Best Dance Classes in Ghent for Adults
Looking for a dance class in Ghent as an adult? You can start exactly where you are: complete beginner, returning dancer, social dancer, performer, or someone who simply wants one hour a week away from the screen.
Shoonya Dance Centre is a dance school in Ghent with 50+ weekly classes across 25 dance styles, taught by 22 teachers in 5 studios. The programme runs from ballet, tap dance and flamenco to bachata, Cuban salsa, Argentine tango, kizomba and Lindy Hop, and from Bollywood, Bhangra and Raqs Sharqi to African Congolese dance, burlesque, yoga and Pilates for dancers.
Classes take place at Stapelplein 41, 9000 Ghent — a 10-minute walk from Gent-Dampoort station, next to Dok Noord.
Not Sure Which Dance Class to Choose?
That is completely normal. Many adults don't begin with a clear style in mind. Some want fitness, some want confidence, some want culture, some want technique, some want to meet people. Pick the situation below that sounds like you.
And if you'd rather just feel it: every semester opens with an Open Door Day and a free trial week — walk in and try any class, no registration needed.
Best Dance Classes for Complete Beginners
Start with a class built to welcome you at zero — a Level 1 or open-level group:
- Ballet Level 1
- Tap Dance Level 1
- Bachata Level 1 · Cuban Salsa Level 1
- Flamenco Level 1
- Burlesque Level 1
- Raqs Sharqi Level 1 (belly dance)
- Bollyfolk Open Level (Bollywood meets Indian folk)
- African Congolese Dance Open Level
- Cissy Ball Open Level
- Dance & Fit, Yoga and Pilates for Dancers (open level)
During the free trial week you can try several before choosing your semester.
Best Dance Classes If You Don't Have a Partner
Most Shoonya classes need no partner at all. Good solo options:
- Ballet · Tap Dance · Solo Jazz
- Bollywood · Bhangra · Bollyfolk · Indian Dance Technique · Indian Semi-Classical
- Flamenco · Raqs Sharqi · Oriental Flow
- African Congolese Dance
- Burlesque · Cissy Ball
- Bachata Solo Style — all the styling, no partner needed
- Dance & Fit · Yoga · Pilates for Dancers
For most partner dances — bachata, Cuban salsa, rueda de casino, Argentine tango and kizomba — you register as a couple for the semester. Lindy Hop is the exception: you can register without a partner. And during the Open Door Day and free trial week, you're welcome solo in any class.
Best Social Dance Classes in Ghent
If you want to meet people and dance socially:
- Bachata
- Cuban Salsa
- Rueda de Casino
- Argentine Tango
- Kizomba
- Lindy Hop
Shoonya also hosts regular social dance nights, so what you learn on Tuesday gets danced on Saturday — and classmates become a community.
Best Dance Classes for Technique
For cleaner lines, posture, musicality and long-term progress:
- Ballet
- Tap Dance
- Flamenco
- Indian Dance Technique
- Indian Semi-Classical
- Solo Jazz
- Pilates for Dancers
Dancers with a professional or semi-professional background can also join the morning training — ballet and contemporary classes on flexible class passes.
Best Cultural Dance Classes in Ghent
Shoonya is known for bringing living dance traditions together under one roof — taught with attention to the music, rhythm and cultural context they come from:
- Bollywood · Bhangra · Bollyfolk · Indian Semi-Classical
- African Congolese Dance
- Raqs Sharqi (belly dance) · Oriental Flow
- Flamenco
- Cuban Salsa · Rueda de Casino · Argentine Tango
- Kizomba · Lindy Hop
Best Dance Classes for Fitness and Wellbeing
To move, sweat, breathe and feel better in your body:
- Dance & Fit
- African Congolese Dance
- Bhangra
- Yoga
- Pilates for Dancers
- Oriental Flow
Some are high-energy, others slower and grounding. Dance & Fit, Pilates for Dancers and Wednesday Yoga also offer flexible 3- and 5-session packs if a full semester doesn't fit your agenda.
Best Dance Classes for Confidence and Performance
To become more expressive, playful and comfortable being seen:
- Burlesque
- Cissy Ball
- Bollywood
- Raqs Sharqi
- Bollyfolk
- Flamenco
- Tap Dance
These styles work with presence, expression, rhythm and personality.
FAQ
Can adults start dance from zero?
Yes. Many Shoonya students started as adults with no experience. You don't need to be flexible, young, trained or "naturally talented" — you need a class that matches your level, and teachers who help you find it.
When can I try a class?
Every semester starts with an Open Door Day and a free trial week — try any class, no registration, no commitment. Next up: Open Door Day on Sunday 13 September 2026 and trial week 14–19 September 2026 (spring trial week: 15–20 February 2027). Semesters run September–January and February–June.
Do I need a partner?
Not for most classes. Partner dances (bachata, Cuban salsa, rueda, tango, kizomba) are registered as a couple — except Lindy Hop, where solo registration is possible. Trial moments are always open to solo visitors.
How do I register?
Through the registration page. Every dancer registers with a personal Shoonya ID (free to create — dance partners each need their own). Student rates apply to all classes, and with a UiTPAS kansentarief card you get an 80% discount.
Is there an age limit?
It depends on the class. Most are open from age 12, tap dance takes dancers from 9, and some set a higher minimum — 14+, 16+, or 18+ for burlesque. The minimum is per class rather than per style: the two ballet groups differ from each other. If you're booking for someone under 18, check the minimum for that specific class before you register.
Where is Shoonya Dance Centre?
Stapelplein 41, 9000 Ghent — a 10-minute walk from Gent-Dampoort station, next to Dok Noord.
Find Your Dance Class
If you already know your style, go straight to the weekly schedule. If you're still unsure, come to the Open Door Day or trial week and try a few. The best dance class is usually the one you discover once you step inside the studio.