The best dance classes in London

London’s prolific City Academy runs a wide array of dance classes that are perfect for anyone with a performing arts itch to scratch. All will have you prancing in no time, but it’s the signature tap lessons that are the pick of the bunch. Pick your level (Beginner, Improvers 1 or 2, or Tap Dance Company if you're a pro already), find a venue near you, sign up for a six- to eight-week course, and you'll be buffalo-stepping with the best of them in no time. 

For anyone who used to make up dance routines with their mates, Frame’s Music Video class is a guaranteed winner. Held at Frame's studios across London, including in Shoreditch, Hammersmith and Angel, the classes take inspiration from the likes of Beyoncé and Lizzo. 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.

Bollyqueer promises to never assume your gender or bestow any labels on you from how you present. Instead, this dance group offer a safe space for LGBTQIA+ dancers and allies, where the typical gender binary of Bollywood is disregarded. Choose from two classes at the Old Diorama Arts Centre (near Warren St) – beginners or improvers – and express yourself freely as you go.

Ballet can feel pretty intimidating, but you don't need the physique of a 14-year-old Bolshoi trainee to enjoy The Place's gentle, accessible introduction to this beautiful art form. Barre exercises, travelling steps and simple arrangements will build your confidence, while a live piano accompaniment will make sure you're getting a schooling in music as well as grace.

At Your Beat’s motto is ‘everyone can dance, you just need to find your beat’. If you want to find out if that's true, then take on one of the empowering classes at this Instagrammer fave, which span dancehall, pop bangers and hip hop. AYB Body Party classes will have everyone sweating. There's no complex choreography, just dance sequences to killer beats in a dark room with coloured club-style lighting. 

There’s no denying the explosion in interest in K-pop around the world in recent years. One of the highlights of the genre is its addictive choreography and you can get to grips with all the hottest moves at DGC Dance. Classes take place at different locations across London and focus on one song – or key section of one song. You’ll find a mix of older K-pop hits and the newest releases on the schedule, plus sessions that will teach you the basics.

Don’t be put off by the mention of ‘gym’; this class is more choreography than chest pumps. Held at several Gymbox venues across London (like Elephant and Castle, Farringdon and both Westfield spots), 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.

Pineapple Dance Studios has been keeping the city swaying since 1979. It still hosts over 250 classes a week, from house to ballet to Bollywood, with a couple of wildcards too – sassy commercial, anyone? But if hip-hop is more your thing, John G’s accessible class is the most 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. Bonus points to anyone who turns up in a velour tracksuit.

Dancing in flats (or barefoot) is one thing. Add in a pair of shiny heels and it becomes a whole different beast. Luckily, the teachers at The Manor can help you learn how to strut your stuff inches off the ground and without looking like a newborn deer who’s just learning how to walk. The Heels Choreography class is open to all levels and will have you click-clacking around the studio with confidence.

Lindy hop to 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, and you can use your Class Pass credits to learn them all. The group rotates during each lesson, so don’t worry about bringing a partner, they’re a friendly bunch – they also host social dances so you can enjoy the sounds of the 1920s in style.