A quality dance school offering technical R.A.D. ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and musical theatreread more

I take my 2 year old niece to Theatre Bugs' 'Busy Bees' class (yes, I'm totally a rad aunty!) on a…read moreregular basis. She absolutely loves it! Theatre Bugs is all about providing weekly drama and music based classes to kids from 6 months upwards. I say "classes" but it's more like Play School come to life, with the toddlers having a super fun free for all, dancing, singing and playing. Classes run weekly, and it's great for the littlies to get to know their class mates through the term (many of whom come back for the next term too) - but if you miss your regular sesh, they also allow for a make up session anytime during the week. Busy Bees goes for about half an hour and the teachers are generally really great and enthusiastic. In this particular class you stay with your little one and join in on the fun. It's pretty heart warming! They also have a family session for the end of term where families can come along and join in too.

From the owner: Theatre Bugs is a performing arts school for children…read more At Theatre Bugs, your child will not only learn skills in dance, singing and drama. They will also learn to trust their own ideas, develop perseverance, empathise with others, work with peers to achieve a common goal, feel confident in their own ability and most of all, they will develop the confidence they need to be able to tackle the unexpected, challenging and exciting situations that they are confronted with in life.

The teachers, a male and female couple, demonstrate a move, make sure you're fine with it, and then…read morelet you try your moves with a partner. Like a true swinger, you are encouraged to dance with various partners. There was a shortage of men/leaders in this particular class (like most dance classes around town), and whilst it says on their website you do not need to bring a partner, you will certainly get more out of it if you do. I have done a solo-Charleston cause with Swing Sesh and that truly was single-friendly. The lindy hop class managed to cater to all varying abilities and maintained everyone's interest. The more experienced beginners honed their skills and learnt a few new steps, whilst we virginal swingers were never left behind. I completed the class feeling comfortable with about four or five manoeuvres. The art deco hall is entirely apt for learning dances of the 1920's and 30's, and is equally as welcoming as the dance teachers. Even the most gung-ho of students can avoid accidentally half-stepping on anyone else in the spacious ballroom. Though you don't tend to flip around so much as a beginner, it still works up quite a sweat, but all is kept pleasant by the hall's air-conditioner. Following the beginners' lindy hop and swing class on a Thursday, The Swing Sesh Stomp unfurls from 9pm. The Stomp is a chance for dancers of all levels to whirl the night away to DJs spinning swinging hits. It's a good chance to practice what you've learnt, or just have fun and meet some new people. For first timers' the first class is half-price and I recommend you give it a try to see whether it's your thing before investing in passes. Once you've fallen in love with this hip-scene, the six class pass is definitely the way to go and can be used for a variety of classes over two months. Thanks to these Swing Sesh classes I'll soon be step, step, triple-step, stepping along with the best of them, and until then, I feel totally at ease fumbling along in their safe and friendly learning environment.

A great experience even if you have two left feet - or like me, aspire to one day reach the two…read moreleft feet level! Granted, this review is based on just one experience last Thursday evening but it was so enjoyable that we'll be back. The 8pm lesson at the Estonian Hall on Jeffcott was for East Coast Swing and the instructors broke the steps down bit by bit. You get to try a step or 2 then partners move to the next person and they build up the dance. From 9pm the bar opens and it's a social event to try the steps or make some new friends. From just one lesson we were on the floor dancing (or at least trying) with a variety of friendly regulars. A blast although I'm told that other Swing dances can take a bit more practice than 1 lesson to feel confident enough to give it a go. Got to try an interesting Estonian cider for the first time - very nice! Take a risk and give Swing Sesh a go - you'll be glad you did!

This dance studio on Gillies Street isn't gaudily signposted like other dance schools, it's subtly…read moredisplayed and totally lacking in cheese. 'A non-cheesy dance studio, wha!' You gasp. That's right, you heard me. We were running out of ideas for my daughter's eighth birthday last year and of course, tween birthday parties are massive events and must be topped each year with something bigger and better. We accidentally stumbled upon this place and booked a dance party, and word on the street is, it was the event of the season. The space is modern, filled with light, and the actual dance space is on an elevated stage with a truckload of mirrors. The staff are very helpful and great with kids, and let us pretty much take over the place, dropping pizza everywhere and having a grand old time ( and that was just the adults). Apparently the studio had a hen's night the evening before with a bunch of ladies spinning around on poles (which would explain the large curtains that can be drawn to cover the dance space). Great venue, for kids, and umm, strippers.