Posts tagged studios

Hong Kong is a great place to come and live, and for many expats living abroad, taking up new hobbies is a way to meet people, build a social life and get out and see the country too.  So no surprise then that dancing is such a popular form of exercise. But where can you go to dance in Hong Kong and how are dance classes different in Hong Kong to the rest of the world?

 The good news is, there are plenty of places to learn, whether you want to learn ballet, salsa, ballroom, hip hop or pole dance. The tricky part is finding them.

First of all, ask yourself why you want to take dance classes:

-          Is it to improve your already established dance skills?

-          Is it just to keep fit?

-          Do you want to meet people socially

-          Are you an aspiring professional dancer?

The answers will help you decide what kind of dance school you should be looking for.  You should also consider the target market of the dance studios you are looking at. Do they cater for older dancers, or are they focused on the teen market? Do they teach their classes in English (many are taught only in Cantonese)?

 If you decide that you want to dance for social reasons and would prefer dances with partners, then consider Ceroc or Salsa classes, which often take place in bars and clubs rather than dance studios. If you’re feeling shy, there are  several dance studios that will offer you classes first. Perhaps take a private class, then head out to the bar to dance. There will be lots of people in your shoes, so just go for it.

 If keeping fit and looking great is more your thing, try a street dance or hip hop class. If you want something more graceful, Jazz Funk is a good cross between Street dance and Jazz, and is very easy for beginners to pick up. With these classes, make sure that you use a dance school with age appropriate lessons. 

Both StudioDanz and Ones to Watch offer teen focused classes with excellent teachers. For adult learners, try Central Dance Studios instead, where the demographic is older.

Adult classes in Ballet and more classical forms are harder to find taught in English. Both APA and Central Dance Studios offer classes for adult learners, from beginners upwards.

If you are into Ballroom and Latin, there are no end of clubs offering everything from the Waltz, to the Tango, Foxtrot to Mambo.  There are so many of these clubs that you should just try doing an internet search to see what comes up, and then base your school on location and the reputation of the teachers.

Once you’ve found a class, a good thing to do in Hong Kong is to buy coupons. Studios in Hong Kong often offer cheaper classes if you buy a block of 6 or 12 sessions, and few people pay on the day for classes. You can save as much as 20% on bookings this way, and remember, payment equals commitment, and you’ll find you stick at it much longer and improve much quicker this way.

 Most of all, enjoy your classes – don’t be afraid to try a new studio, you can always call them first to check them out, or go and visit and ask if you can watch the class. Enjoy your dancing in Hong Kong.