Nothing against the mambo, fox-trot, tap, or West Coast swing, but if you really want to move (and have a killer body) like a
Dancing with the Stars contestant, you’re going to have to try something a little more creative. Thinking outside the box, we culled schedules at dance studios and gyms around the country to come up with a few options for you.
Fitness
V-air-y Good IdeaCurious about circus dance? Sign up for Elizabeth Streb’s (founder of the Streb Laboratory for Action Mechanics) signature acrobatic workout or try your hand (okay, your whole body) at trapeze dancing. And, yes, we said trapeze dancing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ITBrooklyn, New York: “PopAction,” Streb Laboratory for Action Mechanics, 51 North First Street, (718) 384-6491,
www.strebusa.orgChicago: “Beginner Trapeze,” the Aloft Loft, 2041 West Carroll Avenue, #306, (773) 782-6662,
www.aloftaerialdance.comDenver: “Low Flying Trapeze,” Aerial Dance over Denver, 8964 East Hampden Street, (303) 771-0161,
www.aerialdanceoverdenver.comCelebrity StepsMimic moves by J.Lo, Christina Aguilera, and Beyoncé by enrolling in a “Video Vixen” class, or follow Kelly Ripa’s lead and try a ballet barre class like “Physique 57,” which mixes weights and toning exercises. In L.A., visit Millennium Dance Complex and take classes from instructors who have worked with celebrities like Will Smith, Janet Jackson, and Justin Timberlake. You’re sure to learn a thing or two.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ITChicago: “Video Vixen,” Flirty Girl Fitness, 1325 West Randolph Street, (312) 666-2266,
www.flirtygirlfitness.comLos Angeles: Millennium Dance Complex, 5113 Lankersheim Boulevard, North Hollywood, (818) 753-5081,
www.millenniumdancecomplex.comNew York: Physique 57, three locations,
www.physique57.comWith Love from IndiaIt tones up your tummy, and, if you’re planning a trip to India where you’ll be traipsing through clubs and lounges, that’s all the more reason to sign up for “Bollywood Funk,” which incorporates bhangra, hip-hop, Indian classical dance, and Western jazz dance.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ITDenver: “Bollywood Dance,” Bollywood West, 1109 South Pearl Street, (303) 389-9832,
www.bollywoodwest.comVirginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.: Various levels of Bollywood dance, Dhoonya Dance, various locations,
www.dhoonyadance.comNew Takes on Latin DanceThe low-impact Latino workout coaches students through traditional South American dance moves, as well as salsa and merengue -- an ode to Latin dance culture.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ITLos Angeles: “Zumba” and “Jammin’ Latin,” the Sports Club/LA, 1835 Sepulveda Boulevard, (310) 473-1447,
www.thesportsclubla.comOrlando: “Ladies’ Styling and Body Movement” (based on salsa moves), Salsa Heat Dance Studios, 10685 East Colonial Drive, (407) 275-0943,
www.salsaorlando.comHip-Hop Till You DropInspired by the latest R&B, rap, and pop songs, “Hip Hop/Street Jazz” transforms any studio into a modern-day Flashdance. Learn just what poppin’ and locking really means. (If freestyle is more your thing, there’s room built in for personalization.)
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ITNew Orleans: Encore Dance Studio, 1827 Hickory Avenue, Harahan, Louisiana, (504) 737-5977,
www.encoredancing.comAtlanta: Dance 101, 2480 Briarcliff Road Northeast, (404) 542-3887,
www.dance101.orgCambridge, Massachusetts: Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Avenue, (617) 547-9363,
www.dancecomplex.org