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9 Best Bollywood Dance Classes in Singapore (September 2026)

My honest pick of the best Bollywood dance classes in Singapore for 2026, plus the classical Indian dance schools for Bharatanatyam.

A group of dancers in colourful Indian outfits mid-move during an energetic Bollywood dance class in a bright Singapore studio with mirrored walls

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If you are looking for the best Bollywood dance classes Singapore has in 2026, the first thing to sort out is what you actually want from it. Some people want the joy of learning a film song routine for a friend's wedding sangeet. Some want a high-energy class that happens to torch calories. Others are really after classical Indian dance, Bharatanatyam or Kathak, which is a very different discipline from Bollywood. So I spent time researching this properly, cross-referencing each school's teaching pedigree, the style they specialise in, how well they welcome genuine beginners, and how their reputation holds up.

What came out of it is this list of nine schools, weighted towards Bollywood and Bollywood fitness, with the most respected classical Indian dance academies included so you can see the full picture. A few are bright, social studios where you can drop in this week with zero background. Others are decades-old institutions that train dancers to performance level over years. I have ordered them by overall strength for someone searching Bollywood first, but read the style notes more than the ranking, because fit matters far more than position.

This sits inside my wider Terris Recommends dance series. If you want the broader picture across every genre, start with my guide to the best dance studios in Singapore, then come back here when you know Bollywood or Indian dance is your thing. Below are the nine I would actually recommend to a friend.

Bollywood, classical or folk: which Indian dance suits you

Before the list, the single thing that saves people the most frustration: Indian dance is not one style, and "Bollywood" is only one slice of it. Get clear on which family you want before you book, because the studios that do them brilliantly are usually not the same ones.

Bollywood is the film-song style: filmi choreography, fusion routines, high-energy numbers set to Hindi movie hits, and the wedding sangeet pieces couples learn for their big night. It borrows freely from classical, folk, hip-hop and jazz, which is exactly why it is so beginner-friendly and so easy to turn into a fitness class. If you want something fun, social, sweaty and quick to pick up, Bollywood is your lane, and studios like Bolly Dancing Studio, Dance Bollywood International, Dance Embassy, Sampada's and Aiyaz Dance Academy live here.

Classical Indian dance is a different commitment. Bharatanatyam (the South Indian temple tradition), Kathak (the North Indian storytelling form) and Odissi each have a strict grammar of footwork, hand gestures and expression, taught over years through a syllabus and graded examinations. This is where Apsaras Arts, Bhaskar's Arts Academy, Chitrakala Arts and Swarna Kala Mandir sit. Then there is folk, the energetic regional stuff like Punjabi Bhangra and Gujarati Garba, which usually shows up inside Bollywood fitness classes rather than as a dedicated school. Decide which family you are after, and the right shortlist becomes obvious.

1. Bolly Dancing Studio

Bolly Dancing Studio is the one I would point most beginners to first, because it was built from the ground up for absolute newcomers. The team ran their original Bolly Dancing Studio in Mumbai from 1992 before bringing it to Singapore in 2008, and the whole proposition is gentle, joyful Bollywood for people who have never danced and are slightly nervous about it. You learn real Bollywood as it is taught in Mumbai, not a watered-down aerobics version.

Best known for
Beginner-friendly Bollywood plus Bolly Dazz and Masala Bhangra dance fitness
Location
Central Singapore studio, plus virtual classes via Zoom
Reputation
Beginner specialist, running since 1992 in Mumbai and 2008 in Singapore

2. Dance Bollywood International

If you want authentic, film-grade Bollywood taught by someone who has actually done it in the industry, Dance Bollywood International (DBI) is the specialist. It was founded by Master Anil Dandge, a Mumbai choreographer who has worked on more than seventy films, including titles like Don, Jodhaa Akbar and Welcome, along with Indian television. That pedigree shows in the choreography, which feels closer to what you see on screen than most fitness-led classes.

Best known for
Authentic filmi choreography and wedding sangeet routines
Location
390 Victoria Street, Golden Landmark (Bugis), and Marine Parade
Reputation
Founded by Mumbai film choreographer Master Anil Dandge

3. Dance Embassy

Dance Embassy earns its spot for the social side of Bollywood, which founder Lavania has built the whole outfit around. Sessions are pitched at adults who want energetic, feel-good Bollywood without any pressure to perform or compete, and that makes it a low-stakes way in for people who are convinced they cannot dance. The atmosphere is as much the point as the choreography.

Best known for
BollyFreak®, corporate team building and Bollywood built around the group
Location
No fixed studio, ties up with partner studios island-wide to suit the client
Reputation
Personalised, relaxed and social sessions for adults and corporate teams

4. Sampada's Dance Studio

Sampada's Dance Studio is the pick for Bollywood with a modern, contemporary twist. Founded and led by choreographer Sampada, the studio blends classic Bollywood with current trends and fusion styling, so the routines feel fresh rather than dated. It has built a loyal following on the east side of Singapore and is consistently well reviewed by students who like the personal, hands-on teaching.

