02/02/2016
TIPS FOR BECOMING A BETTER DANCER
1. DO MORNING STRETCHES
One of the best ways to start your day is to set up a morning stretching routine. It doesn’t have to be incredibly long or hard, but you do want to challenge yourself a little each time. Stretching is great for any type of dancer, and engaging in stretching exercise outside of dance practice will only make dancing easier.
2. PRACTICE MUSCLE MEMORY2
‘Muscle Memory’ is a motor skill acquired by repetition. For those who engage in a lot of freestyling, you’ll hear this term a lot. The best thing about muscle memory is that it’s something you can practice in your everyday routines. It’s not uncommon to hear that people practice “ticking” while waiting in traffic or during study sessions. Whenever you’re doing something, take a 3-5 minute break and practice a specific move you’re trying to refine or acquire. After doing it a couple times, move on to another move. You want to build a pool of moves so when the time comes, your body will be trained to execute them on the fly during practice or class.
3. REVIEW SETS
If you’ve ever learned pieces in a hip hop class or on a dance team, don’t stop doing the choreo when the piece is done being taught! Review pieces you’ve learned daily, and keep it fresh in your mind. If you feel like you are starting to forget how a piece went, take the time to re-learn it. This keeps you dancing and conditions your mind to think about body placement consistently. On top of that, how many times during practice does someone play and old piece and that one member always flawlessly executes? I was always jealous of those people; how good would that feel if it were you in those shoes?
4. WATCH A DANCE VIDEO
With increased ease of access, watching urban dance concepts and videos is a commonplace thing. Chances are, in this day and age, that’s probably what got you into the ‘urban dance scene’ in the first place. I once asked a prominent dancer friend how they pick up choreography so quickly, and he told me that he would watch a dance video a day and would pick a move he liked from the piece and practice that one move. As mentioned earlier, having a pool of urban dance moves to call upon helps both choreographers and freestylers alike.
5. Love it
If you want to dance, you’ve got to love it. If your heart is not into dancing, you will most likely give up when you cannot do certain moves, and this will decrease your sense of control and confidence.
6. Perfect your posture
Stand up straight, push your shoulders down and back, and hold your head up. It’s truly amazing what good posture does for a dancer.
7. Feel the movement
Let movement come from deep within, allowing it to emanate outwards. Try doing the moves with your eyes closed. Do each movement repeatedly to develop muscle memory.
8. Relax
Your body will dance its best in a relaxed state. Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind. Teach yourself to unwind to the music.
9. Keep practising
Once you’ve learnt a few techniques, practise them at home on your own. Not only will you be getting good exercise, you’ll also be developing your technique and style. Watch other dancers on television, instructional DVDs, or in other venues and note body alignment, posture, and techniques. When you have free time, practise – just anywhere around your home. The more you practise, the more you develop your craft. Good technique is what separates good dancers from the best dancers. Learn new moves, but strive to perfect the skills of each step. Working towards a specific goal can accelerate your learning tenfold. Specific goals are critical to achieving success, because without them you will not be challenged to grow. If you have a specific goal, such as a competition, performance, or exhibition, you can be sure that you will improve and grow as a result of the pressure.
10. Surround yourself with positive people
Surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good about your dancing is key to performing well. Dancing is a visual art, and people who feel good about their dancing appear more confident and are more fun to watch. If you are around a negative group of people who isolate you or put you down, find a better crowd to associate with. Doing this will dramatically increase your happiness and performance.
11. Perform!
Be proud of your work and enjoy every performance! A smile is an expression of pleasure, happiness, or amusement. If you smile while you’re dancing, people will get the feeling that you love what you’re doing. Even if you are dancing alone, smile at yourself. You love to dance, so let it show!
12. Expect
challenges, and don’t give up
Some days you’re going to dance poorly and feel tired, unfocused, and not confident. Accepting this reality can help you see it for what is which is completely normal! Everyone has good days and bad days. The key to overcoming these challenges is to acknowledge the way you feel, tell someone you trust about it, and keep working hard in spite of it.
13. EAT BETTER
This one’s hard. Who wants to give up their precious, precious practice snacks? It’s not hard to develop poor eating habits, but the simple fact is it can be detrimental to your learning abilities. Midnight runs to Seven Eleven or McDonald’s have a far bigger impact on your dance ability than you may think. If you can give up these tasty treats, plan ahead and pack some fruits or veggies if you know you have a long practice ahead of you. Good eating habits lead to better living, and with your body being your most precious commodity as a dancer, you want to make sure your engine is clean and ready for anything.
