Whether you're a loud-proud club kid or prefer to bust your moves in the shower, many of us spend a good amount of our lives dancing. When done with confidence, it's one of the best ways to let go and enjoy life, if only for the duration of a song.
Shy about your skills? There are a variety of classes in the city teaching styles from classic to K-Pop. Grab a friend, get your dancing shoes on, and prepare to shake your thang.
Samba Dance with Live Percussion at ODC
Make like you're at Carnaval and learn this vivacious Brazilian dance at ODC, where live percussion guarantees you'll be immersed in an uptempo world. Leave your shoes at the door—this carefree dance is best done barefoot. // Fridays at 6pm, ODC Dance Commons, 351 Shotwell St. (Mission), odc.dance
What else they teach: Everything—jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, Afro-Haitian, flamenco, belly dancing, and more.
Hip Hop at Dance Mission
Build your confidence with some hard-hitting hip hop. At Dance Mission, Allan Frias' class will teach you some killer moves to your favorite club tunes. // Mondays at 6:30pm, Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St. (Mission), dancemission.com
What else they teach: Salsa, samba, vogue, and folk dances from Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, and India
Pole Dancing at SF Pole & Dance
Pole dancing requires an incredible amount of strength, flexibility, and poise, so you'll definitely want to start with the basics. First get limber with a few key stretches, then move on to pole spins and floor work. You'll be choreographing exciting routines before you know it. // Pole Foundations (intro) offered daily at various times, SF Pole & Dance, 301 8th St. (SoMa), sfpoleanddance.com
What else they teach: Aerial straps, handstands, active flexibility, and lyra
K-Pop at City Dance
Yep, Korean pop music is still a thing—in fact, it's more popular than ever. Learn the specifics of dancing to the genre, which mixes moves from jazz, rock, hip hop, and, of course, impossibly catchy pop. //Multiple class levels on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings;The Annex, 1420 Harrison (SoMa), citydance.org
What else they teach: Hip hop, popping, jazz, and even turfing.
Bollywood at Duniya Dance & Drum Company
Learn some seriously fun footwork at Duniya's Bollywood classes, which combine fabulous Bollywood music with a variety of moves from Indian folk dances to modern hip hop. Combined, they form a diverse routine to make you dance like a star.//Fridays at 10:30am, Community Wellness Center, 1001 Potrero St. (Mission), duniyadance.com
What else they teach: Bhangra as well as West African drumming and dance.
Pop Star Booty Camp
Admit it: You already know a move or two from your favorite pop hits. Well, Pop Star Booty Camp exists exclusively for those who want to bop out to the likes of Ciara's "1-2 Step" (8:30-10pm Tuesdays, Nov. 19, 2019 through Jan. 21, 2020); Missy Elliott's "Get Your Freak On" (5:30-7pm Tuesdays, Nov. 19, 2019 through Jan. 21, 2020); and Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" (5:30-7pm Mondays, Nov. 18., 2019 through Jan. 20, 2020). In just a few weeks time, you can perform the song for your friends. // Newbies can register for one free dance class at Eventbrite; Pop Star Booty Camp series ($160) are held at LevyDance, 19 Heron St. (SoMa), popstarbootycamp.com
Salsa at Tianne Frias
What better way to learn salsa than from a three-time world champion? Frias is passionate about her work and it shows in her teaching style, where she demonstrates various moves and helps you learn them to perfection. Try a class and learn how to move; it's one of the most social dance styles around, so you'll be sure to find yourself a salsa partner and new friends in no time. // Salsa by Tianne Frias, Tuesdays at 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm' 1275 Connecticut St. (Potrero Hill), tiannefrias.com/salsa-classes
