I had been dancing for a few years before arriving in Cambridge. Admittedly, I thought I would find it difficult to find dance classes and socials around here. As it turns out, I was wrong. Cambridge is actually a great place to be a dancer, as there are many classes where you can start learning, improve your existing skills and even explore new styles of dance like belly dancing or swing. After a couple of years, I can recommend a few venues for those looking to find their own signature moves.

WOLFSON LATIN NIGHT
This list would not be complete without mentioning one of the best salsa and bachata (a type of romantic dance originating in the Dominican Republic) nights in Cambridge. This extremely popular latin night is on every Thursday from 9pm-12am at Wolfson College (£3 for non-Wolfson students). The night consists of a class in the first hour and general dancing after, so it is perfect for any beginners who want to both learn and then put things into practice in one go!

CAMBRIDGE DANCERS’ CLUB
For me, CDC is the home of Ballroom and Latin dancing in Cambridge. If you like what you see on Dancing with the Stars or Strictly Come Dancing, this club is for you. CDC offers various classes suitable for any level of experience. Just started? You can show up at any beginner class and learn the basic steps and routines. If you’re feeling competitive, like I did last year, you may join the DanceSport team and beat the Other Place at the national level (we have been doing so for the past few years!). CDC also hosts a free social general dancing at the University Centre just off Mill Lane every Friday from 8.30 – 10.30pm. It has a great atmosphere – a perfect place to pick up new moves and meet new people.

CUTAZZ
Originally Cambridge University Tap and Jazz Society, CUTAZZ now offers a wide range of styles, including street, contemporary and lyrical as well as exercise-orientated classes such as body conditioning and dance aerobics. I haven’t been to any of the classes myself (although they’re high on my priority list), but from what I’ve heard they’re run by both professional teachers and dedicated student teachers. It is also a great opportunity if you want to be involved in performing at the Mumford as they also have an annual show!

KING’S TANGO
The one thing I know about King’s College, apart from being left-wing and having a beautiful chapel, is that they have a great group of dancers. Right next to the college bar, the King’s Tango team run a weekly Argentine Tango session with a bit of lesson for you to learn some new movements followed by general dancing, for free! I’m still amazed at how much control you get when it comes to Tango. At some point you can just tell your partner to close their eyes and follow your lead and you both will still look amazing.

BODYWORK
One downside about being stuck in Cambridge during the holiday period is that there’s barely anything to do. If you’re a dancer but can’t find any classes run by the university societies, then BodyWork is an excellent choice. Based at Cambridge Dance Studio, they offer many classes ranging from ballet to Zumba. The classes are a little pricey at £7 per session for non-members, however, I went to a few contemporary classes and they really did help me improve my technique. This is the place to go to if you really want to improve and get a bit more serious about dancing.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY DANCE SOCIEtY
Originally Cambridge Contemporary Dance Workshops, this society hosted some of the finest hip-hop, jazz, contemporary and Zumba during the last two years. There are fewer classes at the moment, but one worth mentioning is the weekly hip-hop class run by the leader of the legendary Mirrors Dance Crew. Each class focuses on basic hip-hop moves and then incorporate those into a routine to incredible tunes. These classes are usually on every Saturday at 1.30pm at Kelsey Kerridge (£3 entry, free class). An excellent choice if you’re feeling energetic.