10 Dance Classes Every Beginner Should Try
“5,6,7,8. Pirouette into a grand jeté followed by a pas de chat. I want you to feel the music and turn off your brain.” Five letters in the word dance, eight beats in each sequence, and music made visible.
As someone who dances, it is safe to tell you that you only get better by trying new classes, from easy to hard, in or out of your confront zone, it’s all about exploring and growing.
Dance is fun, dance is powerful, and if you are reading this, then I encourage you to pursue it. Be confident that whatever style you chose to pursue is the best fit for you and your interests.
Whether you are a dancer and wanting to try new styles or a complete beginner who wants to pursue a new activity, these are the classes you should take.
1) Beginner Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop is one of my personal favorites and usually the dances are super intense and contain very emphasized moves. The song choices are usually rap and the movements usually include a whole lot of locking and popping. It is a dance that requires good technique but it tells a story that depicts a social story since it is a style that started underground. If you are feeling brave, I would recommend trying to breakdance. Now, this may be a little of a stretch, but every class is important and a class like this one will definitely help you with your flexibility!
2) R&B
Rhythm and Blues; another one of my all-time favorites. The song choice for this style is based on pop but also has a soulful vocal style. This class focuses on body isolation and emphasizes moves like body rolls, spins, and leg extension. The music is usually slow and very passionate, so depending on the beats and the choreographer, it usually is very visual and passionate.
3) Afro
African dances have many movement styles, all depending on the music and the instruments used in the song. African dance has a huge sense of root to the floor as well as a sense of weight. In this dance, you better relax and bend your knees! It is very upbeat but also very groovy, and before you ask, yes grooves can be taught.
4) Contemporary
Contemporary is a very passionate and emotional dance—you must not only tell the story, but you must be the story. This is a very well-rounded dance that will help you in your technique building. It is the combination of modern, jazz, lyrical, and even ballet. In contemporary, the mind and the body will connect through fluid dance movements.
5) Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of dance formed and popular in Latin America. It is very popular in the nightclubs and is simply considered fun and upbeat. It can be a little sensual, like we often see in Latin music videos, though it does have a lot of hip-hop influence. I highly recommend trying a reggae class—it is one of the most enjoyable and energy-consuming dances.
6) Improv
This is a class that will spark your creativity and causes you to become more than just a dancer, you will also become a creator. The feeling you will get after this class is truly unexplainable; like you are liberated and at ease. As a beginner, you may not feel comfortable with every move, so creating your own will ease not only your body but also your mind.
7) Jazz Funk
Jazz-funk is also known as street jazz, which are genres that are both fun and expressive. There is a lot of intricate footwork and floor moves that work on the dancer’s creativity, their understanding of the music, and their energy. Sorry of like a fusion between jazz and hip-hop.
8) House
House originated in the late ’70s from underground clubs in Chicago and New York. The style was influenced by tap, Afro, Reggae, and martial arts. House dance is about freedom, liberation, improvisation, and feeling the energy from other dancers. There is a lot of “jacking” in hip hop where the torso interprets the variation of the music—but don’t be fooled, there’s still a lot of footwork involved in house dance.
9) Salsa
Salsa dance is associated with salsa music. It is a partner dance that includes a lot of different techniques and is becoming very globally popular. If you do not have a partner, don’t worry, it can also be practiced alone—which improves the footwork and the technique. The concept is quite simple; taking three steps for every four beats of music.
10) Foundation
Remember: technique is a lot more important than looking good when dancing. If you really enjoy dancing and have a growing love for this activity, then you need to work on foundation classes—even though they aren’t the most fun. In foundation classes, which are similar to Zumba, you will have the opportunity to practice common dance steps, over-and-over, until it becomes muscle memory. Even the best dancers started by learning the bases. Your first steps are walks, not runs, so make sure that you work on your technique as well as dance dictionary by taking these foundation classes.
Remember, off-days can happen in dance, and to be honest, off-days can suck. It’s like you forget how to dance and you may feel disappointed when you feel like you did bad in class. But it’s just a day and it will pass.
Today is a new day and a day you can make better and do better. Are you gonna let one day affect this whole week? You deserve to have fun and let something fun like dance make you happy.
I encourage you to expose yourself to different styles and different teachers. Don’t restrict yourself to one class or one style—try it all—until you find yourself and what you like in dance.
Thank you so much for reading, my fellow dancers. I hope that you try all these classes and share your experience in the comments section down below!
