From classic ballroom to sexy salsa and hip-hop funk, dance classes are in full swing all around the country. Offered in places like adult schools and community recreation programs, dancing is cha-cha-ing its way from Friday-night dance-club fever to Wednesdays after work. Besides being a great way to burn calories, shape muscles and gain flexibility, dance classes offer the chance to learn new skills and get in touch with your body (or someone else's). Beyond the fitness bonus: Singles can meet new people in a relaxed environment, and couples can re-connect while learning to move together in new, groovy ways.

I braved five different dance classes to get the lowdown on getting down. While I don't have two left feet, I'm not off to Juilliard in the fall, either. So rest assured, if I can do it, you can, too. Each class description listed here includes calorie-burning potential, the level of skill you'll need to enjoy the class, the level of exercise you'll get, the advantages for singletons or for couples and the overall level of fun. You can use these descriptions to help you choose the best class for your needs and wants.

Dancing is guaranteed to get your heart racing and test your brainpower, because making your feet move in different directions is harder than it looks. So keep reading for ways to put that swivel in your hips and a bounce in your step.

SWING

CALORIES BURNED DURING ONE-HOUR CLASS*: 372

LEVEL OF SKILL INVOLVED: Skill level required depends on the type of swing you're doing--West Coast, East Coast or Lindy--but they're all fairly difficult. You have to be patient and really practice because once the music starts, the pace is fast and furious.

LEVEL OF EXERCISE: Swing, especially East Coast and Lindy, will have your heart pounding and your legs flying. The better you get, the faster you move.

SINGLE FRIENDLINESS: This is a great dance style for meeting guys. Swing has a huge underground following spanning all generations. Movies like "Swingers" have made swing the "in" dance, so finding classes packed with eager students is an easy task. Watch out for the hep cats in pink suits and shiny shoes.

COUPLE FRIENDLINESS: Couples can really get into swing, learning complicated and stylized movements. The only drawback (as for all the dances requiring a partner) is that the instructor will often make you switch partners--rotating around the room until you've danced with everyone. Jealous women beware: You'll have to share your man.

FUN QUOTIENT: I really enjoyed the music and fast pace. Tons of hot clubs feature swing, so this is a great dance style to learn if you want to be able to show off after your lessons are over. If you really get into it, you might even find yourself sporting short-cropped bangs, bobby socks and a poodle skirt.

HIP-HOP FUNK

CALORIES BURNED DURING ONE-HOUR CLASS*: 408

LEVEL OF SKILL INVOLVED: Hip-hop dancing might not look difficult in a music video, but believe me, it is! Some of the moves, even in the first class, were way out of my league. I spent half the time feeling like I was going to fall down and half the time knowing I wasn't doing the steps right, even after the instructor showed me for the third or fourth time. Hip-hop requires a lot of memorization and quick changes, so take your ginkgo biloba before heading to class.

LEVEL OF EXERCISE: I came ready to get my groove on, but left with a beet-red face and sweat-soaked clothes. Definitely on the level of an aerobics class, hip-hop was by far the most physically challenging.

SINGLE FRIENDLINESS: Great class for singles because everyone dances alone, so there's no pressure to have a partner. That doesn't mean you couldn't meet Mr. Right; plenty of single men want to get down, and you'll have lots of opportunities for eyes to meet in the full-length mirror at the front.

COUPLE FRIENDLINESS: Hip-hop doesn't really have anything special to offer couples. You won't get to dance together because you're all doing the same moves, almost like a cheerleading routine at halftime.

FUN QUOTIENT: The great tunes made me want to bust a move, just not the ones I was being taught. If you're up for the challenge of hip-hop dancing, the biggest rewards will be burning massive calories and being one of the few people who can hit the dance floor with a complete routine under her belt.

BELLY DANCING

CALORIES BURNED DURING ONE-HOUR CLASS*: 378

LEVEL OF SKILL INVOLVED: The dance moves are straightforward and often repetitive, which makes the routines easy to follow.

LEVEL OF EXERCISE: There's a lot of warm-up and stretching, which is great for improving flexibility. Belly dancing works your core muscles--it certainly beats crunches--as well as thighs and glutes. Although I wasn't pouring sweat. I definitely felt like I was getting a decent workout. The best part was hitting the ab region and developing overall muscle control.

SINGLE FRIENDLINESS: Often touted as a great way to express femininity and grace, belly dancing is a girls-only affair, so don't count on bumping into any men, single or other wise. Yet these classes are full of interesting women, so use it as a way to make new gal pals.

COUPLE FRIENDLINESS: Although you'll be going sans partner, your man probably wouldn't protest if you decided to practice your new feminine moves in the bedroom (did someone say genie costume?). This dance looks and feels sexy and, if used strategically, will most likely land you some well-deserved attention and praise.

FUN QUOTIENT: Belly dancing is fantastic because the moves aren't difficult to master and they look so cool!

SALSA & LATIN RHYTHMS

CALORIES BURNED DURING ONE HOUR CLASS*: 372

LEVEL OF SKILL INVOLVED: Once you learn the basic Latin dance steps, you're good to go. The more you practice, the more complicated moves you'll be able to do, like turns and twirls. The steps follow the beat of the music, so once you understand the rhythm, improvising is a piece of cake.

LEVEL OF EXERCISE: Not very intense at first, but the better you get, the faster you move, and you could definitely work up a sweat.

SINGLE FRIENDLINESS: Tons of singles were in my class, unfortunately a few more women than men. The teacher made it fair by having everyone change partners.

COUPLE FRIENDLINESS: Dances like the rumba and cha-cha are very sexy, and offer a great opportunity for a couple to learn to move together well.

FUN OUOTIENT: Latin steps are very easy and highly adaptable. Once you learn the basics you can get creative with hot hip movements, low dips and fast spins. Another plus is that the Latin music scene is hotter than ever, with crossover stars producing albums with Latin beats but English lyrics.

STEPPING OUT: HOW TO FIND A CLASS NEAR YOU

Classes are abundant in most cities, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one that's right for you. You can start on the web by putting "your city's name" and the word "Dance" into any online search engine. You can also try contacting a local adult school, community college, community recreation program, dance studio or dance club in your area. Dance clubs often have lessons available before-hours, around 8 p.m., before the big crowds get there.

Besides the types of dance featured in this article, dozens of other dance varieties might be more your style. Some alternatives include jazz, country, tap and ballet. If you're newly engaged and worrying about how you'll perform on the dance floor on the big day, classes are even made specifically for you! Take a class for the bride and groom's first dance, and you can show you're a match made in heaven with the footwork to prove it.

WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOU SWING

This isn't the gym, but you still need to come prepared with the right gear. Fill your gym bag with a bottle of water, a small towel, and the appropriate clothes and shoes. A class description or a short chat with your instructor should bring you up to speed. Ballroom dancing, for instance, is easier when you wear a shoe with a bit of a heel. Belly dancing, on the other hand, is often done barefoot, and you'll want some reliable sneakers or dance shoes for performing the tricky moves in a hip-hop class. As far as clothing, you can wear dance-appropriate clothing, like a flared skirt for salsa, a poodle skirt for swing and fitted workout wear for hip-hop.

BALLROOM

CALORIES BURNED DURING ONE-HOUR CLASS*: 216

LEVEL OF SKILL INVOLVED: Waltz, tango and fox-trot all seem fairly simple at first, but to really move with grace and ease, you'll have to put in some serious hours of practice. Men are required to develop good "leading" skills and women are required to learn how to "follow," both of which can be challenging but ultimately lead to much better dancing