10 top Dubai dance classes

Time to start limbering up: Dubai’s dancefloors are buzzing this month. Sunday September 16 is International Zouk Flash Mob Day, a global event encouraging people around the world to get together to dance the same choreography (the Dubai portion takes place at Savage Garden in the Capitol Hotel, Satwa). Want another chance to show off your moves? Dubai International Dance Festival, on Wednesday October 17, is set to be bigger than ever this year, with more than 400 renowned and professional dancers preparing to take to the floor.

Time Out couldn’t help but get swept up in the rhythmic excitement. We sent our troops to dance studios around town, rating classes by difficulty, embarrassment level and simple practicality, and turned up some surprising results…

African dance
Rebecca Milford, chief sub-editor
What is it? This energetic ladies-only class focuses on movements that are ‘unique to Africa’s dance heritage’.

The first lesson: This is more of an exercise class than a technical dance session, so you don’t need any prior knowledge or training. Teacher Liris explains the basic steps, which are then linked together into a short routine to the thumping African drum beat. It’s surprisingly energetic, with jumping, arm-waving and bum-jiggling – some of the moves are impossible to pull off with a straight face.

Difficulty: 2/5

Embarrassment: 3/5

Best for: Those who want to work up a sweat with a big grin on their face.
Dhs60 per class, Dhs550 for ten. Mon 6.30pm. Exhale Dubai, Murjan 1, JBR, www.exhaledubai.com (04 424 3777).

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