The record was first set in Cape Town in 2003, where I believe 550 dancers participated in a class. In 2006 this record was broken by 551 dancers attending a class in Pretoria (near Johannesburg, South Africa).
The Cape Town organisers expected between 600 and 700 dancers to arrive today; so when 983 excited dancers arrived at the Canal Walk shopping centre they were caught just a little off guard!
Well done Cape Town, and better luck next year Pretoria! ;-)