Best known for
Modern, fusion-leaning Bollywood on the east side
Location
East Singapore, around the Bedok and Siglap area
Reputation
Well reviewed, founder-led studio

5. Aiyaz Dance Academy

Aiyaz Dance Academy is the studio for people who want Bollywood that crosses over with street and contemporary styles. Led by director and choreographer Aiyaz Warvande, the academy teaches Bollywood alongside hip-hop, jazz, contemporary and freestyle, which means the Bollywood here often carries a sharper, more urban edge than a traditional filmi class. That fusion sensibility suits younger dancers and anyone who finds pure Bollywood a little too soft.

Best known for
Bollywood fused with hip-hop, jazz and contemporary
Location
Around Anson Road, central Singapore
Reputation
Choreographer-led, multi-genre academy

6. Apsaras Arts Academy

If your heart is actually set on classical Indian dance rather than Bollywood, Apsaras Arts is one of the two names that matter most. Founded in Singapore in 1977 by Shri S Sathyalingam and Smt Neila Sathyalingam, both alumni and former faculty of the renowned Kalakshetra in India, it has spent more than four decades building a reputation as a premier performing arts company and academy. The lineage here is the real thing.

Best known for
Classical Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi training
Location
Little India arts belt
Reputation
Founded 1977 by Kalakshetra-trained artists, a premier company and academy
Website
apsarasarts.com

7. Bhaskar's Arts Academy

Bhaskar's Arts Academy is the elder statesman of Indian classical arts in Singapore, established back in 1952. That makes it one of the oldest performing arts institutions in the country, and it carries the weight you would expect: a company that stages three to four seasons a year across classical Indian dance, music and theatre, while still teaching the next generation. The Bhaskar legacy is woven into Singapore's cultural history.

Best known for
Heritage classical Indian dance, music and theatre
Location
Kerbau Road, Little India arts belt
Reputation
Established 1952, one of Singapore's oldest arts institutions

8. Chitrakala Arts

Chitrakala Arts is the specialist I would point you to for Bharatanatyam and Odissi taught with real care for the individual student. Started in 1998 by founder and artistic director Chitra Shankar, a well-regarded choreographer, dancer and teacher, the school has trained well over four hundred dancers across many nationalities and backgrounds, which speaks to how welcoming it is to people coming in from outside the tradition.

Best known for
Beginner-friendly Bharatanatyam and Odissi classes
Location
9E Bright Hill Drive (Bishan area)
Reputation
Founded 1998, 400+ dancers trained across all backgrounds

9. Swarna Kala Mandir

Swarna Kala Mandir rounds out the list as the heartland option for structured classical Indian dance. Established in 2018, it is a younger Indian performing arts company than the grand institutions, but it has grown quickly by bringing serious training in Bharatanatyam and Kathak to families who want classes closer to home rather than in town.

Best known for
Heartland Bharatanatyam and Kathak classes
Location
Yishun and Choa Chu Kang
Reputation
Established 2018, structured classical training

My Bollywood and Indian dance comparison at a glance

SchoolBest forLocation
Bolly Dancing StudioBeginner Bollywood plus dance fitnessCentral, plus virtual
Dance Bollywood InternationalAuthentic filmi choreography and sangeetBugis and Marine Parade
Dance EmbassyPersonalised and corporate BollywoodIsland-wide, partner studios
Sampada's Dance StudioModern, fusion BollywoodBedok and Siglap (east)
Aiyaz Dance AcademyBollywood fused with street stylesAnson Road, central
Apsaras Arts AcademyClassical Bharatanatyam, Kathak, OdissiLittle India
Bhaskar's Arts AcademyHeritage classical Indian danceKerbau Road, Little India
Chitrakala ArtsBeginner Bharatanatyam and OdissiBright Hill Drive, Bishan
Swarna Kala MandirHeartland classical trainingYishun and Choa Chu Kang

How much do Bollywood dance classes cost in Singapore?

Class typeTypical price (S$)
Single drop-in Bollywood classS$20 to S$35
Bollywood dance fitness classS$20 to S$30
4-class monthly packageS$80 to S$140
Classical Indian dance (per month)S$90 to S$200
Kids term-based course (per month)S$90 to S$160
Private 1-to-1 Bollywood class (per hour)S$80 to S$150
Wedding sangeet choreography (per routine)S$400 to S$1,200+

Treat these as 2026 ballpark figures, not quotes. The cheapest way in is a single drop-in Bollywood or Bollywood-fitness class, often around S$20, which lets you test the style with no commitment, and most studios offer a discounted first-timer trial so always ask. Classical Indian dance like Bharatanatyam is usually billed monthly or per term rather than as drop-ins, because it follows a syllabus. Wedding sangeet choreography is its own thing entirely, priced per routine and depending on the number of dancers and rehearsals, so brief the studio with your timeline and budget early.

