I Tried a Dance Class as an Adult and Here's My Honest Review

As a kid, it’s easy to pick up countless hobbies and extracurriculars to fit into your schedule with little to no effort. After all, the biggest concern after school (at least for me) was homework, and before the senior years of high school, that really didn’t take too long to finish.

My passion of choice was dance. Three nights a week, often more, my mum would drive me to ballet, where I’d pour my dramatic little heart out on the dance floor.

But as life got busier, the reality of growing up set in, and dancing became something I left in the past. I haven't laced up my pointe shoes since I was 16, but seven years later, I've felt a strong urge to revisit those childhood hobbies and carve out time for the things that truly spark joy in my life.

I had been following the Hawthorn-based Dance With Gabby (DWG) studio, created by Gabrielle (Gabby) Mabilia, for a while after her videos started popping up on my social media. Despite wanting to book a class, I always found excuses not to—‘I don’t have time,’ ‘I’ve never tried that style of dance before,’ or ‘the class might not be what I expect.’

However, after roping two of my friends into coming along for the ride with me, I finally booked in my first adult dance class. And let me tell you—it was quite the experience.

Gabby describes DWG as a modern studio that not only focuses on dancing, but building a community both in and out of the classes.

"Our classes target the ex-dancer (anyone who has had some previous dance training at some stage in their lives) and also the beginner dancer who loves to move their body, and wants to feel sexy and confident," Gabby tells me. "DWG is everything the traditional dance industry isn’t—our biggest focus is empowering women to dance with enjoyment and joy, without any added pressures or feelings of judgement and fear."

Gabby’s studio is tucked away in a co-working space in Hawthorn. After almost getting lost in the building, we made it to the class with two minutes to spare. There was a quiet excitement in the air as girls—regular dancers and newbies like me—chatted amongst themselves quietly.

Gabby said a quick hello to us before jumping straight into the class. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as we spread out across the room, no time to overthink it—it was straight into our warmup. Arms swinging, legs stretching, my nerves began to creep in as we got closer to learning the dance. What if I make a fool of myself? was running through my head.

But then Gabby announced we’d be learning a commercial jazz routine to Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Bed Chem’, and just like that, my nerves were replaced with excitement. I’d been following Dance With Gabby on Instagram for a while, and knew she always picked upbeat, trending songs that were fun and confidence-boosting—no seriousness or pressure to be perfect! After all, classes are designed to make people of all dance levels feel welcome.

Gabby broke down the moves bit by bit, guiding us through each section in simple, easy-to-digest steps. We repeated each part over and over until it became second nature, then moved confidently to the next part of the choreography."

We marked it without music, then with it, and she encouraged us to shout out with any questions if we were confused. That made me feel a lot less self-conscious about not getting things right on the first try. When I asked her to clarify a certain hands-on-the-ground-shake-what-you’ve-got move through a bout of self-deprecating giggles, she didn’t miss a beat—she reassured me and walked me through it with zero judgment. It’s a really supportive, reassuring environment.

Honestly, the dance was so much fun. It wasn’t too difficult to follow along, but not so basic that it felt boring either. I felt like I was in my element, especially since I used to consider dancing my entire life. And with the routine having some spicy moments (it was to a Sabrina Carpenter song, after all), everyone really got into it, not taking themselves too seriously and sharing a few laughs along the way.

In a world where work and life's ups and downs can often weigh us down—whether it’s a rough week, you’re in your luteal phase, or something is simply on your mind—stepping into a dance studio and letting it all out can bring a fresh spark of joy.

A study published in Sports Medicine found that dance is more effective than many other forms of physical activity in boosting motivation, enhancing aspects of memory, supporting social cognition, and reducing stress.

"Learning dance sequences may challenge cognition, partnered or group dance may benefit social interactions, and the artistic aspect may improve psychological wellbeing," says Dr. Alycia Fong Yan, Lead author from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Musculoskeletal Health tells the University of Sydney.

According to Gabby, what's so appealing about her dance classes is the strong sense of community they foster. Her classes aren't just about working out or learning moves—they’re about connecting, making friends, and enjoying social occasions.

"I also think with our philosophy of wanting to create a dance environment that is judgement free, safe and welcoming, [it] helps to encourage people to take the leap to attend a class and keep attending," she explains.

While I’m not quite confident enough to perform in front of anyone just yet—despite my boyfriend’s pleas—I had an absolute blast at my first adult dance class. In a safe, nurturing atmosphere filled with positive energy, I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone and try something new.

Dance With Gabby reminded me how important it is to step outside your normal routine and experiment. It can be hard to find time for hobbies as an adult, but it’s essential for your well-being to carve out time for yourself and the things you love doing. If you don’t, burnout often creeps in, signalling the need to slow down.

I’d absolutely go to another Dance With Gabby class. In fact, I’m already trying to clear my calendar to make space for one of her upcoming sessions. If you’ve been toying with the idea of joining a class—whether it's with Gabby, another dance class, or even getting back into another childhood hobby—this is your sign. Stop making excuses and book it in, because trust me, you won’t regret it!

Loved reading about Alyssa's experience trying an adult dance class for the first time and want to read more about fitness and hobbies? Take a look at these beautiful walks in Sydney and Melbourne to crush your step goal. Or, if you're ready to get sweaty, book into one of these Sydney fitness studios or Melbourne gyms for a workout class.