Students always ask us, ‘how can I become a great dancer?’ Many parents and students believe it begins with good feet, flexibility, leaps or pirouettes but most of what creates a great dancer begins in the mind. Like the rest of the body, this sometimes requires a workout as well. As we prepare to host our dance team auditions, Mady shares some of her best advice on becoming a great dancer:
Attitude
Becoming a dancer requires having the right attitude. As a dance student, you may take much of your direction from your instructor but you must be willing to practice and make improvements on your own. It’s easy to focus on what you do well but it requires the right attitude to work on what challenges you. Staying positive while you fail and grow is also a must!
Self-Care
One of the most overlooked areas in the dance world is self-care. To build a thriving career as a dancer, it’s important to learn from a young age how to take care of your mind and body. Unfortunately, the dance world is full of promising young dancers who were unable to reach their potential due to injury. Recognize unusual aches and pains and let your instructor, parent or doctor know. To prevent injuries, stretching is crucial. We always remind our students to stretch before and after class.
Resilience
Resilience can be one of the most challenging areas to work on. Part of becoming a great dancer requires an ability to accept criticism. Early on, this can come from instructors, which may be easier to accept but later on, this can come from admissions committees or fellow dancers. Learn how to decipher constructive advice and work on bouncing back quickly. Great dancers know how to turn a negative into a positive.
Discipline
Meeting your personal goals require discipline and consistency. Going to class isn’t always fun. What makes the difference between a good dancer and a great dancer is showing up when things get tough. Having the discipline to show up to class, every day, on time and prepared to perform well will help you improve.
Dance is one of the most difficult sports (and art forms) that exists. Embracing challenges with determination and perseverance are what will make you the best dancer you can be.
Auditions for our dance team are coming up. Be sure to prepare your solo and purchase tickets for the big day. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dance-team-auditions-tickets-45179759878?aff=es2
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