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Beyond beginner, Intermediate and Advanced dancers read also:
Practice makes perfect if you practice perfectly.
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Beyond beginner, Intermediate and Advanced dancers read also:
Practice makes perfect if you practice perfectly.
NOTE: If you are not certain of the correct footwork and foot positions do not practice the figure. Now you know what to pay closer attention to, or what to ask your instructor about at your next lesson.
Make a note of your question so you will not forget to inquire.
If you practice incorrectly, just guessing at what you are supposed to be doing, you can practice it wrong really well, and then perform it wrong really well. I am certain that is not your goal.
You want to practice it correctly, not incorrectly. So, work on a step (figure) that you are certain of.
Do not look at your feet. This is an easy habit to start and an exceptionally difficult one to break.
I suggest that you practice solo, a minimum of three days a week. Five mini practices a day, or five minutes a day, or better yet both.
1. Solo Practice:
A. Spontaneous mini practices
During 5 commercial breaks, if you are a TV buff, move the coffee table and walk through the steps.
While waiting at the Bus Stop or such places, practice. You are going to eventually dance in public so go ahead and break the ice. Hey, you might make a new friend or find a dance partner, when someone inquires about what you are doing. Of course you should dance and practice only in safe location on a safe surface. Do not dance on wet or bumpy surfaces.
During your break at work, spend five minutes of your 15-minute break practicing instead of sitting. You will probably feel better when you return to your desk because of the movement.
Even practicing in your mind, which foot goes where, or the rhythm of the dance, by tapping out the beat with a finger can be helpful. However make certain you do not tap or pump your arm to the rhythm while actually dancing. Pumping is very annoying to your partner, and does not look as good as it might feel.
Finger dancing on a tabletop can help! But you need to get your legs and body involved often also. Muscle memory helps you remember your dance figures.
B. Planned Solo Practices
Practice somewhere where you can dance for 5 minutes straight. You do not have to have your music or a large floor to practice. Just be sure it is a smooth safe surface.
What to Practice Solo all levels:
Always be aware of your posture. Make sure you are standing nice and tall. Keep your shoulders down. Also, anytime you are walking anywhere, be aware of your posture.
a. Pick a figure to practice (you might only know one at this reading).
b. Practice the correct Foot Positions for each figure you are practicing. This is the direction where each foot goes in relation to your other foot.
Foot Positions are: Forward, Back, Side, Close (together), Diagonal Step, Cross Step, or Counter Body Movement Position (CBMP).
You only have two feet so that narrows it down to the Left Foot (LF) or the Right Foot (RF). Do the proper Foot Positions on the correct foot for the figure you are working on.
All of this will make sense as you continue your classes. For now practice what you were taught.
c. Practice the Footwork: the part of the foot in contact with the floor at a specific point in time: Heel, Ball, Toe, Inside Edge, or Flat, Drag (without weight) as taught.
d. Practice the Rhythm: Slows, Quicks, or the Counts. Each dance style has it's own rhythm(s). Be sure you are dancing to the correct one.
e. Practice as if your partner is there with you in dance position. Have good posture and keep your shoulders down. Hold your arms and body as you would if your partner was there. This will help you get accustomed having your arms up, which at first for many is difficult to do physically since our bodies are not in the habit of supporting our arms in this manner. Arms are supported predominately by the body not by the arms.
IMPORTANT: You must know your own part before you can lead or follow well. Many students want to grab a partner right off. Your partner cannot make up for your lack of practice or knowledge. Your partner is not a handrail to support you; you must support yourself, and do your own footwork. Sometimes one partner is trying to hide their lack of knowledge on the figure by having their partner block them from view. If you can't do it alone you will not be able to do it correctly with someone.
2. Practice with your partner:
if possible at least once a week for twenty minutes up to an hour, outside of the classroom.
If for some reason you are unable to get with your partner then at least pretend.
Intermediate and Advanced Students:
Be diligent about practicing.
In public dancing or performance
you will be only 70% as good as your best average practice.
An amateur practices something until he gets it right. A professional practices it until he can't do it wrong. -Stephen Hillier
First I would strongly suggest that you read the New Beginners it has some tips and ideas that are great for all level dancers.
Whenever you can take a beginning class again. This will insure that you practice; it will allow you to REFINE your basics of dance. You may hear things that you did not hear the first time through since you were likely concentrating on your FEET. Even though the entire body is involved in dancing Beginners usually do concentrate on their feet.
In school as youngsters the idea of repeating a class was thought of as a sign of failure, now you are mature enough to realize that repeating a class is an opportunity to learn more and to practice and refine. You have matured and out grown this limiting-belief, that you have to get everything the first time through. To get better at any sport you go back to the basics frequently to improve, and to refine your craft.
Repeating a class will give you a set place and time that you have made a financial commitment to, and there by help motivate you in practicing your dancing. Everyone can use REFINEMENT and PRACTICE on the Basics. You may also find it enjoyable to be a good lead or follow for new students that may be struggling. You can assist them by doing your part correctly. Do not attempt to instruct them.
Do not out dance them and lead them through moves they are not prepared for; this is a disservice to them and may make them feel clumsy and ignorant. Which I am certain is not your intention. Please stay with the class curriculum as being taught at the time. On the last song of the class you may play if you like.
