Children perform hip-hop at Notorious Dance Company in West Auckland.
Children perform hip-hop at Notorious Dance Company in West Auckland.
It’s fun, it’s social and it gets you fit. Nicky Pellegrino quick-steps through Auckland’s large and exciting dance scene.
Whether you're keen to salsa, tango, hip-hop or jive - or simply boogie - here's how to be part of it.
No Lights, No Lycra
If you want to dance like no one is watching No Lights, No Lycra is for you. This phenomenon was born six years ago in Melbourne and it offers a casual space for people to dance as wildly as they want. I tried it and can report there was quite a lot of Lycra but definitely no lights. In fact, it was so dark in the Grey Lynn Library Hall I was freaked out for the first few minutes. Once my eyes adjusted it became quite exhilarating bopping for an hour to a varied playlist that covered everything from electronic music to disco.
This is an anything-goes kind of event. You can wear what you like and there's no issue with turning up solo. It's good exercise and you can focus on getting into the rhythm without the fear of looking like an idiot. I found it quite an introspective thing to do, however, rather than being social. At just $5 a session it's an affordable outing, just bring a bottle of water.
There are weekly sessions in Grey Lynn and Kohimarama and it's starting to spread further afield. If you love it you could even consider setting up a No Lights, No Lycra in your area. Go to nolightsnolycra.com for more details.
Hip Hop
Hip-hop culture has spread from New York where it was formed among African-American and Latino communities in the 1970s and is now huge in New Zealand. Born to Dance, our first multimillion dollar hip-hop film, was released recently.
Last year's documentary Hip Hop-eration proved there are no upper age limits when it comes to locking, popping and krumping.
"Hip-hop is trending," says Arisha Gungan of West Auckland's Notorious Dance Company, which runs classes for preschoolers through to adults.
Fun, fitness, performance and entertainment are at the heart of what is offered here and Gungan says it really is an all-inclusive form of dance.
"People look at the professionals and think they've got to have natural talent but we get the most unco-ordinated people and they still enjoy learning the foundation moves.
"Hip-hop doesn't have to be complex."
At Notorious they teach choreography and often attract clients who want to perform a special routine for a wedding.
There is also a "fossils class" for senior citizens. "It's not as fast-paced but is designed to help keep them moving. Some have to go easy on their joints but age isn't a barrier," promises Gungan.
How tricky things get depends on what your goal is and if you want to get into competitive dancing.
"It's a nice thing to try just for a couple of lessons or a season," says Gungan.
"There's no need for a partner and you can dance with 15 people or 100 so it's quite versatile. And it's high energy and good for fitness."
Also known as modern jive, Ceroc is a blend of swing styles like lindy hop but with simpler footwork so it's an ideal introduction for beginners. Created in the UK in the 1980s it's a partner dance you can break out anywhere from parties to nightclubs and weddings.
It's widely popular and Ceroc Dance New Zealand has eight branches in Auckland alone. "It's probably one of the easiest forms of dance you can learn and it's also a fun night out," says Ross Craigie.
A couple take part in a modern jive in a street. Photo / iStock
"We play great upbeat music from 70s hits to the most up-to date songs, so it's appealing whether you like something a little bit rocky or poppy."
Ceroc is a dance you can take to whatever level you want and even relative newcomers can enter competitions - although you won't be doing any fancy lifts - and enjoy lots of social dancing. "We get people moving and it doesn't matter if they're not doing it exactly the way we've shown them," says Craigie.
"It's about relaxing and having a good time as well as learning. Ceroc is also a great platform to go on from to try other dances."
You don't need a partner or a big budget to give it a go. Classes are $15 - less if you buy a concession card - and Craigie says nearly every weekend there is a Ceroc dance party somewhere in Auckland that costs just $20 and includes supper and a cold drink.
"Try spending that on any other night out and how much fun would it be," he points out.
