The Dance House is Glasgow's most vibrant centre for adult dance classes. It offers everything from…read morecontemporary styles to tap, taking in a few of the more esoteric international techniques, and even having regular butoh classes. It brings together the working artists and the enthusiastic amateurs, and even offers weekly rehearsal space to companies looking to hone up a particular work. It also serves as a hub for Glasgow's creative communities, distributing opportunities, connecting artists and giving them the chance to share their works-in-progress. With a new space now open near the Tron, they look set to expand their operations in the near future, and bring dance to even more people.

The Dance House is bloody brilliant! I really wished I had taken dance lessons as a child but…read moreunfortunately I never did and was dying to get into dancing as an adult. However I had visions of myself in a beginners dance class, in a tutu surrounded by 3 year olds doing perfect pirouettes! That was until I found out about Dance House which specialises in adults dance classes (although kids classes are available). I went along with the idea that I would learn some traditional dance styles like ballet and tap but that was until I saw the much cooler classes on offer! I ended up signing on for the "Strike a pose" taster class which let you try Fosse Listation, Burlesque and Music Video Moves, oh man, I made Beyonce look like an amateur! I can not recommend Dance House highly enough! I was really worried when I saw the posh exterior that the classes wouldn't be any fun and everyone would take themselves too seriously but I was so wrong! It was such a good laugh and the atmosphere was very friendly and relaxed. The Dance House does also teach professionals though if you are wanting to get into dancing as a career. Dance House also offers private tuition and choreography for wedding dances and can work with either the bride and groom on their own or they can include the bridesmaids, best man, parents and others! I think next I'm going to try West African dancing to drums and Musical Mania!

I used to go to dance classes when I was younger, but I guess when you're young you don't take…read moreanything seriously and would much rather be running around with your friends. I gave up dancing when I was around 12 and I've regretted it ever since. I have so many friends who are always in dance shows and whenever I go to see them I wish I could be in them too! But I think I'm too old now to train to do any serious dancing. A couple of years ago I found Dance Factory and as they have a huge range of adult classes from beginners to advanced learners I decided to give it a shot. I went to the Hip Hop classes on a Thursday night and I had so much fun! There was a huge age range from 17 right up to about late 30's, so I didn't feel silly going. The teacher is so nice and the routines were always fab as was the music. The classes are £5.50 each and last for around an hour, you just pay per lesson which is great because you can fit it around a busy schedule as if you can't go one night it's no big deal as you haven't payed a hefty subscription fee. In addition to Hip Hop classes, they also have, Jazz, Ballet, Belly Dancing and Dance Gymnastics. I haven't been to the Dance Factory for a while but I'm definitely going to go back soon, it's a fun way to keep fit and I always left feeling really happy. So whether you're a total beginner or more experienced and just want to get back into dancing again then this is the place for you!

I would not recommend this dance school on the basis of their very strict terms and conditions…read more Deciding to leave is a costly process unless you leave at the end of their invoicing month or at the end of June. For example if your child decided on the 2nd week of the month dancing wasn't for them you would have to pay until the end of that month plus another full month! Shocking I'm my opinion. Employers expect less from staff so for a dance school to treat parents of children this way, I find it poor!

Sunday mornings and Royal Conservatoire Coffee Concerts are a match made in heaven. What an…read moreinspired idea, and at just £10 for coffee, cake and a concert (£7.50 concessions) an absolute bargain! I was lucky enough to make the very first Coffee Concert of the season and it was a useful introduction to the venue and what it might offer to the general public. Coffee and cake was served in the cafe post-concert where the performers and organisers mingled and chatted with an enthusiastic audience. Nice touch. Aside from an varied programme of concerts and performing arts staged by students past and present and visiting world-class talents, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (previously known as RSAMD) has a Box Office and large cafe at its main entrance up those imposing steps. The corridor between the cafe and the Stevenson Hall (where the coffee concert was held) is lined with photos of the college's alumni - a veritable who's who of the arts, music and theatrical world. I was absolutely blown away by the acoustics at the Stephenson Hall which really did justice to the singers and musicians who provided us with a terrific show. The seats in the auditorium were very comfortable with ample leg room but then I'm a bit shorter than the average person! Tip #1: If you need more leg room in the Stevenson Hall then select an end of aisle seat (at the stairway) in one of the blocks of stalls either side of the main block of seating. Hope that makes sense? Tip #2: If you are looking for somewhere very inexpensive to eat, drink and/or meet up in town the cafe here may be just the ticket. Geared mainly for students but also open to the public the daily specials included vegetarian and vegan dishes (hurrah). A generous cup of tea cost 80p and a Dear Green Coffee cost £1.40 (in a lidded cup so you can take it away if you want). Tip #3: Ample sockets available for charging phones and laptops (and possibly free wifi but don't quote me) Pop in and check it out for yourself if you haven't already done so and keep an eye out for their events programme.

Today I had the privilege, along with my fellow rock choir members of singing in the Stevenson…read moreHall, what an experience. We were accompanied by the Scottish Opera Orchastra, wow!! I can honestly say this awesome experience will stay with me for a long time. As for the Conservatoire it's a lovely building. It had a box office, shop and cafe on the main floor.the staff I encountered today were fab.

