Never Danced Before? Here’s What to Expect at Your First Reggaeton Class

So you've been thinking about trying a reggaeton class.

Maybe you've watched a few videos and thought, “That looks so fun.”

Maybe you've been wanting to dance for ages but haven't had the confidence to actually book a class.

Or maybe you're currently wondering whether you can go to a reggaeton class when you've literally never danced before.

The answer is yes.

You absolutely can.

And we know walking into your first dance class can feel a little scary. You might be wondering if everyone will be better than you, whether you'll be able to keep up, or if you'll somehow be expected to already know what you're doing.

You won't.

Here's what you can actually expect when you come to your first reggaeton class at Spice It Up.

First things first: you don't need dance experience

Let's get this out of the way.

You don't need to have danced before.

You don't need to know how to reggaeton.

You don't need to have rhythm.

You don't need to be flexible.

And you definitely don't need to already know how to move your hips.

That's literally what the class is for.

We teach the movements, break things down and give you time to get comfortable with them.

Some things will feel easy.

Some things might feel completely foreign.

You might laugh at yourself.

That's okay.

That's part of learning something new.

“But what if everyone else is better than me?”

This is probably one of the biggest worries people have before their first dance class.

And honestly, we get it.

Walking into a room where you don't know anyone and seeing people who seem confident can be intimidating.

But here's the thing: you are only seeing where they are now.

You don't see their first class.

You don't see the choreography they forgot.

You don't see the movements that took them weeks to understand.

Everyone starts somewhere.

And at Spice It Up, we're not interested in creating a room where everyone is trying to prove they're the best dancer.

We're creating a room where people can learn.

So if you're brand new, you're not behind.

You're exactly where you're supposed to be.

You can come alone

Actually, we really want you to know this one.

You do not need to bring a friend.

A lot of people come to class on their own.

You might arrive not knowing anyone and leave having chatted to someone you didn't know an hour earlier.

That's one of our favourite parts of dance.

You come for the class.

You start recognising the people around you.

You laugh together when everyone goes the wrong way.

You cheer when someone finally gets a move they've been struggling with.

And suddenly you're not so nervous anymore.

What happens when you arrive?

First: breathe.

You've made it.

You don't need to walk in looking confident. You don't need to know where to stand or what you're supposed to do.

We'll help you.

You'll have some time to get settled, meet people and get ready before we start.

Then we'll warm up and get your body moving.

And no, we won't immediately throw you into a full choreography.

We want you to actually enjoy yourself.

We break the movements down

Reggaeton has its own movement quality, rhythm and groove, so we'll take the time to introduce you to it.

You'll learn the movement step by step and have opportunities to repeat it.

Sometimes you'll get it straight away.

Sometimes your body will be like:

“Absolutely not.”

And that's fine.

Keep going.

Your body needs time to learn something it hasn't done before.

That's why we don't expect you to nail everything on your first try.

Yes, there will probably be hips

It's reggaeton.

So... yes.

But you don't need to walk into class already knowing how to move them.

Hip movement can feel strange when you're not used to it, especially if you're thinking about every single part of your body.

The more you relax and listen to the music, the more natural it starts to feel.

And eventually you'll have that moment where you're like:

“Ohhh. THERE it is.”

We love that moment.

You will probably get the choreography wrong

You might forget the next step.

You might turn the wrong way.

You might start on the wrong count.

You might look around and realise everyone else is doing something completely different.

We've all been there.

Keep dancing.

Seriously.

One of the biggest things you'll learn in dance isn't how to never make mistakes.

It's how to keep going when you do.

That is a skill.

And it becomes a pretty good life lesson too.

You don't have to look perfect

This is something we care about a lot.

You are allowed to look like you're learning.

You are allowed to make mistakes.

You are allowed to have a different body, a different style and a different way of moving.

We're not looking for everyone to dance exactly the same.

We want you to learn the movement and then slowly start making it your own.

Because confidence doesn't come from finally becoming “perfect”.

It comes from becoming comfortable being yourself.

What should you wear?

Whatever you feel comfortable moving in.

You don't need a special dance outfit.

Wear something you can move freely in and feel good wearing.

Sneakers are usually a good option for beginners, depending on the class and studio.

And bring some water.

You're going to move.

You're probably going to sweat.

And you might leave feeling very proud of yourself.

What if I have two left feet?

Welcome.

Seriously.

We hear this all the time.

“I have no rhythm.”

“I can't dance.”

“I have two left feet.”

“I'll be terrible.”

And sometimes what people call “having no rhythm” is simply never having had the chance to practise moving with music.

Dance is a skill.

You can learn it.

You can improve your coordination.

You can develop your musicality.

You can become more comfortable in your body.

You don't have to be naturally good at something to enjoy learning it.

What will I actually learn?

That depends on the class, but you'll generally be introduced to reggaeton movement, grooves, rhythm, musicality and choreography.

And as you keep coming, you'll start noticing changes.

You might pick up choreography faster.

You might start recognising rhythms.

You might feel more comfortable moving your hips.

You might stop overthinking every movement.

You might walk into class without that nervous feeling you had the first time.

And that's progress.

It doesn't always look like getting every step right.

Sometimes progress is simply showing up again.

The best part happens after class

You came in nervous.

You weren't sure if you could do it.

You probably forgot some steps.

You probably got a few things wrong.

And then you realise...

You did it.

You danced for an hour.

You tried something completely outside your comfort zone.

Maybe you met someone new.

Maybe you laughed a lot.

Maybe you surprised yourself.

And you leave feeling just a little more confident than when you arrived.

That's what we want for you.

Not perfection.

Just that feeling of:

“I actually did that.”

So, should you come to your first reggaeton class?

If you've been waiting until you're “good enough” to start...

Don't.

You don't become confident and then start dancing.

You start dancing, and confidence comes along the way.

Your first class doesn't need to be perfect.

It just needs to happen.

Come alone.

Come with a friend.

Come nervous.

Come curious.

Come with absolutely no idea what you're doing.

We'll meet you where you are.

And we'll dance from there.

Ready to try your first reggaeton class in Auckland?

Spice It Up offers beginner-friendly reggaeton dance classes in Auckland for people who want to learn, have fun and feel more confident through movement.

No previous dance experience needed.

Come as you are.

We'll see you on the dance floor.