Dance Classes in Kumamoto

Feb 28, 2024

Dance Classes in Kumamoto

Whether you want to shake your body to the beat or learn something a bit more structured, you can find a wealth of dance classes to suit all needs in Kumamoto. Here is just a small selection of what’s happening in the prefecture.

Ballroom Dancing

Having once been quite an elite art-form, ballroom dancing has become something of a worldwide craze in recent years and now anyone can learn the disciplines. Several studios in Kumamoto offer lessons. These include Dance Academy Liebel, which covers a wide range of ballroom styles in its program. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes are offered, starting at 500 yen per lesson. For Latin enthusiasts, Happiness Dance in central Kumamoto teaches the likes of Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Cubano and Kizomba. Lessons are 1,000 yen.

Street Dance

Very popular with the younger crowd in Japan at the moment, although older adults can also learn and perform. There is no shortage of street dance schools in Kumamoto. Rhythm Market has three studios in the prefecture and caters for wannabe dancers from 3-65 years old (and beyond!). Styles include hip-hop, breakdance, RnB and J-Pop. A great place for beginners is Ivy Dance Studio. Learn techniques including hip-hop, jazz-funk, lock and waack. Weekly classes are 5,850 yen per month or you can have unlimited weekly sessions for 12,300 yen.

Ballet

Ballet is slightly more niche and technical than the likes of ballroom and street dance but is a beautiful and rewarding dance form that offers great performance opportunities if you stick at it. The Elite Dance School has a classically-trained British teacher who specialises in working with young children through to middle school, although there are classes for adults too. The junior classes fill up quickly and there may be a waiting list. Other than ballet, the school also offers jazz and modern stage dance.

Zumba

Zumba combines Latin-inspired dance with an exercise workout and so is perfect as a way of enjoying the liberating thrill of dancing while keeping in good shape at the same time. Some sports centers and gymnasiums include Zumba classes in their keep fit program. However, if you want something a bit more structured then head along to the Dance and Fitness Studio Zen in Higashi ward. Beginners Zumba is on offer for all ages and abilities, alongside other activities such as street dance, belly dancing and classes for kids. Prices start at around 4,400 yen per month but introductory sessions are often free.

Japanese Dancing

Japan has several different traditional dance styles that you can watch performed at cultural events. The chances to properly learn these dances are not widespread, but occasionally you may find a taster session or short introductory course at one of Kumamoto’s expat clubs. Women in Kumamoto interested in Japanese dancing can also contact the Yamaga Onsen Tourism Association to book up a Yamaga Toro dance experience. This is a lesson where you learn from women from the local dance preservation society while dressed in a kimono and traditional lantern-shaped paper hat. Enrollment fees start at 3,200 yen.

Address: 1499 Yamaga, Yamaga City (Yachiyoza Theater)

Kusakabe Kimbei (1841-1934), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons