NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Lifestyle

Live Well Road Test: Beyoncé dance class

NZ Herald
2 Dec, 2019 02:00 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

INDIO, CA - APRIL 14: Beyonce Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Field on April 14, 2018 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin

INDIO, CA - APRIL 14: Beyonce Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Field on April 14, 2018 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin

Sinead Corcoran tries out a dance class that promises to leave Zumba in the dust.

The promise

I have one question for you: Do you want to look as good as Beyonce does after three children?

Do you want to be able to twerk like you've just dropped a fizzy drink titled revenge album as a clapback against your cheating husband, and now you're headlining Coachella like it ain't no thang?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Good, same.

Well guess what, if you live in Auckland – you're in luck.

READ MORE:
• Premium - Live Well Road Test: Prison workout
• Premium - Live Well Road Test: The plastic-free life
• Premium - Live Well Road Test: Float tank for back pain
• Premium - Live Well Road Test: Gastric band hypnosis

OK Now Ladies is, according to its founders, a "sluttier, cooler Zumba class with dope music" where for an hour each week you learn sexy, Beyonce-inspired choreography.

Organisers Taryn and Bianca share that they're "not your average white-washed experience with bad cover music. Expect full attitude from the dance moves and the music and expect to feel truly welcome, seen and heard."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

⁣

"Our core belief system is 'RESPECT THA WOMEN' and that is exactly how you should feel in our company.⁣

Discover more

Lifestyle

Eating after you exercise may provide added fat-burning benefits

03 Dec 07:13 PM

⁣

"Forget feeling awkward, forget feeling anything shameful about yourself and be prepared to sweat, move and appreciate your body and the powerful connection that comes from being in a room of like-minded women.⁣"

⁣

I don't think you're ready for this jelly, but Sign. Me. Up.

The history

Dance has been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilisations. We're talking prehistoric twerking you guys.

It's thought that dance may have been used as a tool for social interaction, promoting co-operation essential for survival among early humans. Dabbing Cavemen, perhaps?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Obviously, 1981 was a momentous year for dance revolution: that's the year Beyonce Giselle Knowles was born.

In case you just crawled out of a bomb shelter - Beyonce rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups in history.

Following their disbandment in 2006, Beyonce became a star in her own right – leaving Kelly Rowland and that other one in her Lemonade-soaked dust.

In 2014, she became the highest-paid black musician in history, and her dance moves have a religious-like following. Most influentially, her music video for "Single Ladies" was touted as the "first major dance craze of both the new millennium and the internet".

The science

As well as getting a BOOTYLICIOUS BOD (That was yuck, I'm so sorry) - you'll also improve ya mood.

The authors of a meta-analysis of 27 studies on the effectiveness of dance movement therapy, published in Arts in Psychotherapy, found that dancing can reduce depression, anxiety, and stress and boost self-esteem, body image, coping ability, and your overall sense of wellbeing.

It's also proven to be more fun than slogging away at the gym: researchers also found that attendance is higher with dance classes than conventional exercise, possibly because "dance is a form of exercise in which movement, social interaction, and fun are mixed together," they explained.

The reality

Have you ever thought that joining a cult actually sounds quite nice? Not in a Gloriavale way but in that gal pal, "sense of belonging, and collectiveness" Spice Girls kind of way?

That's what my experience of OK Now Ladies was like: a sexy sorority of gals dancing like it was 2am in Ponsonby's Longroom – minus all the awful drunk men.

Over the course of an hour, instructor Bianca taught us a series of dance routines – each more hussy than the last (and if you read my pole dancing Road Test you already know my absolute penchant for a hussy dance routine).

Without further ado, let me present to you the two best things about this dance class:

They turn all the lights off, bar a couple of sexy blue and red strip lights along the floor - reminiscent of a mid-noughties R&B video, or a top of the line strip club.

The dance moves are utterly transferable: you're not only getting a workout in the moment, you're without a doubt getting your money's worth because you can take those hip rolls to the clubs too.

The verdict

Don't try to make plans with me for a Tuesday evening ever again because I have a standing reservation at this dance class for the rest of my life.

See you there, to the left to the left.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

'Speechless': Woman's lost engagement ring miraculously found with stranger's help

Lifestyle

Boss’ insane text to gym members about ‘young women’ rule

Lifestyle

King Charles' unprecedented Trump move


Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

'Speechless': Woman's lost engagement ring miraculously found with stranger's help
Lifestyle

'Speechless': Woman's lost engagement ring miraculously found with stranger's help

Diana lost her treasured ring while collecting water samples in the Waiuku mudflats.

14 Jul 07:00 AM
Boss’ insane text to gym members about ‘young women’ rule
Lifestyle

Boss’ insane text to gym members about ‘young women’ rule

14 Jul 02:04 AM
King Charles' unprecedented Trump move
Lifestyle

King Charles' unprecedented Trump move

14 Jul 01:14 AM


Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
Sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

01 Jul 04:58 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP