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We all love dancing. It's a great way to express merriment and put all our worries behind us. But dancing can be so much than just fun, and that's why some of us develop a keen interest and learn one dance style or the other. Reasons can be to thread the road of professional dancing, to meet and be in the company of a group of people, or just to have something to keep ourselves busy with.
If you're also considering learning the art of dancing, you're at the right place. Here in Oyo cities, especially in the Ibadan area, you'll find multiple options for you to learn different dance styles, from dance academies that offer intensive, certified international dance courses to private dance tutors who will teach you one-on-one to bring you up to speed quickly in dance education.
Got a few minutes? Read on below to find how to enrol for the best dance classes in Oyo
Genres of Dancing to Learn in Oyo State
Different styles of dance are adopted in Nigeria, particularly in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Some of the dance styles may share similar traits fundamentally, but each has unique techniques and elements that tell it apart from the rest. That said, some types of dance offer the most challenging yet fun way to be engulfed into the art of dancing, and these are usually dance styles performed to upbeat music; this could be hip hop, Afrobeat, jazz, and some international genres.
Different dance styles embody varying techniques and elements. The ballet dance, for example, is a sensual, emotional dance that requires slow rhythm and a great level of muscle memory. Females in Nigeria, adults and kids alike, have got a great penchant for ballet dance education.
On the other hand, Afrobeat dance is more fast-paced, requiring you to be able to wiggle your body in an almost effortless manner. A presumably scattershot dance, afrobeat dance education is rather technical and requires consistency on the road to mastering it.
The breakdance/b-boying is a dance style loved more by males in Nigeria, so it's normal to see a guy want to learn it so badly. I mean, its robotic, technical, and fun nature makes it a marvel to behold when performed by a versatile dancer. Peter Okoye from the estranged duo P-square is a notable exponent of the breakdance.
Interestingly, many other types of dance are taught across the dance academies in Oyo state. Do not be astonished to see some that teach pole dancing. You'll also find centres that teach ballroom, ijo ibilẹ (traditional Yorùbá dance), belly dance, etc. You can acquire an education in any dance style.
Just so you find the centre that's apt for you in the Ibadan area or anywhere in Oyo, Nigeria, ensure to check if the dance classes your centre offer are age-appropriate.
Find out more about dances classes in the major cities in Nigeria.
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Your dance instructor will bring you up to speed quickly. Source: Unsplash
There are dance lessons for adults and there are those for Children. Needless to say, also ensure to call your centre for clarifications before signing up. Are their lessons flexible by time? Will their training routines put into consideration your fitness level? Are there safety measures put in place should any emergency call for them?
Sometimes, the best way to learn any type of dance is to train one-on-one with a dance instructor or tutor. We'll brush over how to contact a dance tutor for dance classes in Ibadan or anywhere in Oyo, Nigeria later in this article.
Benefits of Dancing
Dancing has always been a hobby for many youths in Nigeria. But dancing, as suggested earlier, is much more than that. The perks vary depending on an individual, but many see dance lessons as a way to escape negative thoughts and just sail along in euphoria with a group of friends.
For some, it might be the health and fitness benefits of dancing that made it their primary hobby. Most importantly, dance classes in a good school will give you a soft landing and a fundamental understanding of the entertainment business should you want to push further to become a professional dancer.
Weight Loss with Dancing
Dance training works your body hard, especially if you're learning afrobeat or breakdance style dance. This will leave you with pains and aches in various parts of your body, from your cheekbones down to your toes. However, it's worth clarifying how beneficial the intensity can be to your body. Week on week in your dance school, you'll have burnt great amounts of fat and will notice sublime improvements in your muscle tone and stamina.
alternatively, slow-paced dances like ballroom and ballet dance can also improve your physicality. Every dance can improve your health, and that's why you don't see a professional dancer without desirable body fitness. Some of them would probably be chunky if they weren't dancers. Those hours of training are paying off.
Mental Health Benefits
The obvious psychological effects of dancing serve as a confidence booster, making every subsequent rehearsal more fun than the last. Experts suggest that confidence is loosely linked to happiness; these fun dance classes can give you that positive outlook. And this is exactly what you need concerning your skills, appearance, and abilities. You'll be able to carry out your craft with more confidence and keen interest.
