The Best Dance Styles for Beginners of All Ages
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Do you or your child feel a desire to dance? Many people dream of dancing, no matter their age or how coordinated they think they are. It’s normal to feel a bit unsure at first, worried about having two left feet or no past experience, but the joy of dance is for everyone regardless of age, level, or previous experience.
Dance offers so much more than just steps. It improves your physical health, your mood, and connects you with a strong community. It also helps to find your creative side, and it is wonderful that different styles of dance exist to ensure that there is a perfect fit for every newcomer.
Exploring the World of Dance: Finding Your Perfect Fit
Finding the right dance style is like finding a new part of yourself. The world of dance is huge, filled with excitement and joy just waiting for you to join in. If you haven’t danced before, that is no big deal; there is a class for everyone, and everyone can dance! It is a good idea to find a studio that has an ethos that feels like a right fit for you – every space will be a bit different, and it is important to go somewhere where you will feel as at home as possible.
Benefits of Starting a Dance Journey
Dancing gives you many wonderful things. You get stronger, more flexible, and your balance gets better too. It’s an excellent way to keep your heart healthy, and also gives your brain a great workout, too. Dancing helps with memory and lowers stress. Plus, dance brings people together, building new friendships and boosting your belief in yourself; the communal aspect of dance is unmatched.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Style
How do you pick the best dance styles for beginners? You might start by thinking about music that you love. Do you like moving fast or slow? Consider your or your dancers energy level, too; some styles of dance are calmer, while others are more fast paced. Location might also play in; if a studio is easier for you to get to, you might be more inclined to go!
Hip-Hop & Street Dance: Energy and Self-Expression
Hip-hop and street dance are all about energy, and style. There will likely be a bit more freedom in a hip hop class once you understand the foundations, and there is a ton of fun to be had in a street styles classroom. If you’re looking for high-energy movement, this will be for you!
Understanding Hip-Hop Fundamentals
You’ll learn basic grooves that help you move with the music. Isolations will focus on one part of your body at a time. Steps from breaking, popping, and locking build your foundation. These elements help you build confidence in this style.
The Appeal of Hip-Hop for All Ages
Hip-hop appeals to people of every age and all genders because it can be a very fun style of dance, often with more freedom. A very inclusive classroom is a beautiful place to start moving.
Actionable Tip: Start with Beginner Hip-Hop Classes
Look for hip-hop classes meant for beginners. Good classes will break down moves slowly, helping you grasp the foundations. This helps build your confidence as you learn new steps.
Ballet: Discipline and Grace
Ballet is a core dance form that teaches great body control and awareness. It builds strength, discipline, and beautiful posture. Many other dance types use ballet foundations as well, and it is often seen as a building block for other forms of dance. All ages can enjoy Ballet!
The Core Principles of Ballet
Ballet starts with learning the foundational positions. You’ll focus on proper placement and body alignment. These core ideas create the elegant, controlled movements ballet is known for. Learning them takes practice and patience, but allows a bit more freedom of movement once they are better understood.
Ballet’s Benefits Beyond Technique
Ballet does much more than just teach you dance. It helps with posture and strengthens your core muscles, and you will gain flexibility.
Actionable Tip: Look for Adult Ballet Classes
If you’re an adult beginner, search for “adult beginner ballet” classes. Many studios offer programs specifically for grown-ups who are starting dance later in life. These classes go at a slower pace for new students, and create a welcoming environment for learning something that is otherwise challenging.
Contemporary & Modern Dance: Freedom and Creativity
Contemporary and modern dance styles encourage exploration and expressive movement. They often mix ideas from ballet, jazz, and other dance forms. These styles often offer a less rigid structure, allowing for more personal freedom and intention in your movement.
The Vibe of Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance often allows for significant amounts of freedom, and encourages true enjoyment of movement.
Contemporary Dance for Beginners
For newcomers, these styles let you interpret moving in your own way. They can be more forgiving if your technique isn’t perfect yet, and often, the main goal is to explore movement qualities and find what feels natural to you. It’s a great way to start moving without strict rules or overbearing structure.
The world of dance offers a warm welcome to beginners of all ages, and there is definitely a best fit for everyone. The “best” dance style is simply the one that makes you happy and keeps you moving. Don’t wait to start your dance journey; find a class that excites you and go!
Author: Emily Bufferd
Emily Bufferd is the Producer of The Young Choreographer’s Festival, an annual NYC event showcasing rising choreographers ages 18–25. She has also taught dance at institutions across the U.S. and abroad. Her choreography has been presented at venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and Symphony Space, and she has been featured in publications including Dance Spirit and Dance Magazine. Emily lives in New York City and continues to create, teach, and inspire through dance.


