on any type of dance in the very comfortable, homely atmosphere of our academy. We will be glad and hope to see literally everyone, from young to old, in Flow Dance London.
What kind of service do you provide to your clients?
The philosophy of the Flow Dance studio is "one stop shop". Carlos and I are professionals in the field of ballroom dancing, but in our academy we offer other styles.
We attract the highest level teachers to teach such styles as contemporary, hip-hop, street, jazz, ballet. Also, our students have the opportunity to attend yoga classes, Pilates, strip plastics and more.
In addition to group classes, we offer private lessons in all types of dance, including wedding dance preparation. We also practice a relatively new training format, in which one of the dancers in a pair is a professional, and the second is an amateur. This format is called Pro-Am. Students of any age and level of training have the opportunity to take part in competitions, receive a certificate confirming the achievement of a certain level in dance. We also prepare students for performances at the leading venues in London.
In addition to training, we also provide rental studios, as well as organize various parties where our students and guests can show their achievements and enjoy dancing and socializing.
Can dance skills be useful in everyday life?
Of course.
Learning to dance, a person learns to move beautifully, which helps to gain self-confidence and feel comfortable at any event or party.
What have your students been able to achieve besides a good mood me and the ability to control my body?
We have a prime example of Pro-Am student Anna Noskova, who moved to London a year and a half ago and at first felt lost in another country. But when she discovered dance for herself, in addition to her family, home, closed space and a strange city where you don’t know anyone, her own bright colorful life appeared, a completely different world in which you can realize yourself and improve endlessly. Anna Noskova notes with pleasure that dancing gives her not only a charge of incredible positive, but also perfectly reflects on the figure. Dance allows her to reveal herself, to be liberated. Thanks to classes in Flow Dance, she made many new acquaintances, friends, and London became her hometown. During this year and a half, Anna took part in many competitions and performed with Pro-Am shows at the leading venues in London.
Anna Noskova: When I discovered dance - in addition to my family, home, city where I don't know anyone, I got my own bright colorful life, a completely different world in which you can realize yourself and improve endlessly.
How do you feel when you prepare to go out in public with dance number ?
Nice excitement, because you never know what the result of the competition will be or how the audience will perceive the performance. The degree of excitement also depends on the level of preparation. For example, recently we put on a dance number with a student that combines elements of dance styles that are completely new to us. We only had a few days to prepare. It was a completely new project with the participation of a choreographer who specializes in preparing dance numbers for the world's leading stars. Adrenaline went through the roof, the performance turned out to be incredibly emotional, the success was stunning.
Is it true that nts make a person happier?
As it was rightly noted in the movie "Step Up - 3", in this world so many different problems pile up on you, and when you dance, you are free.
The process of learning to dance can be compared to meditation. A person is distracted from daily worries, and there is a union of three elements: music, thought and body, which gives a new charge of energy and makes one happier. Also, as Paolo Coelho very wisely said, when dancing, a person allows himself the luxury of being himself.
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Interview with Olga Dubravina about her visit to London, one of the dance capitals of the world Olga
Olga
Olga
Dubravina is a brilliant dancer, choreographer, and teacher of the La Boca club regularly conducts and attends dance master classes in London, one of the main dance capitals of the world. Olga told the magazine 9 about the trends and features of the dance life of Foggy Albion0014 La Boca Dance News .
Olga, please describe the dance life in London .
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the city dances. A variety of dance parties are held for every taste, and not in schools, as is customary with us, but in nightclubs. For example, I was surprised by a salsa party that took place in a very trendy club in the very center of London. There you could dance to the latest hits, many of which I heard for the first time. As a rule, the organizers of such parties first hold dance master classes for everyone, which smoothly flow into the party.
Are there any dance styles that are more popular in London today than others? What is the most danceable?
For the British, dancing is not just a hobby, it is a significant part of their everyday life. Absolutely all dance directions are popular, the same as ours, only they are presented on a larger scale. Social dances - salsa, bachata, kizomba - at their peak. Milongas - evenings of Argentine tango - take place daily and are very crowded. I'm probably the last teacher of the La Boca club who doesn't dance tango yet (laughs).
Many English people, when they found out that I did not dance tango, were extremely surprised. Not to dance it is practically bad manners.
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What about modern dance? In Russia, it seems to me, are they more popular than social and ballrooms today?
I think this is due to the fact that modern dances came to Russia not so long ago. Like everything new, it is of great interest. In England, this excitement has long passed, each dance direction has its own full-fledged niche. Moreover, if a person dances modern dances, he also knows social dances with a high probability.
What can you say about the mega-fashionable Vogue in Russia today?
Well, that's a completely different story (laughs). In England, Vogue is a dance primarily for gay men, and this is its main niche.
What are the main trends in modern dance?
The main trend is fusion , a complete mix of styles.
There is practically no pure hip-hop, popping, locking, etc. Fashionable choreography is when, for example, it is based on jazz-funk, which is complemented by reggaeton, hip-hop, etc. In one of the schools where I worked in London, the teaching concept is as follows: lessons are given choreography adapted from clips of world superstars music. It turns out that today the students are recreating Beyoncé's video, tomorrow they are dancing Rihanna's choreography, and so on. Very interesting!
Back to social dancing. What do you think is the difference between dance parties in Russia and parties in London?
First, the approach of the dancers to such parties. Immediately after work, people go to dance. Hence - the "casual" style of dress, the British do not try to somehow dress up in a particularly elegant way to go "to the dance." As for salsa, bachata, I can note a very high level of training: often you don’t understand where the teacher is and where the amateur is.
One of the best partners I danced with turned out to be the director of an IT company, for whom dancing is just a hobby.
Another fundamental difference is the gender ratio: approximately 20% of girls account for 80% of men. Now just imagine: beautiful, well-dancing, young men are 4 times more than girls! This is where the paradise for Russian dancing beauties is!
So the principle “men don't dance” doesn't work in London?
Of course not. Dancing is one of the required skills of many English people.
England is the birthplace of ballroom dancing. What can you say about this direction? What state is it in now?
Ballroom dancing continues to evolve. The world-famous Blackpool tournament is still perhaps the most prestigious ballroom dancing competition. As in Russia, there is a division into professional dances, and Pro-Am direction. Mostly ballroom dancing in the Pro-Am format is danced by wealthy English women. Here, probably, the average age is higher than in the direction of social dances.
