New dance classes led by local, pro instructors are kicking off at Clubs throughout the country this month.
You may not be able to dance with stars such as Britney Spears or Lady Gaga in your lifetime, but members are now getting the chance to dance like them. Starting this month, Equinox is holding a series of new dance events — led by professional, Broadway-performing instructors who have choreographed for and danced with a variety of famous artists — in Clubs throughout the country. The classes are the brainchild of Michael J. Clark, the group fitness manager at Equinox Hudson Yards and a former professional dancer who’s performed on Broadway and assisted with choreography for a Beyoncé music video. Back in December, Clark gathered the best instructors in the New York City area to host 14 weeks of late-night dance classes at the Hudson Yards Club.
Each event was designed to make every participant — whether they were first-timers or semi-pros — feel successful. Experienced dancers could try tackling the “mini-challenges” presented in the combos, for example. “But also it was simple enough for someone who has two left feet and never danced to come in, have fun, get a workout, but also learn something — so challenging mind and body,” says Clark.
Soon enough, each class was selling out. And now, the series is expanding to other NYC locations and Clubs in Los Angeles, Boston, and Miami. Every week, a new local instructor will take the helm, so members will have the chance to experience a variety of dance styles and teaching methods. The events are open to all levels, and progressions and regressions are always provided.
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“The idea is that each week you get something a little bit different, which encourages people to try other styles,” says Clark. “Maybe you like hip hop, but jazz is a little intimidating. One week you'll try it, and most of the time, people end up loving it simply because it feels good on their bodies.”
Still, Clark knows that dancing in any form can be nerve-racking for some members. To quell those anxieties, he suggests adopting a simple shift in mindset: Everything is movement, and dance is just how you do movement.
“If you're already doing lunges and squats, technically speaking, if you just do that with a little bit of texture and thought to how you're doing it, it becomes dance,” they explain. “All dance is movement done a certain way, whether that's to rhythm, with an emotion, with a thought.” After crafting that mental framework, Clark often sees members light up with confidence — and become addicted to the activity.
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And that obsession is a healthy one: Dance has mental health benefits, including enhanced cognitive functioning, and physical ones, like improved cardiovascular functioning, says Clark. It can be meditative and restorative. And the practice can influence your emotional state, too. “Last night, the combo that I taught was to Ariana Grande’s new song,” they share. “It's very emotional and [about] letting go and being a little bit vulnerable — and that can be fun. Other weeks, I've taught something a little bit happier, so you get a little extra kick of happiness in your day simply by doing something that's good for your body.”
Moving your body in new ways may not feel natural at first. But don’t let that temporary discomfort dissuade you from embracing dance and nabbing all of its benefits. “Dance is for everyone,” affirms Clark. “We've been doing it for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, and it's just another form of communication.”