CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Read on and find the perfect class for you.
Can’t choose? Buy a Class Pass or Membership and take them all!
HIP HOP/ STREET STYLES
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“We are guests in the house of Hip Hop.”
Hip hop is a cultural movement, which includes a lot more than dance. Hip Hop originated in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York - but its roots can be traced back to many other cultural movements.
An early catalyst was DJ Kool Herc’s famous party in 1973, where he extended the ‘break’ section of the songs (percussive/instrumental breakdown section) using two turntables - a technique that was further developed by other Hip Hop pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa.
5 ‘pillars’ of Hip Hop soon developed:
Emceeing (Master of Ceremonies, rap)
Breaking/bboying and bgirling (incorrectly commercialised as ‘breakdance’)
Writing (‘Graffiti’)
Deejaying (DJing, turn tabling)
Knowledge (Historical understanding of the movement)
Hip hop, as a political and cultural movement, uplifted generations of people in difficult socio-economic conditions, particularly in the African American and Hispanic communities of the Bronx where it originated.
There is so much more to this culture and history, so feel free to chat to us if you want to learn more!
Read more here -
A class focused on learning the grooves, history and foundations of Hip Hop. From old school party grooves to new school techniques, this class will focus on individual students improving their own dance and style.
Open to everyone, this class is all about having fun and improving! Open to all levels from casual dancers dropping in, to industry dancers.
Don't be scared to join if you're new to dancing, everyone has to start somewhere! You will improve over time as you practice your basics each week.
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Groove is what your body does when the music turns on!
This class is focused on moving your body, building coordination, listening to the music and having fun doing so.For those people who have gone out wanting to dance, but felt like they lacked confidence to do so - this class is for you! Learn some basic steps and build your basics whilst having a blast.
If you are totally new to dance, start with grooves - you will surprise yourself!
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Popping is a street style which predates Hip Hop and has its own distinct history and foundations.
Popping is however generally considered to be a part of the ‘Hip Hop umbrella’ due to the cultural closeness between the two.
An extremely eye catching, crowd pleasing style of dance, Popping is a party dance from the 60’s and 70’s. It is an awesome skill for any dancer to have, not to mention that you will be the hit of the next party you are at! We’ve seen crowds stop time and time again when a dancer starts popping!
Popping is based on the technique of quickly tensing and relaxing the muscles to cause a jerk or ‘pop’. Popping can be concentrated to specific body parts and be very rhythmic. Related styles include animation, boogaloo, robot, strobing and gliding, to name a few.
This class will give you the basic skills needed for a strong foundation in popping. You'll learn popping basics - hits, grooves, weight transfer, boogaloo basics, animation, waving, robot, gliding and a lot more.
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Locking is another ‘street style’ which originated before Hip Hop but is now generally considered to be a part of the ‘Hip Hop umbrella’.
Locking is a funk style and was invented by Don ‘Campbellock’ Campbell in the late 1960s.
Campbell had his own particular way of doing some of the popular dance moves of the time, involving stops (locks) and other stylised techniques. This resulted in a dance called ‘Campbellocking’, later shortened to ‘locking’. By the 1970s a movement of locking dance groups had taken off, such as Campbell’s own ‘The Lockers’.
Locking is a funky, dynamic and social style of movement that will leave you smiling (guaranteed)!
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The Body Control & Isolations class will be covering different exercises, concepts and routines that build the control, timing and texture of your movement.
To help you look strong, clean, precise (and unreal), you will practise techniques such as:
Dime Stops - Stopping cleanly (this is much harder than you think)!
Isolation - Building control over individual body parts and creating new movement pathways.
Gliding - Different variations of the moonwalk/backslide.
Fixed points - The technique behind performance arts such as miming (think of someone ‘stuck’ in an invisible box, or ‘pulling’ on an invisible rope).
Speed control - Slow motion or fast forward - this is the secret to a lot of advanced musicality and texture control.
All of the above will often be taught in a short sequence or routine, allowing you to practice and build your skills quickly!
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House is a street dance style born from House music.
There are no strict rules that dictate which movements qualify as “House Dance” - rather, it is about freedom, improvisation and feeling the music.
House is heavily influenced by a variety of styles such as Tap, Jazz, Latin dance, African dance and Capoeira. There are, however, a number of moves that have been established as House dance foundations - these often consist of grooves and moving your legs and feet in various tempos.
You can expect to improve your grooves and footwork in this class. As a club and social dance style, freedom of movement and expression is key - you’re sure to fall in love with this style!
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Embark on a journey of rhythm, drama and style with MAD’s weekly waacking classes. Rooted in the expressive and energetic style of waacking, this class is designed to help dancers of all levels discover the power of their own individuality and self-confidence. From beginners looking to master the basics to seasoned dancers seeking to refine their technique, this class welcomes all with open arms.
Originating from the 1970s in the gay clubs of Los Angeles, waacking is characterized by intricate arm movements, posing and performance, all set to the pulsating beat of disco music. It's not just about hitting the moves but about owning them with charisma and attitude.
In each exhilarating session, you will be guided through the fundamentals of waacking, emphasising technique, musicality and personal flair. Participants will delve into the history of waacking, learning about its cultural roots and evolution. The class will alternate from improvisational/freestyle waacking methodologies and choreography, encouraging students to embrace their creativity and to unleash your inner self.
BALLET
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Ballet is a formalised form of dance with its origins in the Italian Renaissance courts of 15th and 16th centuries. Ballet spread from Italy to France with the help of Catherine de' Medici, where ballet developed even further under her aristocratic influence.
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Classical ballet provides a great grounding for all other dance styles and Ballet is the ultimate when it comes to the control of your body. It is easy to begin at any age and will help improve pretty much every aspect of your body’s fitness including posture, muscle tone, flexibility, core strength and even your artistic expression.
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Pointe class is suitable for anybody who wishes to commence pointe for the first time or continue working on their fundamental technique. You will need to bring along your own pointe shoes which have been fitted specifically for you.
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In this class, you will learn excerpts from both classical and modern ballets. You will have the opportunity to take skills that you have learned in ballet classes and extend upon these with a range of short choreographies/variations.
JAZZ
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Although Jazz dance is thought to be as American as apple pie, its roots are in Africa. This form of dance quickly became popular in early America and has continued to evolve, while enriching the lives of people of all age brackets. Put simply, Jazz dance is any type of dance movements to Jazz accompaniments. What’s more, it’s made up of a variety of forms.
Read more here -
After a thorough warm up, you will learn a more technical style of dance in this class including pirouettes, kicks and leaps. You will then learn a routine to current and popular music. Jazz is a fantastic workout and is great if you really want to work on the more technical aspects of dance.
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These types of steps are comparable to tricks for dancers and therefore it is important to execute them cleanly and correctly. You will be taught different combinations incorporating kicks, jumps & turns. It feels amazing to nail these moves and is the closest feeling you’ll get to flying! Kick, Jumps and Turns is a fun class that will improve your dancing fast.
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After a technical Jazz warm up you will learn similar routines to those you would see in shows such as Fame, West Side Story and Chicago! The routine changes every week and everyone who attends has great fun!
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A sharp and energetic style of dance. The routine you will learn in this class is similar to what you will see in music video clips. This style feels great when you get it!
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Cabaret combines Ballet, Jazz and Musical Theatre elements while incorporating the showgirl technique of dancing in heels. The choreography is created to entertain audiences with slick, sharp and stylish movements with some added cheek to it.
Cabaret will train you to showgirl walk, execute movements and add character to your dance. Every week you will get a different style of cabaret, from an upbeat jazz fusion to a more classical showgirl class.
CHOREOGRAPHY
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Choreography classes can draw from a wide range of dance styles, including street dance, but also genres such as contemporary or jazz. Some choreographers draw most of their influence from a single style such as hip hop, for example, while others explore fusions between different genres. Ultimately, the choreography you learn in this class will depend on the choreographer’s own style, experience and interpretation of the music (that’s what makes it so fun)!
If you love the feeling of picking up and mastering choreography, you will love these classes!
