Jingle all the way

Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden is a little universe unto itself. Since 1979, when its founder turned a former (pineapple) warehouse into dance studios with spin-off branded clothing emporium, it's been all go.

Never having set foot inside any dance-related building before, I was fascinated by the distinct worlds of the myriad studios. The ballet folk looked austere and serious; a girl band were rehearsing with gusto before a line of seated men; contemporary jazz folk hung out in the corridor, looking suitably chic.

I however, was there with our little Hips-Don't-Lie group, for belly dance. Because it's always good to be able to laugh out loud at oneself :-)

We wear little jangly hip scarfs, which let you see and hear any kind of movement your hips make. And we go through the basics of swaying and hip-dropping and shimmying, little scarves jingling as we learn. 

"I love the hip scarves," says one dancer, as we're packing up. "Even if you just hang them up. Like a decorative wind chime..." 

Talk about on the same page.