How has no one reviewed this yet?! So I've been to Emirates a few time now and seen the basketball…read moretwice (Go Rocks) as well as cycling at the velodrome. I know there's more to Emirates than that, but I feel like I've properly experienced sporting events here and the arena. And wow, it is amazing. It's new, shiny, clean and pretty industrial looking but without an unpleasant cold feeling to it. The events I've been to here are well organised, there are always lots of staff around who are friendly and helpful. On our most recent visit we got a Clyde souvenir for my nephew back in Australia from the gift shop, the guy working there was really friendly and had good chat. I didn't even mind that they don't have card facilities here yet (it's been open at least 6 months) so you get your card put through the old-school manual machines. It made me laugh to be honest, I did feel sorry for him though as he seemed a bit embarrassed. The velodrome has great seating and is a brilliant place to watch cycling - a sport I previously had no interest in whatsoever, but we thought we'd head along to check it out. The basketball is also really good and has great facilities for disabled seating, you still get a really great view even though you're at the back on the top level. The food and drink is reasonably priced too, not like most other sporting events you go to. I can't wait for the Commonwealth Games and will be vying for tickets to as many events as possible, especially here at the Emirates. I noticed when we were leaving the cycling that they had buses to take people back into town. I have no idea if these are free, but they must be quite handy as Emirates could be difficult to get to otherwise (unless by car). Looking at the website, there is also a Glasgow Life gym here and a spa. It pretty much has everything ... apart from card facilities and a cash machine!

I go to the Emirates on a Monday to do a shabam class (dance fitness class) the arena is on the…read moreother side of the city from where I live but the teacher who takes the class is crazy and total keeps you going. The centre is big spacious and modern. Lots of changing rooms and plenty of access for disabled people. I was also lucky enough to get tickets to the velodrome during the commonwealth games (where we saw sir Chris Hoy, I couldn't take my eyes of his thighs ) I was warned before going about the extreme temperatures and wore light clothing and took a fan, which was much needed. It was an amazing experience, I didn't have a clue of the rules but it was exhilarating to watch and believe me the New Zealand team in lycra was an added treat.. Would highly recommend.

I joined UK Theatre School way back when they were in their infancy and thought it was one of the…read moremore laid back but professional drama groups I've ever attended. Over the years, they have gone from strength to strength, to the point where they've expanded and now occupy their own space rather than borrowing halls off the RSAMD. The school is geared towards "young talent", aiming from between 5-19 year olds. There are loads of different courses for the youngsters to get involved in, from intensive dance tuition to play and musical opportunities. My only complaint would be that in terms of adult classes, they don't have as much choice. But this is taken from the grumbling perspective of an adult, and for kids this place seems to be professional with a minimal amount of the melodrama which usually surrounds schools like this. With talent moving forward such as X Factor finalist Rikki, not to mention the talent from London's west end that this school are affiliated with, founder Lizanne has certainly achieved her goal over the years of founding a prestigious theatre school for children.

I use to go to classes here for a very long time. Taught by the great Paul Fontana…read more This place has different levels of classes and is a great place to send your kids to learn, acting, singing and dancing. There are so many acting schools that are way below par. This one is a leader.

I've lived in Glasgow for 14 years now and I'm ashamed to admit I've never paid much attention to…read morethe Mackintosh connections that exist in Glasgow. I didn't even know where the GSA was situated until recently. Yesterday I decided to remedy this with a little day of Mackintosh culture. I opted for the Mackintosh at the GSA walking tour, costing £10 and lasting for an hour. The tour starts at the gift shop in the Reid building with a little bit of background regarding he GSA and its how it became located where it is. We learned about Mackintosh's involvement and the different inspiration that lead to the design of the building. We then went outside to view some of the finer details of his artwork. Obviously the building is undergoing renovation due to the fire, so there were fences and scaffolding up but that didn't take away from the beauty of the building at all. The guide took us to the east facade, and with references from Mackintosh's work could point out the different architectural inspiration that was used in this building. We also stood at the north facade and observed the fantastic ironwork that adored the windows and doors. After this, we went inside the Reid building properly and made our way to the first floor, to the Mackintosh furniture exhibit. This was furniture that has been donated from private collectors or found in old buildings or collected from Mackintosh's own home. It was an informative and interesting 60 minutes and I'd be tempted to do one of the other tours on offer to learn more.

Rennie Mackintosh's art has undergone a resurgence in popularity the last decade or two, and this…read morebuilding -- designed in multiple stages by him for the GSA -- is a practical extension of his art and design work. The building tour gives a top-to-bottom (with a lot of stairs) review of the building and its history. Our guide was a recent student who had her own engaging perspective on things and clear love for the place. It was a lot of fun, and an enjoyable hour; knowing the fee goes straight to the maintenance of the art school is helpful, as is the quite good gift shop the tour starts and ends at. The one down side I'll note is that photography inside the building is forbidden. Which is a darned shame, and a bit difficult to understand. I can't speak for the dance/party/clubbing aspect of the site (not what I was there for or when I was there), but it's definitely worth a visit when in Glasgow if you've any interest in Mackintosh. Not spectacular, but solid.

This is a cute little pole fitness studio. They have about 5 poles and a suspended hoop (I don't…read moreknow what it's for but I'm very curious to find out) plus a matted area for floor work. It's hidden away upstairs on the third floor above a Chinese restaurant and when I first visited I had a bit of trouble finding it. Once there though, it's pretty great. The instructors are very careful, making sure you're healthy enough to exercise and that you understand the safety procedures before agreeing to let you into the class. They always use mats. Classes are one hour long and include a warm up at the start and a stretching session midway through. Everyone works at their own pace to improve but there's plenty of structure, with the instructors always making sure that you have at least four different things to be working on. I think four is a good number; it's enough to stop you from getting bored but it's not so many that you forget what moves you're supposed to be learning or improving. Instructors move between each person, giving pointers and suggestions. They really push you to go outside your current comfort zone without ever making you feel unsafe. At the end of the class you'll be asked to perform your favourite move and your least favourite move. Following that you'll be given a small sequence to link together a few moves that are approximately at your level. It's a nice way to round off the class. On Thursday's they also now run a "pole areofit class" that's super intensive - I always ache like crazy afterwards for the next couple of days. It's great though - pole is fantastic for strength and flexibility but it's easy to forget to include much cardio in your workout. Pole areofit definitely fixes this problem. Those classes tend to run over by about 10 minutes though, so don't arrange to do anything immediately afterwards. I really like Pole Princess. I kind of wish their classes were a bit longer - I go to a different school which does 90 minute classes for a similar price - but I think you get plenty out of them. If I had a bit more money I'd be tempted by their unlimited offer, which allows you to attend as many sessions as you like for a fixed price per month. For now I'll have to stick to the blocks of four, but I reckon if you have the money it would definitely be worth it.

I love it here! I love Dionne and the girls, and the totally different teaching and curriculum…read morestyle from my previous studio. Feeling so much more profession that I'll actually be performing in the showcase in May!

This place conjures up memories of soggy plasters, verrucas and old overweight ladies showering…read morewith their baps out - but isn't that the case with most local swimming pools? Whitehill Pool is pretty much just that; one big pool and a tiny kids pool where the "deep end" reaches just above my waist. There are no chutes here; no flumes; no frills; no fun! As basic as it is, it serves its purpose if you're simply looking to swim a few lengths, however I'd advise getting in early if you want to avoid dive bombing dafties and lane hogging old ladies.

What can I say? It does what it says on the tin. Whitehill pool is great if you just want to swim a…read morefew laps but you have to go early or late to avoid little children getting in the way. The biggest issue I have with Whitehill pool is the cleanliness of the changing rooms and also the temperature. I know it's normal for it to be cold when you get out of the swimming pool but this is something else. It is absolutely FREEZING and not only the but the showers are old and unpredictable and go from being BOILING to FREEZING in a matter of seconds. There is also the unmistakable and inexcusable smell of sewage coming up from the drains. The place really needs upgrading. It's a shame really because Whitehill is my nearest swimming pool. Laps is what I like to do the best and it's ideal because there are quiet periods where I can sometimes even have the pool to myself. It's just a shame that the facilities are so poor!

I have some really good memories of SYT, I went to their weekly classes for many years and met some…read morereally great friends there. In fact, a few of my best friends are the friends I met at SYT. As well as a great opportunity for socialising, the classes were also great fun and every week was something different. Improvising, working with scripts, devising your own piece of theatre and physical performance were just some of the things that we did. I stopped going when we got a new teacher who just talked about how much he loved himself instead of actually teaching us anything. He used to bang on and on about he got into Knightswood Theatre School but turned it down, obviously. After a couple of weeks this guys head got so big I'm surprised he could even get it through the door. I wasn't paying £180 for a term to listen to this sad case talk about how great he was, when he clearly had never had a girlfriend and his highlight in life was bigging himself up to a class of 14-18 year olds. My bad experience aside, I think that SYT is a great opportunity for young people to get involved with theatre and turn their hobby into something more meaningful. The reasonably new building is perfect for inspiration and has everything a theatre company would ever need.

Scottish Youth Theatre is a national organisation that both develops and promotes theatre by young…read morepeople, for young people. They provide weekly workshops and full courses for those interested in performing arts. SYT teaches its students and allows them to grow and develop, so the final productions are always the collective work of the young people, expressing their voice. I took 10-week weekend workshops on a few different occasions, and really loved it. A friend of mine also got more involved and did one of the summer production courses, which resulted in a great wee production that they performed at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. It's a really fun and accepting environment for all ages and abilities, with good opportunities for moving on and becoming a workshop leader or eventually a tutor if you're heavily involved and interested in their projects. It's also a fantastic place to socialise, hone your skills, and meet like-minded people. I've found this organisation to be one of the best things out there for youths in Scotland, and it always makes me happy to see that they're going strong and getting people involved in performing arts.