I need a workout that is so much fun that I forget I'm working out - that's exactly what I found in…read moreDance Trance (DT). I joined a class through Class Pass two years ago, and quickly decided that this studio was the right fit for me. The instructors are warm and friendly, the environment is judgment-free and unpretentious, and the dances range from simple to complex. Two years of dance later and I'm now a regular. I'm so much more coordinated than when I began, and I know most of the choreography (although I keep coming back because there are always new dances to learn!). Like any workout, you get out what you put in. Commit to moving and having a good time and you'll sweat through your clothes and feel it in your legs. Like any class, it can be overwhelming at first. Come to three classes (at least a Tuesday and Saturday breakdown) and you'll feel like a regular in no time. After 90 minutes of energetic, sassy, high cardio dancing, I leave every class with a rush of confidence and endorphins. DT has become a regular part of my routine and I would be lost without it!

You know who I've never seen smiling while they work out? Runners. People on the elliptical…read more Competitive cyclists. Or anyone else "getting the heart rate up" just because it's good for them. You know who smiles while they work out? People at Dance Trance. Every last student in that class, including the new girl: Me. I found Dance Trance on a bit of a whim, looking to get back into dancing and also to incorporate more cardio into my pilates/yoga/barre routine. My boyfriend's refusal to join me at the Old School/New School Hip Hop Dance Party on a Friday night was the push I needed to venture to Dance Trance-- located at the Balance Gym-- to get my booty shakin' on on a Saturday morning. I went to one of the "breakdown" classes, thinking it was only an hour long. Wrong- it was two (which I learned when I arrived from my awesome instructor Lauren who made me feel totally welcome and at ease). Breakdown class is actually a half hour breakdown (learning a new routine) and then ninety minutes of dancing to a playlist. I didn't think it was possible for 120 minutes to go by so quickly, especially while exercising. To my delight, I spent the morning rocking out to awesome music. (Honestly, Lauren had me at Usher). Popping. Locking. Dropping it like it's hot. *Positive* reinforcement from a high energy and kind instructor and encouraging fellow students. This, people, is my cardio mecca and I WILL be purchasing a monthly class pass. If you used to dance once upon a time, you will love this class. If you like to dance around your apartment, you will love this class. If you're just looking for a FUN way to get some exercise that does not involve a boring gym membership or running on a treadmill like a hamster, you will love this class. If you like nice, upbeat, high-energy people you will love this class. With the $20 one week pass you have nothing to lose-- except maybe a few pounds and any inhibitions you have about shaking your booty in a room full of strangers. Some suggestions- bring water and maybe a towel. You will sweat. Bring supportive shoes. I wore dance sneakers but regular running shoes are fine. Be patient and have a sense of humor- even with movement experience, you'll be facing the wrong way or on the wrong foot until you get the hang of the routine. Nobody cares. Have fun. It's dancing. The "workout" piece is just an added bonus.

In my quest to find fun cardio dance classes, I found my way to Work It! Armed with a 7-day free…read moretrial, I signed up for 4 Zumba classes throughout the week to see if they fit with my schedule and if I liked the instructors and the studio. Here's what I found: --The Zumba instructors are great. I took classes with Margo and Tonya, and I really liked both of them. I signed up for a class with Petra, but they cancelled the class because they were having some event. I took a class with her at a different studio, though, and she is also great. Lots of energy and fun dance moves that make you forget that you're getting a workout. --The studio itself is wonderful. Located just a block from the Metro and a couple of bus stops, it is just upstairs from Lee's Flower Shop. The layout is perfect, although it is narrower at one end than the other. Tons of windows for light and fresh air, a nice waiting area and the nicest staff. They also have a water cooler so you can fill up your water bottle. The only thing I would add is a changing room. There are two bathrooms, but no space just for changing. --The price for a membership is probably the best deal in DC. About $40/month for an annual membership (and if you sign up by the end of May, they will waive the $40 enrollment fee) or about $50/month for a 6-month membership, and you can take unlimited classes. If you don't want the commitment, a 10-class pass is $130. But the membership is a total steal. I felt like I found the perfect place in DC, but there is one problem that I can't get over that is the only thing stopping me from becoming a member - the timing of their classes. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, their first evening class (the one I want to take) starts at 6pm. That is usually the time I leave the office, but sometimes I have to leave later than that. I wish their classes started just 30 minutes later. It would make it easier to actually make it to class. In all, Work it! is a great place to get your groove on and get a workout if you can make it to class on time. It's a little gem on U Street.

