Shall we dance?

Hot to (fox) trot? Check out one of Beijing's best dance classes

Beijing’s first women’s dance studio, Pussycat Dance offers professional and fun classes in pole dance, hip hop, belly dance, salsa, street jazz, pilates, and yoga. All classes are taught by foreign professionals and the pink-splashed studio exudes a comfortable, stylish vibe. Poles for the pole-dancing classes are special spinning poles imported from the UK, which allow dancers more rotations than traditional solid poles. The studio also offers free fruit tea, make-up and beauty classes, as well as the latest fashion magazines.

A lively group of locals and expats gather at CD Jazz Café on Monday nights for China Swings! Two capable instructors lead a nicely-paced class, with intermediate swing lessons from 7pm-8pm and beginners’ classes from 8pm-9pm. From 9pm on, experienced dancers show off their best moves on the dance floor. Don’t worry if you can’t bring a partner, a system of rotating partners makes sure that everyone gets to dance with everyone else. If you’re looking to meet people, this is a good place to start.

Tuesday nights at Club Suzie Wong’s draws a more sophisticated crowd. Filipino dance instructor, Fritz, of Beijing Dance-life, leads a well-heeled group of people in their mid-twenties and mid-thirties in a blitz dance lesson through Latin dance, salsa, and cha-cha. Beijing Dance-life Club also offers dance lessons in salsa, bachata, meringue, chacha, and other social dances seven days a week.

Beijing Dance-life Club 701 Red Building No. 3, Xincheng SOHO, Dawang Lu, Chaoyang district (8589 0254). Free trial class; 600RMB/one month unlimited; 1,600RMB/three months; 5,000RMB/year; 300RMB/hour private lessons. See www.bjdancelife.com for schedule. 大望路，红楼三号SOHO. Free lessons available on Tuesdays at Club Suzie Wong’s 1A Nongzhanguan Lu, Chaoyang Gongyuan Ximen, Chaoyang district (6500 3377). 朝阳区朝阳公园西门农展馆甲1号

China Swings! CD Jazz Café, 16 Nongzhanguan Lu, Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang district (6506 8288). Monday 7pm-12.30am. 70RMB/lesson; 200 RMB/4 lessons. . 朝阳区农展馆路16号

Pussycat Dance Room 906, Building No. 3 Jianwai SOHO, Chaoyang district (5900 0835; www.pussycat-dance.com). Free trial class; 680RMB/ 8 classes; 1,080RMB/16 classes; 2,280RMB/40 classes; 2,890RMB/half-year unlimited/RMB 2890. 朝阳区建外SOHO 3号楼 906室

Joy Ding