Put on your dancing shoes for these Chattanooga adult dance classes!
Dance classes aren’t just for kids. Not only is dance good for the soul, it’s good for your health! Any kind of low-impact dance helps to improve cardiovascular health, increase stamina, strengthen bones and muscles and stave off illnesses. Dance is also proven to relieve stress … so what are you waiting for? Chattanooga offers plenty of opportunities to take dance classes no matter what style you’re interested in trying.
Ballet
If you’re looking for more grace, poise and flexibility, ballet is the way to go! At Chattanooga Dance Theatre, located at 5151 Austin Rd. in Hixson, there is an adult beginner ballet class perfect for those without experience who want to improve body awareness, coordination, strength and flexibility. In this class, dancers will learn a full barre, center adagio, single pirouettes, petite allegro and grand allegro in a fun, supportive and friendly environment. Cost: $14 per drop-in class
Belly Dance
The graceful hip drops, rolls, and pivots of this traditional Middle Eastern dance form utilize muscle groups in the abdomen, pelvis, trunk, spine, and neck for a full body workout. With seemingly small movements, you can get a serious workout—not to mention the fact that you can have fun and build confidence while doing it. Zanzibar Studio, located at 600 Georgia Ave, offers Intro to Belly Dance classes every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. and Thursday from 7:15-8:15 p.m. The class introduces students to the basics of belly dance with an emphasis on proper body alignment, identifying simple Middle Eastern rhythms and developing movement awareness. Each class includes a yoga inspired warm up, and a clear breakdown of dance technique. Cost: $14 per drop-in class
Ballroom Dancing
Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep. No, we’re not speaking in code. These are just some of the types of ballroom dancing you can learn locally at USA Dance, which meets at Brainerd United Methodist Church in the Lundy Hall Gymnasium located at 4315 Brainerd Rd. Chattanooga USA Dance is a social ballroom dance club that hosts social dance events on the second Friday of every month, and these classes are open to every age group and skill level. The next dance will be a Beginning Salsa Lesson on April 14. Although ballroom dancing requires a partner, you don’t have to have one to come to class. Event admission includes a one-hour beginning level group lesson, general dancing from 8:30-10:30 p.m. and light refreshments. Cost: USA Dance members, students (under 21) and first-time guests $5; non-members $10
Hip Hop/Hip Hop Fit
Escape the stress of daily life and try something new at Weave Dance Company’s Hip Hop classes on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. The fast pace of hip-hop style dancing is great for improving flexibility, muscle tone, increasing cardio for a healthier heart and helping improve memory while learning choreography. But if the average class doesn’t seem like enough for you, go with the fitness challenge of Hip Hop Fit classes on Saturdays at 11:50 a.m. Each class option is taught at an intro/beginner level, so it’s perfect for everyone. Plus, Weave Dance Company, located at 4413 Brainerd Rd., is currently offering a deal on LocalFlavor, so you can get more dance for your dollar. Cost: $15 for two classes available here
Swing Dance
Bringing back the traditional vintage forms of swing dancing from the 1920s and 1930s, River City Dance Club is beating the beginning-of-the-week drag with their Monday Night Lindy Hop. The club, which meets at ClearSpring Yoga at 105 N. Market St., offers options for everyone beginning with the early intermediate dance lesson at 7 p.m., the beginner lesson at 7:45 p.m. or you can skip the lessons entirely for open dancing at 8:30 p.m. No worries about not having a partner. During the lesson, dancers rotate partners so you can dance with everyone. Just be sure to avoid high heels that might damage the studio floor. Cost: $7 or $5 for students (including the lesson)
