Best dance classes for men in London

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Stocking fella: Richard Godwin makes his point in pink socks at Pineapple Studios

Thrilling: try Michael Hackson style moves

Elegant: Strictly Come Dancing has made ballroom trendy again

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I have a confession (and it is not that I am a dancing queen, whatever the picture on the right suggests). I finally feel emboldened to admit that, ever since I was taken to Sadler's Wells for the first time a couple of years ago, I have been enchanted by ballet. Positively enraptured.

Anyone who sniggers is out of step with the age. Call it the Billy Elliot factor, or the Strictly Come Dancing effect, but these are good times for the graceful gentleman. The number of children opting to take dance lessons at school has risen 83 per cent in four years. One third of those are boys and they are not just disco-dancing either but indulging in ballroom, tango and ballet. In my day, we collected Garbage Pail Kids and wrestling cards. Now, it seems, young scallywags ask one another if they have a spare Alina Cojocaru sticker for swapsies.

Well, I am all for it. For the spectator at least, ballet is a delicate and soothing art and no other captures, say, the first flush of love or the hopeless pang of heartbreak with such grace. If even as machosexual a fellow as Carlos Acosta can do it, I saw no reason not to rectify a youth misspent playing football and computer games by going to ballet lessons. Might I, before long, be lifting Tamara Rojo before the sparkling Covent Garden crowd?

“Are you sure this is wise?” asked my wife, a fierce critic of my shape-throwing ability. “Remember the time you failed to execute the Dirty Dancing lift at your godfather's wedding? Or the time you nearly killed that girl from the Daily Mail at your boss's party?”
I felt this represented a worrying lack of faith.

All I really needed was the discipline of classical training to channel my natural exuberance. So off I sprang to the bustling Pineapple Studios in Covent Garden to attend elementary ballet. Held by Susan Zalcman twice weekly, the class is open to anyone, and attracts everyone from beginners to injured professionals hoping for a light workout.

It turned out that Susan was unable to take the class, but her substitute, Charlotte, was more than capable of revealing why my sisters were so scared of their ballet teachers when they were small. While in neighbouring studios delighted youths threw themselves about to samba and hip-hop, studio 10 found me wincing. “Smile!” is a command, rather than a natural instinct, under such circumstances.

To the novice, ballet seems worryingly reliant on a wrong grasp of biology. The so-called “first position” involves spreading both feet out at right angles, so the knees bend outwards. As for the “third position” — legs crossed, knees outwards — it is simply bizarre. But the emphasis is on flexibility, control and core strength (the Royal Ballet recently boasted that principal Edward Watson is, pound for pound, stronger than a rhino) and the attention paid to stretching means nothing feels too forced. In fact, it is surprising which bits of you can bend.

The first “good” I elicited from Charlotte was for kicking off my trainers. Then perhaps she was merely approving of my pink socks. But through warm-up exercises at the barre — “Bum in! Shoulders down! Legs straight! Plié!” —strangely, I came to relish the teacher's sternness. Encouragement is given out too cheaply, I think. There's nothing quite like feeling like the naughty one to sharpen the reflexes. Soon, I was making pretty damn sure my toes were pointed. By the time we came to the leaping — we covered more ground than I could have hoped in an hour — I was feeling rather graceful. We were encouraged to finish a run of little jumps with a pose of our choice and I fancy my praying mantis went down rather well.

I left with my feet tingling, my knees a little achey but generally feeling on top of the world. I executed a perfect grand jeté to make it on board the Piccadilly line. The first-night crowd were delighted.

Classical Ballet
Where: Pineapple Studios, 7 Langley Street, WC2, 020 7836 4004, www.pineapple.uk.com, £2 entry plus £6 class.
When: Monday 10.30am-12 noon or Contemporary Ballet, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10.30am-12 noon

WHERE MEN CAN GO TO KICK UP THEIR HEELS

PREPARATION
Stretch for Dance
If you struggle to touch your toes, this class increases flexibility. Pilates and yoga stretches engage the core muscles and are excellent preparation for harder classes.
Where: Danceworks, 16 Balderton Street, W1, 020 7629 6183, www.danceworks.net
When: Thursdays, 7-8.30pm, all levels, £5 day membership plus £5 fee.

Beginners DanceAn introduction to basic dance skills and help with movement, confidence and fitness for those with little or no experience.
Where: City Academy Dance, Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebery Avenue, EC1, 020 7704 3717, www.city-academy.com
When: 10-week course, Tuesday 6-7.30pm or 7.45-9.15pm, starting 21 April. £150.

Dance Precision Toning
Best for men looking to sculpt and tone, this class improves muscle control while incorporating full dance routines.
Where: Danceworks, 16 Balderton Street, W1, 020 7629 6183, www.danceworks.net
When: Tuesdays, 7-8pm, all levels, £5 day membership plus £4.50 fee.

MODERN DANCE
Michael Jackson styleIt's described as the “hottest” way for men to keep fit and includes energetic routines with emphasis on “quality not quantity”, giving dancers the chance to recreate the King of Pop's moves.
Where: Pineapple Studios, 7 Langley Street, WC2, 020 7836 4004,
www.pineapple.uk.com
When: Mondays, 6-7pm, beginners,
£4 entry plus £6 class.

Breakdancing
Foundationz Cru take learners through basic steps.
Where: Pineapple Studios, 7 Langley Street, WC2, 020 7836 4004, www.pineapple.uk.com
When: Monday and Thursday, 6pm-7pm, Saturday 2-3pm, all levels, £4 entry plus £6 class.

Rave
No prancing or girly twirls, just darkness and high-energy music. Participants wear smiley-face
T-shirts and wave glow sticks.
Where: Gymbox, 71 Lomard Street, EC3, 020 7337 9790; 100 High Holborn, WC1, 020 7400 1919; 42-49 St Martin's Lane, WC2, 020 7395 0270, www.gymbox.co.uk
When: Monday, 6.15-7pm (Bank); Tuesday, 6.45-7.30pm (Covent Garden); Thursday, 6-6.45pm (Holborn); all levels, average membership £50 per month.

TRADITIONAL DANCE
Tap
It worked for Gene Kelly, so no surprise that tap classes are popular with men. A beginners' course will start you off with some time steps, shuffles and ball changes.
Where: The Basement Dance Studio, 400 York Way, N7, 020 7700 7722,
www.jumpanddance.com
When: Six-week course, Wednesday 6.30-7.30pm starting 1 April, beginners, £75 plus tap shoes (average £40).

Tango
Don't worry if you don't have a partner to bring, just turn up to a crash course or a drop-in session and learn the basic steps and how to lead.
Where: Crash course: Virgin Active, The Plaza Shopping Centre, 120 Oxford Sreet, W1; Drop-in: LA Fitness, Lacon House, 84 Theobalds Rd, WC1, 020 8444 4211/07906 593 282, www.tangomovement.com
When: Crash course: Sunday 5 April, 3.30-5:30pm, beginners, £30; Drop-in: Wednesday, 8-9pm, beginners, £15.

Ballroom
Beginners' and intermediate courses aim
to make you confident in waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, samba and rumba in 12 weeks.
Where: The Factory Fitness and Dance Centre, 407 Hornsey Road, N19, 020 7272 1122,
www.factorylondon.com
When: Six-week courses Monday 8-9pm beginners, 9-10pm intermediate, starting
20 April, £75.

 

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