I'm interning in DC for the summer and was looking for a fun way to get fit and stay healthy. I…read morebought the Groupon with 10 classes for $29 and figured "why not"? I've taken six classes and now I wish the summer wouldn't end! I've tried WandaWoman dance (twice), tai chi, the weekend bootcamp, bollywood dance fitness, and pilates mat fusion. The WandaWoman dance class is my favorite, with its hip-hop dance party vibe. There is always a diverse crowd -- you can even find a fly 60+ year old (or three) giving the younger participants a run for their money! Overall I have really enjoyed my time at Work It! Studio. If I'm back in town next summer I will definitely buy another 10-class pass.

Very beautiful space; free admission and free concert at Eisenhower Theater lobby . Resteraunt and…read morecafe at upper floor and wrap around outdoor balcony patio with panoramic views

Washington, DC - there's is only a small handful of performing arts presenters & venues in this…read morecountry that's on par with the Kennedy Center in significance and scope of programming, among them Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and Walt Disney Hall & Hollywood Bowl in LA. On any given day, you can find a diverse slate of performances and events, ranging from classical & opera, to jazz, dance. broadway & musicals, theater, country & bluegrass, comedy, popular programming, kids/family shows, films, variety, and special themed events...always an abundant lineup! I've been to the KC a fair share over the years and have attended all sorts of events here: orchestra performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, productions by the Washington National Opera, chamber music concerts on the Fortas Series, galas, festivals, indie shows, and community programs at the REACH. And each time I'm awed being at this cultural center in the Capitol city, which exhibits the highest caliber of artistic excellence in the nation and on the world stage. The building itself is huge and imposing, but there are helpful staff everywhere to answer questions and direct you where you go. Because the footprint is so big, if it's your first time visiting, definitely leave plenty of extra time to walk up to the building and find the right hall/entrance, pick up tickets, and get settled in your seats. For pre-concert dining, there are a couple of options on premises: the more formal Roof Terrace Restaurant, or the casual KC Café which has hot food as well as grab-n-go sandwiches and snacks. Both are located on the Terrace level above the Hall of Nations. Otherwise, there aren't many options super close by without venturing into Foggy Bottom. Tazza, and Kingbird at the Watergate Hotel or its lobby bar/restaurant Next Whisky Bar are the only outside options within a 10-minute walk. The only thing I don't love is, if you're taking a taxi/Uber, it's pretty crazy at the end of the night when everyone is leaving and you're all waiting for your car on the long and chaotic line in the taxi stand area. The Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station is about a 10-minute walk. (There are free shuttles between the metro stop and KC.) Oh and check out the back of the building which has a lovely promenade where you can stroll along the Potomac River! It's peaceful and scenic. Too bad the recent politicization of KC is casting a shadow over the institution, but it is not going anywhere, and my review speaks only to the many wonderful performances that have been put on there and the hard working staff who continue to produce the best season possible. To quote conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya's thoughtful and passionate op-ed in the Washington Post (which you ought to read in its entirety): "Art is no mere commodity, like a boycotted product sold by an exploitative corporation or an aggressor in a war. Art has the capacity to change minds, shift cultures, challenge assumptions. Choosing not to perform deprives artists and art of power, and it aids regimes that fear being culturally challenged. Choosing not to attend performances of content we support will only ensure that this content is not presented in the future." Wurd!

Came here for DivaDance class with my fellow Yelpie friend! It was fun to be dancing again! It was…read moremy birthday week and the song happened to be the 50 cent song about birthdays. Lol so epic! The instructor was a good hip hop dancer-- street style. The studio is shaped oddly so it's not best for moving fully and freely for so many people. The bathroom smelled great and was mostly clean but the toilet was visibly dirty so makes it feel gross. Go, enjoy!!

There's something for every yogi at Epic Yoga. They have a lot going for them, from the amazing…read moreteachers to the the pretty exposed brick in the studio. I've felt comfortable in their all levels classes, have tried yogalates, and attended their special events. They also often have $5 community classes taught by newer teachers and they are affordable on ClassPass. I volunteered here a few years ago with their seva program and it was a lovely way to get free classes through a minimum volunteer requirement of one shift a week! What's not to love about epic yoga?

