Sex, high heels and rock 'n' roll wooh!!…read more Ahem, ok not quite... but now that I've got your attention, anyone thinking pole-dancing is all posing in heels and sticking your tush out needs to think again! This 2hr class for a friend's hen gave me a whole new perspective on how fit you need to be, and turned into the funniest, naughtiest and also toughest work-out of my life! This is Polepeople's own dance studio, a bit of an industrial warren of corridors with no signs so don't wander off. Wanted to review it for how awesome our instructor was - Jai, a washboard-stomached pro who remembered all 11 of our names after only one mention and quickly put us at ease. She had us in stitches at 'what not to do' and got even the quietest of the group strutting their stuff, despite the mirrored studio of poles initially looking a bit daunting. The class lets everyone go at their own pace so suited all coordination and fitness levels, from the gym bunnies to those who had barely exercised since school PE (I'd put myself somewhere in the middle!). You'll soon be using muscles you didn't even know you had, and by the second half everyone seemed glad there were more girls than poles as it gave you a rest between goes! In 2 hours we learned how to pull off several tricks and moves (once she'd broken them down into baby steps) that actually looked pretty impressive and sexy (well, at least when she did them!). Turns out I had a natural talent for 'The Corkscrew' - who knew?! ;) hmm, prob best to keep the pics under wraps methinks... For about £20pp (or less for more peeps) I highly recommend this session of high-heeled girly fun - can't put a price on the feel-good factor from getting active to awesome tunes, lots of giggles and letting your inner minx out for a bit! A word of warning though: not sure whether it was the fact that I missed most of the warm-up, or got overenthusiastic with the tricks or whether I'm just hopelessly unfit, but ohh the pain the morning after - my thighs and upper arms actually didn't work for a week :-$ So err warm up properly and give it a go - after all, it's healthy!

Polepeople is awesome!! A quaint, well lit studio with plenty of mirrors. The lighting is welcoming…read moreand great for pictures and videos. I've been pole dancing for 3 years in California. I was traveling through London, and was looking for my pole fix. I did a afternoon mixed level drop in class and it was perfect. It was an hour and very reasonably priced. My instructor, Aneta, was great at teaching a pole trick and breaking it down into different levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. It felt like all the students were getting even attention. All the students were super welcoming and supportive. I had a really fun class where I learned new tricks and also perfected the classics. Will definitely visit again next time I'm in town!

Great clean gym, super friendly staff and a good variety of classes (zumba, yoga, kickboxing,…read moreballet). It's pretty inexpensive (20 pounds a month) considering all the services you're getting. Haven't tried the sauna yet, but it's open everyday (monday, wednesday, saturday for women and tuesday, thursday for men). You gotta try this out!

This theatre is a little gem of entertainment on Hoxton Street. The theatre shabby and…read moreunprepossessing but that's part of its character and charm. The facility itself is small and intimate, with little separation from the performers on stage. There's a small bar attached. The show I went to was called 'Shakespeare in Hackney; or 'tis a mad world in Hoxton'. Jack Klaff (Star Wars, For Your Eyes Only, etc.) did a one-man reading of an anonymous poem written in the time of Shakespeare about a pub in Hackney known as 'Pimlyco'. The whole poem was about drinking and this magical marginal world of London where people are transformed (by beer) and the audience was served a surprise beer during the performance (free!). The performance was followed by a lecture by a university academic about the poem and its possible relation to Shakespeare's Tempest. It had all the good bits of a conference paper - a well-informed argument by a passionate scholar - without any of the pretention and stuffiness. This show was a fun, interesting and affordable (only £6, or £4 concessions) way to spend a week night. I definitely will be looking into what other shows this theatre has in the future -- I saw something about a circus? -- and will maybe even do some exploring in the 'mad world' of Hoxton.

Hoxton Hall was one of a number of venues I had the pleasure to dance in at a recent dance weekend…read moreaway in London. I am, very admittedly, a dance-floor snob. Give me sprung wood, unsprung (smooth) floorboards, laminate, Marley, grass and at the very end of the dance pleasure spectrum, lino and concrete and footpath. I have danced on them all., and know my preferences. The main auditorium at Hoxton Hall has a floor that was a pleasure to dance on with acoustics to match. Built in the 1800s a two tier gallery runs overhead, allowing you to watch the dance-floor/gig/play from a height. It's got a slightly grungy appeal, but I think they are still undertaking restoration work on the building. We used the second dance studio area too which was good also, but nothing compaired to the main hall. There was also a bar available on the night and the staff were lovely. This is the kind of place I'm delighted still exists; and I believe is one of only two remaining music halls still existant in London, amazingly. I would have loved to time machine back and seen it in its heyday!