Socialization
Dance lessons are referred to as a social dance for obvious reasons: you get to meet new people, train with people of like minds, and, most importantly, find through dance school mates you train with opportunities available to budding dancers who want to make the craft a career in Nigeria.
If you're that type who is going through some lonely moments and feeling somewhat depressed, partaking in a dance lesson can help you put all that behind you.
Here are some dance classes in Lagos for dance lovers.
Where to Find Dance Lessons in Oyo State
Having brushed over the types and benefits of dance, let's look at some of the academies in Ibadan and other cities where you can learn to dance in the state. Most of the notable dance studios are in the Ibadan area, but that's not to say you won't find other good dance classes in Oyo, Nigeria.
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Kids at Dpreachers during a rehearsal Source: Dpreachers
For starters, DPreachers Dance Studio is one of the dance schools to look out for if you're in Ibadan. A quite popular company known for training kids with a great level of detail, they offer dance lessons in hip hop cultural dance, ballet dance, salsa dance and tap.
Classes are held from Mondays to Saturdays and at varying hours, to avoid a time clash with kids' school hours in Ibadan. Many safety measures stipulated by the government are also put in place by the company to ensure participants end every class safe and sound.
If you're looking for adult dance class, iDance Network Contemporary Dance academy is one of the non-government academies that you can learn various dance types for adults. The school is renowned for its stellar concerts and performances in theatres, colleges, and festivals. Training with the great minds and local dancers in their pack will certainly equip you with the skills you'll need to become versatile in any area of dance.
Longstrell Dance Studio also offers fun salsa dance classes for adults and kids. Their lessons are formal, thus you can practice "the building blocks of rhythm and musicality" in your first lessons and then turns and then "cross-body lead" in subsequent ones. The fee is fixed at ₦10,000, and it covers every lesson throughout your course. Courses are usually for months, but there are others that last a year.
There are several other dance studios and academies across Ibadan city and other cities in Oyo State. You just have to ascertain if the one nearby offers what's best for you by asking some of the questions deliberated earlier. Some other notable studios in Oyo are:
- Lyk David Schools of Heart
- Signet Dance Academy
- Sunshine De Gold
See some of the dance classes to use whenever you visit Abuja.
Dance Lessons with a Private Dance Tutor in Oyo State
Did you know that you can find Nigerian dance tutors in Ibadan city, Oyo and contact one to help you overcome your challenges with any dance genre? Doing this has never been easier as you can use your phone right away to get a dance teacher to come to train you at your house, go to the tutor's studio to receive training, or even opt for an online lesson.
You can do all these on SuperProf, an online academic hub where you can find professionals and tutors in any domain of learning to teach and groom you into a versed person in that field. Speaking of which, you can sign up for dance classes from dance tutors offering their services on SuperProf.
If you sign up for a one-on-one with a private teacher, you'll learn quicker than you'd ever do at an academy because there will be great attention to detail, and the more personal relationship with your tutor will aid communications on where your weaknesses lie and how to work on them.
Read about the best dance classes in Rivers State, Nigeria.
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Take dance classes from the comfort of your home. Source: Unsplash
Choosing whether to train at your tutor's studio/house or your house will depend on your occupation and availability. Consider these when opting for your learning method.
As for the online classes, yes, they are almost as effective as physical classes and are the most convenient, given that neither you nor your tutor will have to leave their house and set on the road.
With just an online video conferencing programme such as Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime, you can be up and running in no time. Typically, your tutor will walk you through the processes of fitness development before touching down on the routines for your preferred dance style.
Interestingly, most tutors on SuperProf offer a first-time free lesson that you can harness to appraise their teaching method and see if it's something that'll work for you. The fee for subsequent lessons vary from tutor to tutor, but you can expect something within the range of ₦500 to ₦5,000 per hour once you sign up. Again, this depends on which SuperProf tutor you choose to go for in the South West area of Oyo. Explore and have fun!
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