Entering went smoothly and glad I brought my actual id. They required it. Usually I show a pik on…read morethe phone. Actors are super friendly. You are greeted with a shot upon entering. Ordering another could not be any easier. Hit QR code, pick, Apple Pay, drink in hand within minutes. Theater was well decorated but a little chilly. The show itself was so entertaining!!! I had a lot of fun. I laughed. Lots of hilarious puns on DC, sexual innuendos, and horror movie references. Very witty!! Highly recommend!!!

I purchased this and only told my husband what we were going to a comedy thing. We both had such…read morean amazing time. He later told me that when we first whot there he didn't have a high hopes, but ended up having a much better time than what he expected. It's so fun to see everything decorated. It really helps the mood. 100% would do it again.

Where do I start? KanKouran is legendary in its own right as a world renowned dance company for…read moreover 25 years. Founder & master teacher Assane is well respected in the dance community, providing a platform for the best dance conference and West African dance classes in the DMV area, bar none. Great environment in which to connect and get energized with some of the best drummers and instructors around. Beg African, Sabar, & other styles offered. All levels, all welcome. Highly recommend. Located at Dance Exchange in Takoma MD

From the owner: For over 30 years, KanKouran has been providing a wide range of services to the greater Washington,…read moreDC community through the following major programs: 1) Teacher guides, performances and workshops for elementary through high school students to introduce African culture, music and dance; 2) Customized workshops for all ages in the authentic dance and drumming styles of select West African groups; 3) Guided, educational tours to West Africa for students, performers, and community members; 4) Annual Conference and Concert - KanKouran hosts the largest African dance and drumming conference in the US. It consists of three days of dance and drum workshops, serving more than 3,000 participants annually; 5) Specialized training with the touring "Ballet KanKouran" professional dancers and drummers; and 6) Staged performances at local, national, and international venues. In addition, we offer weekly adult community dance classes on Wednesdays at 730pm. On Saturdays we have children's class at 12pm and adult dance at 1pm.

Fun date activity to kick off the spring season. At Artomatic you're able to check out soooo many…read moreartists at once. The event is held in an abandoned office building throughout 8 floors. It's open most days until the end of April and stays open pretty late. Definitely plan to spend multiple days viewing all of the art because it can be overwhelming. You can park a couple of blocks into the neighborhood for free for 2 hours. The only downfall was that it was pretty hot in the building. I don't think there's any ventilation in here opposed to the first floor. Have fun if you go and thank you to all of the artists who shared their art.

Came here to check out a friends artwork. This was my first time at Artomatic and I invited my…read morecousin who's in the art industry locally. We came during the week day after 5 to avoid the weekend crowd. There is a parking garage right next to the building at $7. Upon entrance, we are greeted by some of the local artists, get checked in with an armband and began to explore. There are 8 floors but we only did 4 of them (3, 4, 7 & 8) We started on the 4th floor so I can locate my friend's work first but went thru quite a few rooms along the way. The way Artomatic is set up which is an office building of about 50+ rooms per floor filled with artwork. Most of the volunteers were pleasant because we were so lost but this 1 guy who was sitting on the 4th floor with his volunteer shirt seemed disturbed when we asked him where a certain room was. It's quite confusing in there but you'll get use to it. We were told there were 2 open floors with artwork and entertainment which were 3 & 8. They serve alcohol & non alcoholic beverages and light snacks. We met a few of the artists while there as they were creating their own pieces. My cousin and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I left inspired. One of the greeters told us there hadn't been an Artomatic event since 2017, so that is great for DC to bring them back. Will return to explore the other floors, it's a lot to take in and cannot all be done in one evening.

Tried this boutique studio on classpass! Took both the barre burner and b.fit barre classes and…read morethey were great! Both are more intermediate level but barre burner is tailored towards intermediate/advanced students. Definitely had the shakes and found the classes challenging. Instructors are motivating and helpful in correcting form. Classes are worth a try! You have to call the studio through the callbox to get in. Studio is on the 3rd floor. You check in on one side of the studio and take the barre class on the other side. Studio is clean and small.

Absolutely loved going to a few classes with ClassPass! On my first time here I walked right by it,…read morebut it's the building that is right next to Slipstream. You have to use the call box and walk up three floors of stairs (a warm up!) then check in to the right and class is on the left. The studio itself looks so pretty and I love how they have small class sizes. Grippy socks are also required. I've been to barre burner and b.fit barre. Both I feel like were more intermediate level but it's a very welcoming environment and the instructors were so helpful in correcting form and providing tips and modifications. I found the classes to be upbeat and challenging and the teachers are motivating. All in all It BURNS but you work your whole body and it feels so good!