Not sure how anyone learns anything here…read more I took an adult Performance Tap dance class here, with the intention of taking a few others while I am here in London on holiday. After this class experience, I have definitely changed my mind. The instructor played the music so unbelievably loud that we could barely hear him speak or dance. Also, the other dancers did not listen to each other at all. Everyone just danced to their own rhythm without any regard for what their fellow dancers were doing. They were not at all in sync; which was incredibly ironic for a Performance Tap class. Part of being a successful performer is situational awareness; being in tune and in sync with your fellow performers on stage/on the floor at all times. Moreover, I expected more discipline from adult dancers. There were entirely too many times during the class where the teacher was speaking or trying to review steps, and other dancers were off tapping and doing their own thing, making it almost impossible to hear what the teacher was trying to teach. I almost can't fault them though because the class was quite unstructured. There was no delineation between warm-up, technique review, and actual choreography. We were just doing whatever the instructor did, whenever he did it. His hand cues were only slightly less awful than his counts and his verbal cues. Only a handful of people were able to keep up with him... I'm guessing they're accustomed to the dysfunction. Suffice it to say, Derek was definitely not one of the best instructors I've had. I found him only slightly less arrogant than his bio implied. At one point during the class, a student asked him a question about the choreography because he seemed to have changed the rhythm of the choreography that we were learning part way through the class. Most of the people in the class seemed to notice it (and it was a point of frustration and spirited conversation among some students after class). The student said something to the effect of, "It looks like you've changed the rhythm a bit," at which point he scoffed at her and replied, "Oh, *I* changed it?" in this condescending "How dare you imply that I'm wrong" kind of tone. As someone who has both taken and taught countless tap classes over the course of my life, I can say from experience that teachers and choreographers forget what they've choreographed all the time...especially when you're choreographing on the spot. We're human. It happens. But apparently not to Derek. Hmm. Classes are cash only, and are payable directly to the teacher at the beginning or end of class. There is also an extra £4 fee for drop-in classes, which are to be paid at the front desk by either cash or credit card. Why they have not made it possible for students to pay for classes with card is beyond me. If you find yourself without cash, not to worry. There is an ATM down the block near the Five Guys. Exit the studio and turn left, then turn right onto the street. It's about 2 to 3 minute walk, and the cash machine will be on the left side of the street. Overall, I am not certain that this experience was worth the frustration. The website is incredibly convoluted and it makes it almost impossible to effectively filter down the classes one wants to take. The website also does not have a long-term class schedule (I think it's only posted week-to-week), so you have to check back every few days to see what's available. Ultimately, I ended up waiting until I arrived in London and called the studio directly to see if they had the style and level of instruction that I was interested in. I am only giving this place an extra star because it was a catalyst for helping me to check off one of my bucket list items; taking my lifelong love of tap dance to another country.

Pineapple Studios is one of the most notorious dance studios in London and really has that 'Fame'…read moreesque vibe to it. I went here for a Musical Theatre training week almost a year ago and the place sported a minimalistic 80's vibe back then and has hardly changed since! Fear not however as the wide range of classes vary from beginners to advanced meaning there is something for every style and ability so you will never feel self conscious. I go every Wednesday evening to Street Jazz with Nicky Bentley which is not only brilliant fun but an amazing workout. Be warned, the tutors work you hard but you feel the benefit. I'm not a member and so pay £2 for a daily membership and an additional £6 for the class. I would advise that if you go to the more popular evening classes, get there early to get a good spot in the studio. Oh and take a towel as it gets quite sweaty if you participate in the more high energy classes! These tutors are the best in the business and I love it as an alternative way to get fit.

Tucked away in Greenwich, SE London is the Borough Hall which houses the excellent Greenwich dance…read moreagency. If you are interested in contemporary dance and you don't fancy going to The Place, the GDA is a great alternative. They have currently working directors and choreographers teach professional contemporary dance classes in weekly slots in the mornings. This means you are getting cutting edge instruction and connections to the professional world. If you are not a pro don't fear they have beginners and intermediate classes on Tuesday evenings. These classes are perfectly paced for a deep and thorough development and understanding. At the GDA you can choose to do adult drop-in classes, workshops or book onto courses. GDA is not only about dance, so it is a good idea to keep up-to-date with what is happening on the website. They often run martial arts, salsa and yoga classes

Yep, hell freezing over and me reviewing a dance school…read more I started Capoeria classes last week and I'm having a pretty awesome time already (another class tonight, yay!), but I like it here. It doesn't feel too... dancey. I'm not a dancer. Despite doing dance classes at college, it's not something that I do naturally - as my teacher is finding out. But he's pretty cool. Maybe one day I'll stop turning left instead of right. The staff are friendly, the dance studios are huge and I'm not made to feel like I shouldn't be there, even though I'm probably slightly out of my depth. I've paid £37 for the classes (think that's for six) and might even do another class after I've finished these. I like it here. They do everything from ballroom to lindy hop to street dance, so you'll find something to suit you, even if you've got two left feet.

Depending on what you want from this place, you could either rate it 5 stars or 0 stars (for my…read moreuses, definitely 5 stars). I can only comment on the rehearsal facilities as I've never used the full studio. Pro: Excellent central location. Very reasonable rates, especially for such a central location. By studio standards, they take care to keep the place clean and in working order. No extra hire charge for little things they have lying around to squeeze more money out of you like many other similar places (though have recently started charging for drumkit breakables). Most backline is included in the price. Good quality equipment, suitable for each room. Whenever there's an equipment failure, they turn it around quickly to get it repaired. Friendly (if slightly odd) staff who evidently care about the place. Good for getting cancellation slots, they verify each booking the day before to make available any last minute cancellations. Air con units in each room. Often can get a midweek booking 1-2 weeks in advance, not just some inpenetrable list that you can never get in on. Organised calendar booking system that means they've never lost a single booking of ours in the years we've been using them. Cons: Paper thin walls which make anything without a drumkit not worthwhile. Pointless trying to record something yourself in the room with so much background noise. Bad ventilation, so the rooms can get a bit smelly. Keyboard stands provided have seen better days.

Used this studio to jam in earlier this week - the equipment and acoustics were good and we could…read moreeach hear ourselves nice and clearly, but the staff weren't overly friendly and there is a four hour minimum hire time so it can add up to be a bit pricey if you just wanted a couple of hours! Great location. Did have to pay a bit extra for drum kit cymbals which is understandable but a bit annoying... Overall, quite happy!

Awesome dance school I do burlesque and aerial hoop there…read moreand it is awesome Professional teacher Excellent customer service thanks to the use of a good booking platform A lot of amazing types of classes Prices super ok regarding the service

From the owner: London Dance Academy is a pioneering studio in Old Street offering classes in dance, pole dancing,…read moreyoga, aerial, circus, acrobatics and fitness. Studio, streaming and on-demand classes for all levels.

Ever since I left Canada, I've missed studio yoga. I do gym yoga for various reasons and it is just…read morenot the same, there's no real challenge, no focus and half the time you are distracted by the kick-boxing class next door. But Blue Cow Yoga is a deliciously proper studio. Right in the middle of the city, it's in a fantastic location. Spacious and very North American. You take your shoes off when you enter, help yourself to free tea or water and pad round to the changing rooms, where they have all amenities including hair straighteners. This I like! Also the abundance of lockers to keep your valuables safe are really appreciated. It's a very chill environment, they get the importance of focus and a peaceful vibe. I came for an inversion workshop and was delighted with the teacher and the experience. Mollie, the teacher, was super patient and explained everything very clearly. While she made it look elegant and easy herself, she took the time with all the beginners to make them feel comfortable. The room was very spacious with lots of white wall space to practice against, and plenty of maps, bolsters and blocks. I am definitely planning on coming back for their free yoga week for newcomers and I'd love to try a treatment too, once I recover from this inversion workout!

TREATMENTS. Sorry…read moreto shout. But, seriously...the treatments. I have not been for yoga yet (but I will!) --- and had signed up for updates via their newsletter. As luck would have it last week I received an email from them about 25 quid Bespoke Treatments. Answer to my prayers, little BCY -- answer to my prayers. After being slammed and shoved into planes, delayed in airports, working from bed and overall stress levels escalating, I needed a massage. A good, deep massage. And this is what I got. Which will have hooked me forever, so this marketing campaign to get folks into the studio worked. I'll be a faithful follower of Zoe, who whipped my knotted back and shoulders into shape. Really, very talented. Will be back for the yoga and the massage and the acupuncture -- and whatever else really? Really! It's a beautiful lower level space that feels tranquil and serene amidst the craziness of the City. It's clean, large, spacious, and the staff is friendly without being intrusive. Will return and update about the yoga -- but for now, I can say that I'm feeling mighty fine and relaxed due to that bespoke beatdown. Ahhhhhh.