Where to find the most original dance classes in Hong Kong
Whether you're a serious booty shaker or just looking to have some fun, there's no shortage of dance subcultures in the city
Dance is not something that should be confined to a stage or theatre. It's a free-flowing, living art form that permeates everyday life, and something that everyone can participate in. Despite being a financial centre, this city has no shortage of dance classes and events that you can sign up for. Here are four genres that have found a growing following in recent years - after all, dancing is also about building confidence, communication and being part of a community
Burlesque
Ea Holm started doing her own version of burlesque dancing in front a mirror at home. When her friends found out, they encouraged her to perform in public, even lining up performances for Holm.
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."