Hot Dogging is distracting to the students, as well as, the instructor. And I am sure that is not your intention. Prior to class during the warm up or during the last song of the class, if you have a partner available that is at your level then it is OK to practice your higher-level figures.
1. Practice 20 minutes a day. And once a week for an hour if possible.
STRUCTURE YOUR PRACTICE
Make a plan for the week. Prior to practice make a plan with your partner on what you want to accomplish. If you do not have a partner make a plan on what you want to accomplish during your practice.
Keep your goal reasonable for the time limitation.
Here are some practice focus suggestions. Use as directed by the dance style you are practicing. This list is non inclusive and in no particular order:
1) A figure
2) Practice the correct Foot Positions for each figure you are practicing. This is the direction where each foot goes in relation to your other foot.
Foot Positions are: Forward, Back, Side, Close (together), Diagonal Step, Cross Step, or Counter Body Movement Position (CBMP).
Do the proper Foot Placement for the figure you are working on.
3) Practice the Footwork: The part of the foot in contact with the floor at a specific point in time: Heel, Ball, Toe, Inside Edge, or Flat, Drag (without weight) as taught.
4) Practice your Rhythm, Slow, Quick, or the Counts. Each dance style has it's own rhythm(s). Be sure you are dancing to the correct one.
5) Rise and Fall if appropriate to the dance style.
6) Sway if appropriate to the dance style you are working on.
7) Practice the alignment for the figure.
8) Amount of turn for the figure
9) Frame
10) A figure to precede and/or follow the figure
11) Your Dance Hold, - choose a Dance Hold position to practice.
12) Posture
13) Poise
14) The Character, Expression of the dance.
15) Center (core)
16) Levels of motions
17) Visual Connection with each other
18) Visual Connection with the audience
19) Variety of figures
20) Synchronization (matching)
21) Hip Motion, or keeping the hips still
22) Top Line
23) Rondes', Fans, Swivels
24) Use of the Floor (don't waste the floor)
25) Floor Craft
26) Etiquette (always)
27) Pressing off the floor &endash; floor compression
28) Length of steps
29) Brushing (gliding) of the feet when appropriate
30) Stillness &endash; No Pumping, Bouncing, or other unnecessary movement.
31) Lines
32) Swing of the Leg
33) Leverage
34) Compression
Now that you have made a plan for your Structured Practice, follow the structured format below:
A. Warm Up - This can be done by simply walking or walking to the rhythm of the music or dance style you are going to practice. Warm your body up and your mind. Think dance.
B. Stretch - After WARMING UP Stretch. DO NOT BOUNCE when you are stretching. Use slow movements to elongate your muscles. Be careful not to cause injury.
C. Strengthen - Do strengthening exercises.
NOTE: Stretching and Strengthening can also be done outside of your Structured Practice.
D. Dance Solo - If your partner is with you first dance solo.
Work on your planned practice item(s) solo. You may dance at the same time just not in hold or too close together where you will interrupt each other.
E. Dance together -Yeah at last! Stick to your plan. Attempt to stay on task; it is easy to get diverted. If something comes up you need to work on, make a quick note for a future practice, and get back on task.
Play nice. Do not vent. Be kind and make suggestions. Ask questions like: What do you need from me? What can I do to help? What do we need to do to accomplish this? If you are too pushy/bossy your partner will not want to practice or dance with you.
If your partner is not available pretend. Practice as if your partner is there with you in dance position. Hold your arms and body as you would if they are there. Be sure to keep shoulders down and have good posture. Arms are supported predominately by the body not by the arms.
F. Run through - Dance Non-Stop &endash; Dance as if you were performing or out social dancing. Don't stop to fuss or fume. Smile. Keep moving. No retakes this is the real thing. All is fine. Do this at full speed at least once. Thank your partner and complement each other on what you have achieved.
G. Dance slow - Be aware of your balance. It requires more strength and balance to dance smoothly slowly. This may be done separately or as a couple.
H. Analyze your practice - Go over what you have accomplished or need more work on.
I. Generalize - Apply the skill (focus point) you are working on to other Dance Styles if time allows.
J. Make notes - of what you need to work on and/or questions for your instructor.
Have a practice notebook to keep track of your planned practice. Otherwise you might spend the entire time changing focus or trying to decide what work on.
If you have difficulties while dancing together (in hold) you may need to postpone dancing together, rather than getting into a squabble. Other times ROLE REVERSAL can help each of you understand what the other partner needs. Be Nice during ROLE REVERSAL this is not a time to whip the other around and OVER exaggerate to get YOUR point across.
The idea of practicing is to achieve improvement not to be RIGHT or Win a disagreement.
Practice in your mind also.
Outside of your structured practice, you may go over the footwork in your head.
In a resent study of athletes going through their moves/actions in their mind; the same areas of the brain that were triggered during real movement were also triggered even though the athletic was not moving.
Also write it out. In your own words write down what you were taught, it helps you remember the steps and think them through thoroughly.
Copyright 2007 Miss Lori
www.delightfuldance.com
DelightfulDance@aol.com
360-887-2141
