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March 29, 2017
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"Daryl, I really want to look better when I'm out dancing, what should I do?" I get asked this question all the time, or even better yet, "I just need a few dance moves besides "Step Touch" so I can look decent in a club." My response is, "No Problem!" Now it just comes down to how motivated one is to achieve their goal. If you are really motivated you have to be willing to put in the time to take lessons and practice what you have learned. It is far more beneficial to take dance lessons a few times a week than just taking a lesson once a week. Taking lessons a few times a week will help you remember steps and patterns much quicker and your muscle memory will accelerate to the point where you will begin to move more naturally and won't have to think as much. Taking lessons just once a week you will tend to forget a lot more and will have to spend a lot of time on remembering what you did the previous week. A good place to start would be with 10 lessons so that you can easily get past the basics and start to learn some cool moves.
It's not just about learning steps! Yes it is good to learn steps and have some cool footwork memorized so that you can go out and bust a few moves on the dance floor, but so much more goes into dancing that really gives you that unique look that makes you stand out as a GOOD dancer! When you see a good dancer it always comes down to 3 major things... 1. Their Style 2. Their Technique 3. Their ability to carry a rhythm. If a dancer has no style but they have technique and rhythm they will often look stiff and too pre-planned. Nobody wants to be a stiff dancer! If they have style and rhythm but no technique they might look a little goofy or even a little sloppy, still not a good match. Finally, if a dancer has no rhythm then dancing doesn't matter because they are completely out of rhythm with the music and this usually looks like someone is trying too hard or a complete hot mess!
So in order to be a good dancer one must have at least all 3 Style, Technique, and Rhythm. In the very first lesson I work on Rhythm if it is an issue for someone to hear the beat of the music. I explain to my new dance student counting and how it matches with different rhythms and beats. I play a few different styles of songs to show my dance student how to count certain rhythms and how different rhythms go to different songs. I then show them a dance move that will match that rhythm. It's a process of remembering all the different steps and it takes time but once the student gets the hang of it they begin to become eager for more!
Don't become pattern happy! "Pattern Happy" is when someone is obsessed with learning new dance steps but will often forget about adding the technique and style. Once a dance student has learned a few basic dance steps (or dance patterns) I then like to add some arm and body movement. This might be a pull of the arm or a bounce or learn with the body to make a dance move look cool. I then add balance and proper foot and body placement so that the dance student can now start working on good technique. This again is a building block process and if the student doesn't get the movement right then and there I tell them to practice this at home (especially in front of a mirror) because this will help them understand the movement at their own place. A lot of times I have had a student tell me that they went home to practice a certain step and boom a light bulb went off in their head and they finally understood what I was trying to show them with that step!
So first thing one needs to do in order to learn to dance is to break out of their shell and call or DM me for dance lessons! If you are afraid to dance in front of other people not a problem! I have several studios we can use where nobody will be watching nor bothering you while you are learning. Patience. Learning to dance takes time and everyone learns at their own pace! Do not get discouraged! The first few lessons are usually the most difficult because its all new stuff that you are learning. Before you know it you will be picking up new dance moves quickly and learning them well if you stick to practicing and dedicating to taking lessons a few times a week in the beginning.
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The Benefits of Dancing: Exercise being number 1
Some of the major benefits of dance are...
Exercise. Body Conditioning. Improves Memory. Improves Balance, Strength and Stamina. Improves hand/eye coordination. Is a fun hobby. A great way to spend time with that special someone. Improve your posture. Gives your overall confidence a boost! Dancing is also a fun way to get in your daily dose of cardio without being bored!