The Dane arrived in Hong Kong five years ago and it didn't take long for her to start teaching at Aerial Arts Academy.

Burlesque began in Britain in the 18th century, as a side performance to accompany the main drama or dance show. In 1868, a dancer named Lydia Thompson and her troupe, the British Blondes brought burlesque to the US with a performance in New York.

The dance soon transformed into a variety show cabaret act. Originally, it involved musical theatre parodies, mocking plays, ballets or operas. Later, burlesque became known as more of a striptease with lowbrow connotations. In recent years, well-known performers, such as Dita Von Teese, have brought back old-fashioned burlesque to the mainstream, which Holm says is "more about the costumes and glamour than nakedness ... Von Teese has made it more elegant and beautiful, so it's become something women aspire to be."

The feeling of empowerment is what women like most about learning burlesque. "We are told that, in order to be equal to men, we have to lose our femininity," says Holm. "But with burlesque, women feel they can wrap men around their finger because they are allowed to be sexy and sway their hips. We find this very liberating."

She says that when young women first come to class, they are usually shy and awkward, but within a month, they transform into sexy and bold women, and are eager to say, "I'm a woman, look at me. I'm proud of it."

As for learning the steps, she says it's not too difficult, since the style isn't reliant on strict technical movements like ballet or jazz. She says it can be difficult to balance on a chair and dance in heels, but practise leads to improvements.

"The hardest part is expressing yourself. Even if you forget the steps, you have to stay in character, that's the most important thing."

From April 10 to 12, Aerial Arts Academy aerialartsacademy.com and Viva Circus presentSecrets of the Lost Circus at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

While most people are settling in for the night, some night owls prefer to dance the night away doing Argentine tango at parties called . The local tango community currently has about 300 members.

"Argentine tango is not just about dancing, it's about personal relationships and communication," says instructor Lily Cheng Lai. "It's about a feeling of mental acceptance because you're inviting someone to be physically close to you, but you can also be emotionally close even if you don't know that person well. After a dance, there's a mutual understanding, and it's this feeling that makes people want to come back for more."

Argentine tango originated in Buenos Aires, where many European immigrants, mostly Spanish and Italian, went to open factories. As they were mostly men, they didn't have many activities to do after work except play football, listen to music and dance.

According to Cheng, the dance went underground, literally, in the 1920s when people did the tango in basements because fathers thought it was not a proper dance for their daughters to learn.

It was only later that Argentinians began to accept the dance, the 1930s was the golden era. By the 1980s, there was a revival of Argentine tango that spread to the US and Europe, and later due to movies such as

Most perceive Argentine tango to have sexual overtones, but Cheng says it's about men appreciating a woman's body. "When you let go, you become sexy and men think you are beautiful," she says. Beginners will have a degree of anxiousness, but they eventually let go, Cheng adds.

Female starters have it easier, because they can just follow their partner's lead. "It's like learning a language. Once you learn the basic steps you'll be able to follow the music and dance," she says.

While women like the feminine aspect of Argentine tango, men like it because they often lead, which feeds the male ego - something Cheng believes women must respect. "If the woman feels like she wants to decide what to do on the dance floor, then the man will hesitate and the dance will not work," she says. 

For more information on Argentine tango, visit otro-tango.com

When Indian ballet aficionado Hari Om first came to Hong Kong in 2003, he had a hard time getting locals to show an interest in Kuchipudi, a classical dance considered so divine that it was once only to be performed in temples for the Hindu gods.

"If you just want to sweat it out, have fun and not bother with technique then this is not for you," he says, suggesting instead his Bollywood classes, which are energetic, relatively easy-to-master sessions for those looking to just get a workout.

If you're interested in Kuchipudi, however, Om teaches it at Pure Yoga. But be warned: things can get serious. He trains a team of local classical dancers, who are now held in such high esteem that they were the only the non-Indians to participate in a festival in India last year.

"It's taken about six or seven years for my students to get really confident," he says in the presence of four sari-clad Hong Kong women who admit to devoting hours to study and training, so much so that friends scold them for being obsessed.

One student says she sometimes gets odd stares when she practises during her MTR commute - a key component of the dance involves intense eye movements and lip synching.

"For those who are really interested, it becomes a bit of a lifestyle" says Om. "You first get into it for the exercise and cool moves, and then you find yourself more and more immersed in the soulful experience."

Kuchipudi involves developing an appreciation for the diverging rhythms (some dances are in simple time signatures found in pop songs and the like; others are far more complex), the sounds (you train to the beat of Om's drum and voice) and the fascinating spiritual stories expressed through the choreography.

While Om enjoys teaching Bollywood, a folk dance that is to Kuchipudi what dance styles like hip hop and jazz are to Western ballet — his heart lies in the ancient art of Indian ballet, which he has studied since the age of three.

"Bollywood is fun, but the appeal with Kuchipudi is in its depth, it's much more meaningful and graceful, and, of course, there's the glitz and glamour of the costumes" he says, adding that after graduating from his beginner's course, students will earn the right to dance in a traditional outfit with bells strapped around their ankles.

"This is a dance that requires patience, you might learn one step per class, but you must learn it perfectly." he says. One-on-one instruction is de rigueur and Om rotates around the room giving attention to each of his students.

Although many of Om's students are very committed (taking part in performances organised by Om), those who are less serious are also welcome to attend classes. It'll improve coordination, build a stronger core and offer a glimpse into a fascinating culture and community.

Sign up for Om's classes at pureyoga.com

Swing

Of all the benefits that dancing offers: improved fitness, better coordination, music appreciation and sense of rhythm - what these Hong Kong "Lindy Hop" enthusiasts adore most about their hobby are the friendships that form out of a shared love of swing. This retro street dance that came out of Harlem ballrooms in the 1920s has roots in jazz, tap and breakaway, and is the dance that, when sped up, looks a little bit like the later rock'n'roll moves.

Group organiser and lawyer Karen Tong set up HK Swings 10 years ago when she returned from London, where she picked up the hobby.

"I started off with just a list of emails of people who might be interested," she says. "About three or four of us would go and dance at a bar that had a live band."

Guest teachers from Sweden (a centre of swing) have stopped by to share some skills with intermediate level students (there's a lot of spinning around and clapping. Some are sweating into their vintage attire, but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves).

In the past decade, HK Swings has had more than 1,000 newbies walk through its doors, eager to try the free taster lessons. Volunteers often DJ and teach classes.

"I just love to watch people's facial expressions when they dance - they look so happy. It's very liberating," says Tong.

That's no surprise, since swing is an expressive, improvisational dance form. As long as you learn the basic steps, which can be picked up after one or two lessons - especially if you are a "follow" rather than "lead" - you're more than ready to shake your stuff.

At HK Swings, there's always a party atmosphere, so if you've sworn off dance classes after one too many traumatic childhood experiences involving ballet teachers shouting at your hamstrings - this might just be for you.

Sign up for classes at hongkongswings.com