Information about lessons and events can be found at ceroc.co.nz
The swing jazz sounds of the 20s and 30s brought a new way of dancing to Harlem, New York - lindy hop. Natasha Yusoff of Swing Out Central describes it as a joyful dance.
"It grew out of the roaring 20s and went on through the wars so it was all about big sounds and letting people dance their troubles away."
Lindy hop had a big resurgence in the late 90s and has gone from strength to strength. In Auckland there is a small but dedicated community that often dresses in vintage clothes to complement this style of dancing.
Dancers take part in an Auckland Lindy Hop class.
Complete beginners might struggle to get to grips with lindy hop, admits Yusoff. "It's quite complicated but because of that, it's satisfying. A lot of people start out with ceroc and move on to lindy hop because they want to try something trickier."
Although it has a reputation for being super-fast and requiring agility, lindy hop can be danced at a slower, more approachable tempo. It involves lots of twisting and turning of feet so you can still work up a decent sweat.
It is a very social dance and Yusoff says since Swing Out Central classes started five years ago, great local swing bands have emerged. "You don't have to wait too long for a social dancing event. There are lots of opportunities."
Classes are taught in blocks of six and cost $55-$75, first lesson free. Other swing dances, blues and balboa are also taught. Details can be found at swingoutcentral.com.
One of the benefits of lindy hop is that it is danced around the world. It's particularly big in Korea and also popular in the US, UK and Australia so it's a great way to connect with people when travelling. "Wherever you go there will be sure to be swing dancing somewhere and generally people will be very welcoming," says Yusoff.
Tango
Argentine tango is quite different from the ballroom version. It is graceful and soulful and partners dance heart to heart. The connection between you is all important.
"It's a challenging dance," admits Argentinian Cecilia Trini, who has taught tango in New Zealand for the past six years. "But we usually start off simply, showing people how to walk and shift their weight and how to communicate the movement to each other."
Tango. Photo / iStock
Trini loves tango for the embrace, for the connection with another person and for the music. "It can be romantic or even sexy but that depends who you're dancing with," she says.
Milonga is the term for a tango dance event and several are held in Auckland, including a regular Wednesday night slot at Limon on Princes Wharf. Trini recommends doing about two months of lessons before you go public with your tango.
"Of course, it depends on the person and it's not something you need to be perfect to do," she says. "There are many different steps but you don't have to be able to do them. The walk is most important and for beginners communication is the hardest thing."
Facebook is the best way to hook up with the Auckland tango scene and find a teacher, or you can email Trini at ceciliatrini@gmail.com. Her group lessons are $15 and private sessions $85.
Salsa
"If you can walk down the street you can learn salsa," says Julie Bell of Viva Dance Studios in Newton Rd. This is the place for all sorts of Latin dance styles, including bachata from the Dominican Republic and the Brazilian dance zouk. But salsa is the most popular and accessible.
"It's the one we recommend people start with," says Bell. "Absolute beginners come in for the first class feeling out of their comfort zone and by the time it ends they are dancing."
Aucklanders feeling the dance beat to salsa.
The more advanced you become the more improvisational and exciting salsa is. "You learn the basic steps and concepts then you can begin to build on that," says Bell.
Although salsa is a partner dance there's no full body contact. You'll swap who you dance with throughout a session, which helps with the learning experience because every partner dances differently.
"The men learn to lead and the women to let themselves be led," says Bell.
Classes are taught in eight-week blocks that cost $120 and every Wednesday at 7.30pm a free beginners' salsa class is held for first-timers to get a taste of the dance before committing.
Auckland has lots of opportunities for social dancing with salsa - you'll find it at various venues most nights of the week. The Facebook page Salsa in Auckland is a useful way of keeping track of what is going on in the community and you'll also find details of social dancing at pubs like the Kingslander and the Paddington on the Viva Dance Studios website.
"People of all ages enjoy it for different reasons," says Bell.
"It's fun, it's social and they love the music. At a beginner level it isn't great for fitness but it's better than sitting on the couch, and the more advanced you get the faster you will go."
