First up, I’m going to be totally transparent and state that I danced throughout my teens, most days a week. So, when the opportunity to get down to Sydney Dance Company‘s harbourside studios and take a beginner jazz class — and then write about it — arose, I leapt at it. Then I remembered it would be my first class in at least five years, and a butterfly-filled pit of nervous energy in my stomach set in. Fortuitously, CP Branded Content Manager Courtney Ammenhauser gleefully put her hand up, too, so we left to meet our dance-class fate together.

The leading contemporary dance house devises world-renowned routines in its light-filled studios on the glittering Walsh Bay waterfront. Along with its professional troupe — which tours the world with pieces like ab [intra] and Impermanence — the institution offers over 80 in-studio classes for amateur novices and enthusiasts alike. Sixteen of these classes are livestreamed via the Company’s Livestream Plus+ platform. Kitchen chairs become ballet barres and lounge rooms become studios while world-class dance teachers are streamed into your living space. So, if you don’t reside in the Harbour City — and my account of the class has you wishing you did — you can still get your boogie on.

This at-home offering (and me and Courtney flexing our dancer muscles again) is all made possible by the proud support of LG SIGNATURE, a brand that’s made a mission of fusing technology and art to deliver seamless access and appreciation. If you’re not familiar with Sydney Dance Company’s work — or the clean elegance of LG SIGNATURE technology — here is proof of the boundless excellence:

Although we — read: I — had hopes of executing the control and beauty on show in the above video, it was not to be. (Weird, right?). Nevertheless, Courtney and I gave it our all (sweat, enthusiasm and concentration), walking into the Tuesday-night air with an endorphin high and plans to go back, stat. Nosey about how we fared? Read on for all the groovy deets.

So, what to expect when you get there: after awkwardly standing to the side — so as not to get in the way of the real dancers — Courtney and I took up prime real estate in the second row. There, we had full view of the class, ourselves in the towering mirrors and those streaming in from home on the large screen at the front. I’m attributing my idea of real and not-real dancers being in the room to the aforementioned butterflies, because I know (deep down in my core, which was soon to be activated via repeated reps of crunches) that anyone and everyone is a dancer.

Our bubbly teacher, Ramon Doringo, was seemingly made to command attention. Warm, instantly likeable and putting the room at ease the second he shouted, “You ready? We’re ready! Let’s go!”

And go we did. Necks turning, abs engaging, hamstrings lengthening — the room limbered up. Ramon’s instructions were clear, the warm up simple and the readiness to nail a few bars of chore raring.

With our heart rate up, a sharp sound rung out. Smiles quickly appeared on everyone’s faces (and excited noises may have escaped some lips, too). Beyoncé’s hot vocals soon joined in — “Uh… uh… check my technique”. Us? Move our bodies to ‘Pure/Honey’, the vibe-heavy club track from Queen Bey’s Renaissance? Don’t mind if we do.

My initial glee, however, almost immediately gave way to a worried eleven between my brows. The tempo is high, the lyrics bold and my technique unmistakably about to be checked.

But, Ramon expertly demonstrated — then repeated and repeated again — a series of four poses. Alternating between staring at myself holding out a flexed bicep, hitting the mark a slight second off the rest of the class and watching Ramon’s sharp movements, it finally stuck. On to the next four.

A strong outstretched arm, pointed hand, moving in an anti-clockwise arc. “I love a point,” Courtney laughs, as we get into it. Easy peasy. We had the first eight beats down pat — only after “One more time!” was yelled approximately six times.

If you’re harbouring hesitation, I encourage you to just give it one go. Whether you nail the timing, just make it or miss it completely, there’s an energy that means there’s not a lick of self-consciousness or frustration in the room. Maybe there simply isn’t time for it, or maybe it’s Ramon’s sunny disposition and the palpable sense of inclusion. There we are — a room (and livestream) full of part-time movers — shaking off our day as Beyoncé affirms that “It should take a billion to look this good”.

I don’t know about a billion, but $24 — or less if you nab a flexipack, membership or $18 Livestream Plus+ pass —  is a small price to look (or at least, feel) good.

I am an enthusiast for just about anything (maybe not emailing or slow walkers). I can easily muster excitement, especially in a room full of people whose bright energy I can mirror. But, watching Courtney and the rest of the happy group in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors around me, it was clear the enthusiasm was genuinely felt by all.

Cardio not your strong suit? Admittedly, the last 15 minutes really challenged any idea of stamina I thought I had. Red cheeks, hands on knees, lungs hungry. And regular hungry, too. (Courtney seconds that.)

But even if the warm tinge in our legs and shoulders that served as a memento of our class remained three days later, the experience was still delightful — both for fun and fitness.

Ramon was a faultless instructor — especially if you’re a beginner — which I am confident would be present in all of the resident teachers. There was plenty of time for questions, gracious starts from the top until absolutely everyone is on the same page and a playful shepherding of the flock through a fun-yet-challenging class. Ramon’s job description must note ‘provide sky-high vibes’ as a non-negotiable.

So, if you’re into boogying, I humbly suggest booking a beginner class at Sydney Dance Company. Jazz was a standout — there was no razzle-dazzle widespread fingers in sight — and Beyoncé a joyously received bonus.

To find out more about Sydney Dance Company’s in-studio and Livestream Plus+ classes, head to the website. Or, click here to find out more about the partnership between LG SIGNATURE and Sydney Dance Company.

Images: Clare Hawley