The year 2014 has dawned and while it’s filled with new hopes, old problems like the bad economy and job shortages still linger to trouble us.

Salaried workers don’t see their lives getting better in the New Year, with their wages frozen and the threat of layoffs looming over them. But if you can’t beat it, you might as well enjoy it. It wouldn’t be right to start off the year with worries weighing you down. There is one way to blow off all the stress and that is none other than dancing your troubles away!

This academy teaches dance routines you see on TV music shows. A 34-year-old office worker tries to mimic the dance instructor’s moves. She is no Beyonce, but just for a split second or two, that smiling girl in the floor-length mirror resembles a dancing diva. That’s because the throbbing beat and catchy melody are enough to blow away her worries and bring a big smile to her face.



I was embarrassed at first, but I got better as I copied other people’s moves. I became more outgoing and found a productive way to de-stress and to become more fit. I feel great and stress-free. It’s wonderful. Now I can have a good night’s sleep. Even my joints feel relaxed.

As these students let their minds and bodies become one with the music, their bodies become light as a feather and their minds are cleared of all worldly concerns. This is why this dance studio is packed with students every day. Here’s the head instructor of the dance academy, Mr. Park Won-sang.

Many people come to register for class and we get more students every month. People used to come to the dance academy because they simply wanted to do the same dance routines as their favorite stars. But now they want to show off their dancing to other people. We get students from all walks of life, from housewives to office workers. Many come to relieve stress. There is no age limit, so we have students ranging from third graders to people in their 60s.

These people may once have had hopes and dreams, but everyday responsibilities and work could have forced them to put their dreams aside. But their suppressed desires to move their bodies and ride the rhythm have been reawakened through dance academies and dance clubs. In the early months of the year dance studios are packed with people looking for a lifelong hobby. Then, shall we dance?

This is a ballet studio. Even the instructor’s voice sounds slower and calmer here. Here’s the ballet studio’s director Byeon Min-gyeong변민경.

We only accept non-professional dancers. We teach the very basics of ballet and stretching exercises. We get many inquiries every day and many of our students had learned ballet when they were young, even long enough to have moved up to wearing pointe shoes. There are some male students, too. Ballet is a great exercise for the whole body, from head to toe.

The basic stretching movements of ballet help correct posture, as well as stimulate muscles rarely used in everyday life. Ballet is a great way to get fit and tone the muscles, which is why ballet studios are growing more popular among people of all ages and genders. Here’s the ballet studio’s director Byeon Min-gyeong again.

Ballet movements make your muscles lean and elongated. Since you use your arms a lot, they gain more definition and your neck becomes more erect. You even get to use your back muscles, so it’s actually a great workout routine. Male students tell me that ballet is good for toning. Once you get hooked, you are here for at least six months to a year. Our evening classes are so popular that they fill up really fast. We get many phone inquiries, too. A lot of people mistakenly think that ballet is not for everyone, but nowadays general perception is changing and more and more people take up ballet to work out.

(Woman 1) I always wanted to work out, but going to a gym was too boring. I was looking for something I could do with music and see myself improve in skill, so I chose ballet. My goal is to keep at it until I get to wear the pointe shoes.
(Woman 2) I started ballet to correct my posture. Ballet not only realigned my shoulders but also helped me lose weight. My muscles are toned as well. The appeal of ballet is that since you dance to the piano music, you can release stress and gain some serenity. The best part about it is posture improvement and firmer muscles. My friends are now interested in ballet, too.

The fundamentals of ballet have more to do with having good posture than just dancing to the music. Correcting bad posture, increasing flexibility, and stimulating circulation are all positive results of ballet. But pain is an inevitable part of the effort to achieve a firm, straight-lined body. The ballet studio is soon filled with screams of agony coming from the students stretching their stiff muscles.

The students try not to groan, but they all end up crying in pain as the instructor forces their rigid bodies into proper positions. But they all admit that their bodies feel much lighter and limber after stretching. And the good news is that it’s only a matter of time before those weights come off. Ms. Hong Joo-hee says she’s been studying ballet for three months now.



I started ballet to lose some weight and I’m already seeing results. My body is still stiff, but it’s much more flexible than before. Stretching helps me gain better posture and achieve a longer neckline and slimmer arms and legs. I’m going to lose three kilos for sure.

If you think that dancing solo is boring and would rather have a partner, here are your options – swing, jazz, salsa, waltz, tango, and more. People tend to focus better if they’re with partners lest they should step on their partners’ feet or botch the synchronized movements. Let’s visit Tango School, a tango academy run by a professional tango dancer.

A couple, in a close embrace, moves as one across the floor. The woman is wearing high heels but her steps are smooth and precise. Most of the students are office workers who come to the academy after work. Dressed in tango costumes and facing their partners, they can forget about their daily worries and experience a much richer life. Here’s instructor Kim Hyo-jin to tell us more.

Tango School was opened in October 2011 and moved to the current location in 2012. There are classes all week long, but they are all filled. I plan to open another tango studio in the Hongdae neighborhood. Tango School is an academy as well as a community of tango lovers. We want our students to learn from the basics and have fun doing it. Unlike other dance studios, it doesn’t cost much to take classes at Tango School, but the instructors are all first-rate.

Most of the members are office workers in their 20s and 30s. As they glide to the music, they can leave all their worries and work stress behind and find peace of mind.



What’s so great about tango is that the dance requires two people to be in close contact. That means that they can find some comfort through human touch. Tango is described as dancing on four legs and one heart, which illustrates how closely two people have to be in sync, both in body and mind. It’s much more intimate than swing or salsa. You can’t help but fall in love with tango.

Tango School provides a great opportunity to widen one’s circle of friends and to learn how to deal with certain situations in life. For instance, you can learn to tell the difference between when to lead and when to follow and to determine where to direct your partner’s steps, or when to push or relax. Only when you master these crucial elements can you truly tango. Kim Seung-taek, who has been learning tango for five months, says he has realized much about life through the empathy he feels with his tango partner.

When I dance, there are fleeting moments when I am completely of one mind with my partner. I keep dancing because I cannot forget those magical moments. My goal is to keep practicing until I can dance and become one with any partner. I like talking with other tango dancers, because we have the love of tango as common ground. Music is also quite healing. It makes me feel good when I dance to the music.

It’s been three years since Tango School opened. About a hundred community members come out to take part in the weekly dance session. That’s quite a lot of people, but as they say, the more the merrier. They all love tango and enjoy the cathartic pleasure of letting their bodies and minds go with the music. And the same goes for all other dancers.

(Woman 1) It feels really rewarding at the end of dance class. I feel a sense of achievement, because I have to master a dance routine within a limited time. Knowing that I’ve accomplished something is the greatest part about dancing. It’s given me energy to go on living.
(Man) When I find myself covered in sweat after a session, I feel as if my day has been a good one. I have a cold today, but it’s probably going to be gone tomorrow. I’m going to keep dancing as long as I can.

A sense of achievement leads to confidence and drive. Many dance students say that they’ve become more confident and passionate since they started dancing. All this positive energy helps them have more optimistic thoughts and become more enthusiastic about everything in life. To them, the year 2014 is certain to be an exciting one, full of great joys and promises.