Let's Boogie

Where to learn ballet, bachata, and even belly dancing in Dallas-Fort Worth

No judgement, just dance.

Photo by valentinrussanov/Getty

Dance is one of those forms of exercise that doesn't feel like a chore. But you don't need to confine your best moves only to the dance floor at weddings — Dallas-Fort Worth has lots of studios offering adult classes for all levels of skill and fitness.

Whether you danced as a child or have never had a sense of rhythm, look into these no-judgement adult classes and dance like no one's watching.

Fort Worth

Billy Bob's Texas
If it's not already in your Texan blood, learn to line dance at the world's largest honky tonk. Sundays are for couples dance classes, Tuesdays and Wednesdays offer free line dancing classes at 7 pm, and Saturdays bring 20 percent off lunch in addition to a free dance lesson.

DivaDance
Called a "a sexy, sweaty, stress-free pop-music dance party," this franchised studio was born as an alternative to competitive dance studios targeting only those who were Broadway-bound. There are eight Dallas locations and one in Fort Worth.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios
The master of dance himself co-founded this now-franchised studio in 1947, and now it's the place to learn ballroom dancing by yourself or with a partner, for a major event or just for fun. Located on West 7th, the studio has everything from beginner to advanced classes and even social group classes.

SkyPole Fitness
You may have touched a pole once or twice at a bachelorette or birthday party, but here's your chance to really learn the moves. In addition to pole, you can also explore aerial hammocks, chair dancing, and a twerk class.

Studio of MoveMint
The highly Instagrammable studios across from Fort Worth Country Day are already a hit for younger dancers, but parents can get in on the fun too. Drop in for ballet, contemporary, cardio hip hop, and jazz classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Texas Ballet Theater
Intended to bridge the gap between fitness and fun, adult classes here focus on strength, flexibility, and rhythm. From Absolute Beginner Ballet to tap and jazz, there are in-person and virtual options at both the Fort Worth and Richardson facilities.

Dallas

Avant Chamber Ballet
Intro to Ballet, Beginner Level 1, and Beginner Level 2 are all represented with these adult classes, which run weekly mid-March through April. The classes are taught by ACB dancer Melissa Meng, and come with this lovely disclaimer: "The program is designed to be fun and inclusive, with no pressure to achieve perfection. It is a non-judgmental environment where adults of all ages, body types, and abilities can learn and grow together. The focus is on individual progress and improvement, rather than comparison to others. The main goal of this program is to provide a welcoming and enjoyable learning experience for adults who want to explore the beautiful and graceful art form of ballet."

Contemporary Ballet Dallas
This longtime Lakewood studio has relocated to Mockingbird and 75, and that means a much larger space and more class availability. For adults of all skill and fitness levels, they offer tap, ballet, jazz, dance fitness, and even online classes, though it should be noted that ballet is required first before signing up for the other styles.

Grit Fitness
The Dallas fitness staple also offers hip hop classes, where during each 55-minute class you will learn one minute of original hip hop dance choreography. No dance experience required, and you can show up in sneakers.

JamBox Fitness
Choose from three locations (Design District, Frisco, and Galleria) and several different styles: Afro Fit, Cardio Dance, Trap Sculpt, and Get Tah' Stepping.

Kumbala Dance Studio
This Farmers Branch-based studio specializes in the Latin rhythms of salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, cha cha cha, and many others through daily group and private classes. You can either drop in or become a member, which means you can take group classes up to six days per week, plus several dance, and styling workshops during the month

Movement Loft Studios
Round out your dance classes with gentle yoga and deep stretching at this studio near Deep Ellum, which offers contemporary, jazz, hip hop, modern, and more. Each class is choreography based and changes weekly, so no two classes are ever alike.

MoveStudio
Gain a firmer foundation in the muscle awareness and mind-body connection necessary to grow as a dancer with this belly dance program. Each weekly class builds on the next, and you'll be mastering the basic steps, isolations, musical rhythms, and layering of movement.

dance health fitness promoted

Death Penalty

Tarrant County man gets death for murder of convenience store owner

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office

Christopher Turner

A man received the death penalty for his 2020 cold-blooded execution of a convenience store owner.

According to a release from the office of Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells, a Tarrant County jury sentenced Christopher Karon Turner, 48, to death on November 20 for executing convenience store owner Anwar Ali during a robbery. Tarrant County Assistant District Attorneys Charles Boulware and Allenna Bangs represented the state.

On March 27, 2020, at around 6:15 am, Turner, a convicted felon, wore a surgical mask and a glove and entered the Super Big Country Mart in an unincorporated area of Tarrant County south of Fort Worth. There, he held a gun to the back of Anwar Ali, the 62-year-old store owner, and walked him through the store.

Ali did everything Turner demanded, including opening the cash register to give him money. And yet Turner forced Ali into the bathroom and onto his knees, and shot him in the neck. Ali was discovered, dead in the bathroom, about an hour later.

Turner fled the store in Ali's Toyota minivan with the money from the register and Ali's wallet. In the van, he found more than $50,000 cash in a black bag. Over the next few days, Turner went on a shopping spree, buying cars, jewelry, drugs, clothes, and more. He and others used cash and a credit card that belonged to Ali.

Turner fled to Colorado where U.S. Marshals arrested him. On his body they found a firearm which was determined to be the murder weapon.

"This was a premeditated, cold-blooded murder," Boulware told the jury. "From the moment he was charged with this crime, he has tried to escape responsibility."

Bangs noted that before this trial began, Turner obtained the names of jurors and their telephone numbers, and gave them to an inmate charged with murder. At the trial on November 20, as Bangs addressed the jury, Turner tried to hold up a sign to the jury but was handcuffed by Sheriff's deputies who removed him from the courtroom, while he yelled out "she lied."

Ali came to the United States from Pakistan decades ago to pursue the American dream. Ali's son, Hussein, spoke in the courtroom after the death penalty was announced. "Thank you for giving us justice," Ali said. "I hope there are no more devils like this person."