More than just fitness: How a 'cathartic' Leeds dance class has become a safe space for empowerment

SOS Dance is an empowerment-focused dance company that takes routines choreographed by the world’s top backing dancers (who work with stars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Dua Lipa) and breaks them down for absolute beginners.

More than just a fitness class, it operates as both a safe space for everyday women to build confidence, as Leeds instructor Chloe Woods revealed, talking about one of her finest achievements since returning to the discipline.

That confidence, Chloe explains, doesn’t just stay in the studio but translates directly into everyday life and, crucially, into the workplace.

"When she started, she shared how she was quite shy and wasn't super confident in class," Chloe explained.

However, after two years of slowly building her self-esteem and dropping her inhibitions on the dancefloor, that same student found herself preparing to deliver a daunting presentation to 100 people at work.

"She felt confident doing that," Chloe recounts. "Before she went in, she said to herself: 'Okay, if I can go to a dance class and I can dance in heels, then I can do this.' That was really lovely to hear."

For Chloe, it was a beautiful validation of exactly what SOS Dance is built to do. It isn't just about learning the moves to a pop song; it is about taking that 'diva' energy with you when you leave.

"The things that you can get in dance class, the confidence that you can build, and creating that time for yourself, is so important and empowering for the rest of your life outside of the studio," she added.

Despite dancing from a young age, Chloe actually walked away from the discipline entirely for eight years.

"I wasn't sure if I would be able to be successful in the dance industry," she admitted, recalling the intense pressure she felt as a teenager. "I felt like I didn't have the right... in quotation marks... body type, or the right look."

Today, she is on a mission to be the welcoming, judgment-free instructor she wishes she had growing up.

By stripping away the pressure of perfection and providing a safe alternative to the fear of being ‘Instagrammed’ on a night out, her classes have evolved into something much deeper than a weekly workout.

Dance as a form of catharsis

The classes have created a vibrant, fiercely supportive community of women from all walks of life, from complete beginners stepping into the studio for the first time to the seasoned regulars who have been attending for years.

The shared goal is the same: to leave their inner critic at the door, and that shared ethos bridges generational gaps, too.

Chloe is quick to dismiss the idea that anyone is ever "too old" to start, noting that her community is a brilliant melting pot of women in their early twenties right through to their forties and beyond.

"It’s actually been really lovely to see," she laughed, recalling how the diverse age range plays out in the studio.

"When we get a throwback song, some of the girls in their early twenties will say, 'I don't know who this artist is!' while the people in their forties are absolutely loving it."

But beyond the shared laughs and the love of a good pop routine, this cross-generational sisterhood provides something much deeper; for many of the women in Leeds, the studio has become a vital emotional sanctuary during life's toughest moments.

"Quite a lot of people come to dance class when they're experiencing a big life change, a change in identity, or maybe they've moved cities," Chloe explained.

"I joke that sometimes the dance class is a bit of a breakup club, where people have experienced romantic breakups, and they're going through a really difficult time. Dance has been there for them as a bit of a support, and a resource for their well-being."

It is this profound sense of catharsis that has turned Chloe's classes into a lifeline for so many. A place to heal, to sweat, and to find your inner 'Sasha Fierce' again.

So, what is Chloe's advice for anyone letting their inner critic talk them out of booking that first class?

"If you have a feeling that a dance class could really do something for you right now, then absolutely follow that feeling and go for it," she urged.

“You can absolutely come on your own, and know that you won't be on your own - because you'll be supported by everyone else in the studio."

To find out more or book your first class, visit SOS Dance’s website or follow Chloe by visiting her Instagram page.