If in Googling "adult ballet", you were hoping for something else, this might not be the article you had in mind.

However, if you were looking for a ballet-oriented workout in Atlanta, keep reading.

In the pursuit of providing reviews of the many different workouts this great city has to offer, I laced up my Skechers and headed to Dance 101 to try out one of their many dance inspired workouts.

First Impressions

Although I began my search for ballet type classes, Dance 101 offers many classes beyond just ballet. Jazz, Latin, hip hop and belly dancing are covered, as well as dance fusions called "Thrash" (jazz with metal and rock) and "Trip hop" (mix of club and jazz).

Classes range from "Discover" (beginner), advanced beginner, intermediate, and professional.  If dancing isn't your thing, there are also toning classes such as pilates,weighted barre toning,  and "1000 calories gone"; a boot camp style workout with circuit and interval training.

Trying it

Since my experience in dance was limited to ballroom and the shower, I decided to try out the Monday night "Discover Dance Fitness".  The class is described as a beginner level class to help burn calories and offer simple choreography set to hip hop remixes.  I will put it to you straight: I actually brought a Snuggie onto an airplane, which I think makes me the "Whitest Girl in America".  Simple choreography appeals to me.

 The studio, located off of North Druid Hills Road in Atlanta, is very modern and trendy, and boasts pictures of famous choreographers they have hosted for master's classes (Cris Judd, aka ex-Mr J-Lo, and Tina Landon of Mtv's "The Grind").  The feel is edgy without being pretentious, and modern without being cold.

The studio has four separate teaching areas for simultaneous classes; studio 3 is open in the main area, and the other three are separate rooms.  I watched students perform various routines in a  salsa class as well and a jazz class.  Students were mostly female, although there were plenty of male students, and every age and size was represented.  The instructors all seemed very helpful in guiding students and keeping the classes enthusiastic without being over the top.

My class began with a warm up, followed by 40 minutes of instruction before a final rundown of the moves we practiced.  I was one of only two newbies, so when the instructor gave cues that left me facing the wrong wall, I felt a little confused.  However, after the warm up, the instructor (Elaina) welcomed new people and made sure to check in on us during the class.  The class size was small enough to allow you to move freely, and the routines were easy to follow once you ran through the steps a few times and stopped caring about if you were the slowest person in the room (don't worry, that will be me).  Elaina was also very helpful in telling students to just keep moving and have fun, and helped us feel more comfortable.  There was no uppity feeling or snootiness like you might worry about in a professional dance studio; just lots of students trying dancing and perfecting dancing.

The Good

After the class, I felt as if I had worked up a good sweat and had fun.  Everyone was very friendly and helpful, and the studio was very well organized and well kept.  You could never get bored with the amount of classes offered, and they have enough classes to fill your calendar.  Many studios fall short by not offering enough classes on days like Sundays, or not having early morning or late evening classes; this is not the case here.  Dance 101 also has a very user friendly website which allows you to see all of the Discover (beginner) classes, or see the entire schedule, with descriptions easily provided.

Classes are not overcrowded, and there really is something for everyone.

The Bad

The only downfall for students might be the price.  There are several packages offered; for 7 consecutive days, a pass is $50, or you can do a drop in class at $20 per class.  If you buy larger packages of classes (4, 10, and 20) the price per class drops ($14, $12, and  $11 per class, respectively).  Monthly and yearly memberships are also available, and using a bank draft decreases the cost a bit.

The pricing structure is not unheard of when you get into more specialized fitness, because the quality of instruction and variety increases.  But, for people on a budget it might require having to cut some corners elsewhere.

Summary

Dance 101 is a professionally run studio that offers many classes for all types of people with a variety of goals.  Although it is pricier than gyms, its in the range of price for dance and specialty fitness studios for people that are looking for more than a casual workout.

Grade: A-

 For more information: Visit www.Dance101.org. Contact Katie at KOFitnessExaminer@yahoo.com.