Almost everyone feels nervous before their first dance class — including people who dance at every wedding. The good news: nobody expects you to know the steps, and the first ten minutes are the hardest. Here is how to walk in ready.
What to wear
Comfort and freedom of movement beat fashion every time.
- Bollywood, Bhangra, Zumba and fitness classes: a T-shirt and track pants or leggings, with clean, light trainers.
- Hip-hop and freestyle: loose, comfortable clothes and flat trainers you can pivot in.
- Contemporary and lyrical: fitted clothes so the teacher can see your lines; these are often danced barefoot or in socks.
- Salsa: clothes you can turn in, and shoes with a smooth sole rather than grippy trainers.
Tie long hair back, and skip heavy jewellery.
What to bring
- A bottle of water — you will need it.
- A small towel.
- A spare T-shirt if you are coming straight from work or college.
- An open mind: the first attempt at any routine looks messy for everyone.
What actually happens
- Warm-up. Ten minutes or so to raise your heart rate and loosen your joints.
- Steps, broken down. The teacher teaches a few moves slowly, counting the beats, then speeds them up.
- Putting it together. The steps join into a short routine to the music. You will repeat it several times — that is how everyone learns.
- Cool-down. Stretching and a chance to ask questions.
Tips for enjoying it
- Stand where you can see the teacher, not hidden at the back.
- Follow the feet first, then add the arms once the footwork feels natural.
- Don’t apologise for mistakes. Keep moving and rejoin on the next count.
- Come back for a second class. Class two is always easier than class one.
Choosing your first style
If you love film music, start with Bollywood. If you want energy and attitude, try hip-hop. If you would rather think of it as a workout, Zumba is the friendliest starting point. You can see all our classes on the classes page.
Your first class is free
At D Planet every new student gets one free trial class at our Pitampura or Rohini branch — no charge, no obligation. Tell us your age group and the style you want to try, and we will call back with a batch that fits.