Wow, what an incredibly welcoming, inclusive and inspiring space + a banging workout where you can…read morelearn technique, increase strength and cardio, all while having fun. I have never done boxing and was feeling anxious about coming to the studio - but everyone was incredibly welcoming and helpful. Crane welcomed me, helped me get oriented and provided me w/hand wraps. He thoughtfully set me up, reviewed my goals, assured my panicked newbie vibes and got me ready to go. Sulaiman , the trainer on the floor that day, was incredibly patient with my very slow ability to learn the various patterns and my newness to many of the conditioning moves. Despite his patient, low key and welcoming manner - he got me to work much harder than I thought was possible and taught me so many new things in such a short period of time (slips, rolls, pulls, a more proper hook and more). Everyone was kind and welcoming. The space is inclusive in other ways too - while it looks like a cool, incredibly well kept boxing gym with a spartan vibe, they also have posters that include info on women's health and someone has thoughtfully placed tampons in the gender neutral restroom. While not things that I need - they are things that make me feel like this is the sort of inclusive space and community I wanna be a part of on a regular basis. The workout pushed me - but was paced to my level- and got my heart rate right where I wanted it to be (and a major improvement over where I have been able to push myself on a regular basis). Sulaiman gave an amazing amount of one-on-one attention to me and other students, patiently correcting and encouraging us. The studio is top notch on Covid safety and obviously cares a lot about their clients and their trainers. Also, the gloves and hand wraps are just cool. After the workout, Crane had reviewed my goals and made a set of thoughtful recommendations on what might be most helpful for me to accomplish my priorities. I will def be adding this to my fitness routine Bottom line, check these folks out. They are awesome and inclusive while offering a tough, personalized workout where you can improve cardio and strength while learning technique and having fun. I wish I could give them ten stars!

Urban Boxing Bethesda is great. The instructors are friendly and knowledgeable. The students are…read moreof all ages and very supportive of each other. An excellent workout!

I've been a devotee of Flow for the last twelve years or so, with a five-year hiatus while I was…read moreliving on Capitol Hill. It's a wonderful studio. The classes are rigorous and the practitioners are all serious about yoga. I'm always learning and pushing and improving at Flow, and I absolutely prefer it to any other studio in DC. There are many outstanding teachers offering a range of different styles, from Jiva to Rocket to Dharma, and it's a great bonus that the studio supplements these yoga classes with cardio options (Flow Fit or Pilates). I adore Mimi Reiger's classes because they are so exhausting, but there are many terrific instructors, including Cory Bryant, Jen Rene, Angela Cerkevich, Alicia Moyer, Sam Breschi and Chris Reber. My best advice to those interested in trying out Flow is that yoga newbies should probably be careful about taking intermediate classes. There is some instruction offered in them, but they aren't intended to teach the basics of a safe practice. If you are misaligned, you are extremely unlikely to get a correction in a class of 40+ practitioners. On the other hand, if you have a halfway strong practice, it can be really inspiring to learn from watching other, more advanced students in the class. I've tried a number of crazy modifications that I would never have thought to try out after watching someone next to me pull it off. On the downside, there are also occasionally some disrespectful practitioners (usually guys, let's face it) who will be falling out of headstands onto your mat or whacking you in the head with their feet. This is something that I've encountered more at Flow than at any other studio. You absoutely have to be able to tolerate a degree of crowding and chaos, so if that's a turnoff, I'd steer clear of the busier classes. It's also not a particularly friendly place. (I'm so surprised to read other reviews that say it is!) The staff are cheery, of course, but I rarely see people chatting and teachers will often actually instruct you to make eye contact with the person next to you at the beginning of class, because otherwise it wouldn't happen. There is a sense of community, but it's one that is definitely based on the routine of getting in, sweating and getting right on out. I've been practicing at Flow for the better part of a decade -- and I feel like it is my yoga home. But I'm always surprised when someone speaks to me hile I'm there. I don't mean that as a bad thing - but be forewarned that Flow is much chillier than other studios I've practiced at. This is a competitive not a supportive environment, and even I (former ballet dancer with 15+ years of yoga behind me) often feel a little intimidated. I wholeheartedly recommend Flow to anyone who's looking for a challenging practice and strong instruction without a lot of frills.

Recently became a member at this studio and love it. Great instructors and so many options for…read moredifferent types of classes. Looking forward to being a regular here!