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Commercial dance represents a wide variety of dance styles, including modern, jazz, hip-hop, breakdancing, and more. The choreography for commercial dance is typically used for concerts, music videos, television shows, movies, and others.
CONTEMPORARY
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Contemporary dance blends elements of multiple dance styles and lets dancers express emotions through movements and breath. Learn about the importance of contemporary dance as an art form through a brief exploration of its history, influences, and techniques.
Read more here -
Contemporary is an expressive dance form with a free, artistic and creative feel. Contemporary draws a lot of its technique from classical ballet but unlike ballet, contemporary often focuses on floor work and dancers will usually perform with bare feet. Principles of contemporary dance include centering, alignment, gravity, contraction, release and suspension.
In this class you will be doing Contemporary moves to modern music. Some routines will involve partner work! Great Fun!
TAP
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Tap dance is an art form that has been around since the seventeenth century but did not emerge as a well-known form of dance until the nineteenth century. In the United States, the dance emerged as an amalgamation of different ethnic dances, such as Irish jigs, African American Juba dance, Scottish step dancing, and English clog dancing. Originally, early tap shoes had pennies or nails attached to them to make the signature tapping sound.
Tap dancing became a signature of traveling minstrel shows post-Civil War, and by the twentieth century, was a prominent staple in Vaudeville acts. In the 1930s, tap dancers would gather at the Hoofer’s Club in Harlem, practicing steps and competing in dance competitions. Though tap dance declined in popularity by the 1950s, it influenced a new style of movement known as jazz dance. Today, many dance studios teach tap classes to young dancers.
Read more here -
Tap dance is a style of dance in which a dancer wearing shoes fitted with heel and toe taps sounds out audible beats by rhythmically striking the floor or any other hard surface. A fun class to try out if you've ever wanted to feel as cool as Fred Astaire!
HEELS
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Heels is a feel good, sensual, fun and sexy class that will have you dancing through the steps. This class is done in high heels (preferably stilettos) that incorporates genres of pop, Jazz and Hip Hop. Be open to building your confidence, performance, technique and lines in the class!
If you are new to dancing in heels, please make sure that you are comfortable walking and moving in them before wearing them in class. Choose a pair of heels that are thicker, lower and have ankle support. Please start with the Foundations/Absolute Beginner class before progressing to the more advanced sessions.
WORLD
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This Afro dance class will make you travel around Africa. The class will combine different afro styles inclusive of Afro-house, Ndombolo, Amapiano and many other afro dance styles, making it an Afrofusion class. Afro dance is all about happiness, culture, tradition and laughter. Come experience a taste of the African vibe in this Afro Fusion class.
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Dancehall was born in the inner city of Kingston, Jamaica in the late 70s. It manifests itself in so many ways and is passionately expressed through music, dance, language, fashion, food and is deeply connected to the culture of the people.
You will be introduced to the various styles of this expressive, energetic and feel good dance, from the fun popular party dances, impressive Dancehall Queen moves, smooth like butter grooves to the more dynamic steps of today.
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Come learn the foundational steps of Samba no Pé.
Samba no pé means "samba on the feet", which is a solo dance that originated in the favelas of Brazil.
It is characterised by fast footwork & slides, sexy hip movements & a rigid upper body.
In this class the focus will be on strengthening & cardiovascular fitness while learning the foundational basic movements & steps of this joyful high energy dance style.
Suitable for all levels with some dance experience - We guarantee you will come back for more.
FITNESS
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Don't be put off by the name - this is an enjoyable but challenging class that everyone can benefit from, regardless of your current level of flexibility!
Each class begins with a simple warm up to prepare and condition the muscles and then moves into a series of stretches. You will begin by stretching on your own, working within your own limits and will transition into partner work for a deeper, more intense stretch. If you commit to this class you are guaranteed to see an improvement in your overall flexibility!
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Yogalates is a yoga and pilates infused classes that will have you breathing in the present moment while getting in a nice core workout and stretch session.
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Need a good stretch after sitting all day? This class will give you a full body stretch that your body will love you for!
Regular stretching helps increase your range of motion in the joints, improves blood circulation and posture and alleviates muscular tension throughout the body