What I look for in a Bollywood dance class

  1. The right style for your goal. Filmi choreography, Bollywood fitness and classical Indian dance are different products. Decide whether you want to learn routines, get a workout, or train a tradition, then pick the studio built for that.
  2. Genuine beginner welcome. The best Bollywood classes are explicitly built for people who have never danced. I look for studios that grade by level or run dedicated beginner sessions, so you are not lost behind experienced dancers.
  3. Instructor pedigree. Who teaches matters. For Bollywood I value real choreography or film experience; for classical, proper lineage and training in the specific style and gharana.
  4. A trial class. A studio that lets you try one session before committing respects your time and money. If they will not let you sample, that tells you something.
  5. Convenience you will actually sustain. The best class is the one you keep going to. A studio near home or work that fits your schedule beats a famous one across the island you abandon after a month.

One thing worth knowing: Indian dance in Singapore sits inside a genuinely strong arts ecosystem, and bodies like the National Arts Council support the classical companies and dance education here, which is part of why institutions like Apsaras Arts and Bhaskar's Arts Academy teach to such a high standard. That depth benefits Bollywood learners too, because many Bollywood teachers trained in classical and folk forms first.

How I put this list together

Let me be straight about what this is. I am not a Bollywood dancer, and I am not ranking these schools on my own technique. What I do is build and study websites for businesses across Singapore, including those in the arts and lifestyle space, so I spend a lot of time looking at how these places present themselves, how clearly they explain their styles and levels, and how their reputation holds up across reviews and their public track record.

So this ranking weighs style focus, teaching and choreography pedigree, how well each place serves beginners, review consistency and accessibility, rather than my personal dance ability, and I have tried to treat both the Bollywood studios and the classical institutions with the respect their traditions deserve. It is a 2026 snapshot, and details like schedules, prices and locations change, so confirm directly with any school before you book. I revisit and update this guide as the scene shifts.

Is Bollywood dance a good workout?

Yes, and that is a big part of its appeal. Bollywood is high-energy and full-body, blending fast footwork, expressive arm movements and plenty of jumping and spinning, so a single class gets your heart rate up and works your legs, core and shoulders without feeling like a gym session. Many Singapore studios lean into this with dedicated Bollywood dance fitness formats like Bolly Dazz or Masala Bhangra that are designed as cardio workouts set to film music. You burn calories while learning routines, which is exactly why so many people stick with it where they quit the treadmill.

Do I need to be Indian or know the culture to join?

Not at all. Bollywood dance classes in Singapore are some of the most welcoming and culturally mixed you will find, and studios actively teach people of every background. You do not need to speak Hindi, know the films, or have any connection to Indian culture to join and enjoy it. Most teachers will happily explain the meaning behind a song or a movement if you are curious, which is part of the fun. The same is true of the classical schools, which routinely train students of many nationalities. Come with an open mind and a willingness to look a little silly while you learn, and you will fit right in.

Is Bollywood dance good for beginners?

It is one of the best styles for a complete beginner. Bollywood choreography is taught in clear, repeatable sequences, the energy of the music carries you along, and the culture of these classes is forgiving and joyful rather than competitive. Studios like Bolly Dancing Studio and Dance Embassy are built specifically around first-timers, so you will not be the only one starting from zero. Look for a class marked beginner or for adults, book a trial first, and you will likely walk out smiling after your first session. Classical Indian dance is also beginner-accessible, though it asks for more patience and longer-term commitment to build technique.

What should I wear to a Bollywood dance class?

Keep it simple and comfortable. Wear clothes you can move and sweat in, like leggings or joggers and a breathable top, and bring a water bottle and a small towel because you will warm up fast. Most Bollywood and Bollywood-fitness classes are done barefoot or in light dance shoes or trainers, so check with your studio. Some people like to add a dupatta or scarf to get a feel for the flowing arm movements, but that is optional and not needed to start. For classical Indian dance, schools may have specific attire for exams or performances, but for regular practice, comfortable, modest workout clothes are perfectly fine.

That is my run-down of the best Bollywood dance classes Singapore has on offer in 2026, along with the classical Indian dance schools worth knowing. If you want a single safe starting point for Bollywood, Bolly Dancing Studio and Dance Embassy make it genuinely easy for beginners, while Dance Bollywood International is where to go for authentic filmi choreography. If classical is your calling, Apsaras Arts and Bhaskar's Arts Academy are the institutions to learn from.

Remember the right school depends entirely on what you want, whether that is a fun sweat, a sangeet routine, or years of Bharatanatyam training, so use the style notes above to narrow it down before you book a trial. For the bigger picture across every genre, head back to my hub guide to the best dance studios in Singapore, and pair it with a class you will actually keep showing up to.

One last note from my side of the fence. I build websites for studios, schools and lifestyle businesses across Singapore that turn searches exactly like this one into booked classes. If you run a dance studio and your site is not pulling its weight, take a look at my web design services or just get a quote and we can talk.

Spotted something out of date in this guide? Suggest an edit or a business to add. This guide is pre-filled for you.
Sources and references (9)
  1. bollydancing.com.sg
  2. dancebollywoodintl.com
  3. danceembassy.com
  4. sampadadance.com.sg
  5. aiyazdanceacademy.com
  6. apsarasarts.com
  7. bhaskarsartsacademy.com
  8. chitrakalaarts.com
  9. swarnakalamandir.org
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