9 Best Bollywood Dance Classes in Singapore (2026)

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.

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.

What makes it work is the range of formats under one roof. Alongside straight BollyDancing choreography, they run Bolly Dazz dance fitness, Masala Bhangra, Zumba and more, so you can pick pure dance, pure sweat, or a mix. Classes cater to all ages and fitness levels, trials are easy to book, and the vibe is famously welcoming. For a beginner who wants Bollywood that is fun and a genuine workout, this is my default pick.

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

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.

DBI teaches both adults and kids across genuine Bollywood choreography, and it is a popular choice for wedding sangeet routines and corporate performances precisely because the staging instinct is professional. With a central studio in Bugis at the Golden Landmark and a presence in Marine Parade, it is easy to reach. For a dancer who wants to learn proper filmi choreography rather than a generic workout, this is where I would send you.

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

Dance Embassy earns its spot for being one of the most adult-focused, socially fun Bollywood options in town. The classes are pitched squarely at adults who want energetic, feel-good Bollywood sessions without any pressure to perform or compete, which makes it a brilliant low-stakes way in for people who think they cannot dance. The atmosphere is the selling point as much as the choreography.

They run their adult Bollywood classes out of a studio at Balmoral Plaza on Bukit Timah Road, a central and easy spot to reach after work. If your goal is to show up, laugh, sweat and learn a few crowd-pleasing routines in a relaxed grown-up setting rather than train towards a syllabus, Dance Embassy is the one I would try first.

Website: danceembassy.com
Location: Balmoral Plaza, 271 Bukit Timah Road
Reputation: Adult-focused, relaxed and social class environment
Best known for: Fun, energetic Bollywood classes for adults of any level

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.

The studio caters to a range of ages and works well for both casual learners and people preparing for performances or events. Being based around the Bedok and Siglap area, it is a genuinely convenient option for easterners who do not want to commute into town for a Bollywood class. If you want contemporary Bollywood from a dedicated choreographer in the east, Sampada's is the natural choice.

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

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.

Because the academy spans several genres, it is also a good home for a dancer who wants to develop broadly rather than lock into one style. Based centrally around Anson Road, it is convenient for the CBD crowd. If you want Bollywood with a fusion, performance-driven flavour and the option to branch into other styles under the same roof, Aiyaz Dance Academy is worth a look.

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

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.

The academy provides structured training across three classical genres: Bharatanatyam in the Kalakshetra style, Kathak in the Lucknow gharana, and Odissi, for both children and adults. This is graded, syllabus-based teaching that builds proper technique and expression over years, taught within a serious arts institution rather than a drop-in studio. For anyone who wants to learn classical Indian dance the right way, Apsaras Arts is the standard-setter.

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

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.

What I find appealing is the way it balances tradition with a distinctly Singaporean, multicultural openness, pushing the boundaries of classical Indian dance through cross-cultural work while keeping the technique rigorous. Based in the Little India arts belt around Kerbau Road, it is a place to learn classical Indian dance within a living, performing institution rather than a commercial studio. For depth, heritage and serious classical grounding, Bhaskar's is hard to match.

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

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.

Classes run for children, adults and dance lovers at every level from beginner to advanced, guided by certified instructors with years of performance and teaching behind them. Based at Bright Hill Drive in the Bishan area, it is a more accessible, neighbourhood-feel alternative to the big city institutions while still teaching to a high standard. For structured Bharatanatyam or Odissi in a friendly setting, Chitrakala Arts is a strong pick.

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

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.

The big practical draw is its branches in Yishun and Choa Chu Kang, which put proper classical training within reach for residents in the north and northwest. It offers structured, progressive teaching for children and adults, so a weekly class is realistic rather than an expedition. If you want Bharatanatyam or Kathak taught well but near your neighbourhood, Swarna Kala Mandir is the practical, accessible choice.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.