Maybe you’ve always felt hip hop, salsa, or ballet calling to you, but you feel like it might be too late to start dancing. Will you feel too old or inexperienced in that beginner’s dance class?

The reality is, regardless of your age, you are never too old to start dancing. With today’s vast availability and modes of dance lessons (from adult dance lessons at your local rec center to online dance classes and videos), it’s easier than ever for anyone to get into dance.

Next, we’ll talk about different ways you can learn to dance, whether you’re 16 or 60. We’ll discuss the best dance styles for beginners, the benefits of dance for adults, and the best ages for children to start dancing.

What are some ways a person can learn to dance?

Dance lessons: YES, they do offer dance lessons for adults, and they’re everywhere now! Check out your local rec or community centers, dance studios, nursing homes, YMCAs, dance schools, and gyms. Anywhere that offers dance lessons to children is also likely to offer dance lessons to adults.

You can find different levels and styles offered in your area on Thumbtack. Ask your friends, coworkers and acquaintances about instructors, too – you might be able to find individuals who studied dance and offer small or private lessons in your area.

Lessons have really opened up and changed in the past few years, and now cater to ALL skill levels and ALL ages. You can choose beginner, intermediate, or advanced dance lessons, and pick from styles like ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop.

Many dance locations teach lessons to dancers from ages 5-80, so you won’t be alone in your new quest to learn dance. With both virtual and in-person lessons available now, you can control the amount of privacy and community that you enjoy throughout your dance journey.

Online lessons: If you don’t have a studio near you, or you’d prefer to learn in the privacy of your own home, virtual dance lessons are an option. You can enjoy live workouts, choreography, or live music online, depending on what kind of lesson you choose. Your local studio might offer virtual classes, or you can choose from an online platform like:

Dance videos: If you want to learn to dance on your own time, you have a wealth of resources at your fingertips. Learning a routine from a dance video and practicing it can be a great way to learn to dance without taking any classes at all.

Learn How to Dance is a YouTube channel that emphasizes popular Fortnite and TikTok dances.
Tap Dancing Resources provides information about local tap classes as well as online tap tutorials.
Ballroom Dancers provides free videos and resources to help you learn Latin or ballroom dance.
Learn to Dance has designed step-by-step videos featuring popular dance styles including hip hop, club dance, belly dance, Irish step dancing and more.

You can always just watch your favorite music videos or dance routines and learn them yourself! All it takes is lots of practice.

There are many more online classes and dance videos to explore – start on YouTube or Google Search to discover the right fit for you.

Games: Between VR, Xbox 260 with Kinect, and every video gaming platform in-between, there are dozens of fun games that will help you sharpen your dance skills. Some of the best dance games include:

Just Dance 3: This best-selling series allows players to follow onscreen dancers in some highly entertaining choreography to music ranging from current pop hits to 70’s disco. There is even a “Sweat Mode” that allows you to track your calorie burning.
Dance Central 2: This game leads players step-by-step into 40 different full-blown routines. Two players can dance at the same time, and you can download new routines once you’re ready for some fresh moves.
Dance Collider: This VR game allows players to dance to anything they want on their computer. There are motion-captured dances for each song, and you’ll get a workout comparable to one you’d get on an elliptical.

Dance group or partner: Some people form a book club, walking group, or writing circle – why not get a dance group together? Your dancing group could look differently depending on what you have in mind. Maybe you and your dance partner could go out with another couple each week to a salsa club or class. On the other hand, maybe you and a group of friends who enjoy clubbing could meet up before your nights out to get a little hip hop practice in. Other people use apps like Meetup to find like-minded people who want to form a dance group and meet regularly.

What is the best dance style for adult beginners?

If you plan to learn dance at home, you might consider hip hop, popping or whacking. These styles are readily available through videos and online dance classes, and require less space than other styles that require lengthy leaps, flips or somersaults. That being said, ballet offers some of the most basic dance knowledge that is beneficial to dancers of any age.

If you’re more interested in ballroom dance, here are some of the easiest ballroom dances to learn, according to Carolina Dance:

The Waltz (it’s slow, smooth and only requires four steps)
The Foxtrot (another four-step dance with an easy tempo)
The Swing (it has a few basic steps and can be adapted to other dance styles)
The Rumba (the steps are simple, and you can learn how to add side-to-side hip movements)
The Cha Cha (while fast, the Cha Cha is made up of just three steps and a shuffle)

Here’s the real answer to the question “What is the best dance style for adult beginners?”: The best and easiest dance style will be the style you love most! You’re more likely to stick with it and enjoy your time doing it. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips.

Consider your personal fitness level. Salsa requires speed and explosiveness, whereas ballet requires strength and flexibility. Of course, you can develop these qualities, but it’s good to consider your personal strengths when trying to decide which dance style to pursue.
Think about your personality. For the sassy and courageous, hip hop, pole dancing, or belly dancing might be good options. For individuals who prefer to be part of a group and less in the spotlight, Irish dancing or swing dancing might be up for consideration.
Remember your dancing goals. Are you dancing to build muscle, lose weight, perform, or demonstrate more rhythm at the nightclub? While ballet or contemporary may help you build strength the fastest, hip hop might be more suitable to clubbing or local performing.
Ask your friends. Ask your friends, coworkers and peers who are into any kind of dancing. It might be easiest to tag along with their group or class to get started with dance. They might give you the courage and capacity to try dance, whereas it might be more difficult on your own.