Let's talk about some attitudes that can make it harder to learn dance - so you know what not to do! Every now and then I hear a comment from someone that makes me realise that they have an attitude that is not conducive to learning dance as well as they could. By noting these in yourself, should they be there, you can align yourself better with your dance goals.
Here are the 5 I have noticed most. 1 Thinking dance should be easy This is especially true for wedding couples, but I have seen it in regular ongoing students. It is surprising how many people think they should, after a few weeks, be dancing like people they have seen on YouTube. I am sure when you read that, you can see the fallacy in this perspective - therefore, we need to consider what brings this unconscious notion about:
2 Thinking you should be as good as other students in class
3 Thinking you just need it explained to you one more time Try giving it a go so you can better understand what you need to do. You will also then have some insight to ask better and more helpful questions. Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. Xun Kuang 312-230 BCE Wanting to see demonstration upon demonstration or wanting to have a figure explained again and again instead of doing it and then using the experience to provide feedback is unlikely to help. Have a go, notice what did or did not seem to work - really feel your body - and then ask questions based on that. You will learn much faster by doing. 4 Thinking you can be told one special secret and you will then instantly dance better Many often think that the best dancers have this secret to dancing well. And that if they only knew this secret, then they too would dance well. There is indeed something that all the good dancers have that will help, but it's no secret - it's practice! You can always get more advice, but chances are you need to practice more the advice you have been given before you get more. Focus on what you have been told, and master that before thinking you need more "secrets". One side note: if you have not been told anything about a specific attribute (timing, posture, the way to lead or follow a certain figure, musicality, physicality exercises etc.), then it's always smart to ask about those specifically. But that's not one simple secret, that is a lot of small insights that will add to large gains - with practice. 5 Thinking it's your partner's fault We are talking about a two person activity here. And sometimes it is not your fault. But it is a team thing. so work with your partner to help them - and yourself - get better. Once you are both working to help both of you (and you genuinely want to see both do better), you will start to see yourself and others improve. If you want to read more about the serious efforts to help both people improve, then take a look at Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies: An R-Rated Guide for Partnership. Leave a comment if you have any questions about the above or if you can think of other attitudes that hold people back. Clint
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AuthorThis blog is written by the staff at Destine Dance and is inspired by the questions and challenges faced by our students Archives
October 2024
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