There are millions of dancers in the world today, but only a fraction of them will become great at what they do. Only a few of them will embrace dance and make it part of who they are, part of their identity.
There are certain things great dancers do differently than the average talented, but not very spectacular ones. Talent helps to be a good dancer but a great dancer is not born. He or she develops their skills and abilities over time and part of that development is continuously raising the bar.
The tips some of the greatest dancers I (have) known, shared with me all started with a little thing called “mindset”. The first step is to recognize you yourself as an athlete. Once you’ve been able to do that it is easy to dedicate yourself to habits that only athletes have.
Worded differently all the tips could be divided into five general tips. These are tips they learned from someone they felt were better than them and that helped them improve. By sharing these tips, we want to help you see the world of dance through their eyes.
1 Take inventory of your surroundings
Every platform and venue are different. The hours dancers spend practicing in their favorite studio will have them memorize every inch of that studio without even realizing it. They know the distance between each wall and pillar. Exactly where they have to turn, jump, and the distances they have to move. When dancers go to perform a choreography in a totally new venue, they have to make sure to adjust to the new surroundings. This is of utmost importance, and in case of a smaller stage, they might run out of space, or if the stage is much bigger than the studio, the whole performance can get lost in the space. An easy way to do this is by rehearsing the choreography a couple of times on the new stage. It’s also a great help to count the steps from side to side and diagonally too. Marking the center of the stage can be a great aid too – it helps the dancers to coordinate on the stage.
2 Floor, lighting, props, and distractions
By checking the markings on the floor and the positioning of any props that are on the floor, a dancer prevents themselves from becoming startled. It is much easier to ignore an object that reflects light if you know it is there before you begin.
3 Cross-train
Incorporate other physical challenges into your life. It’s important to excel in your field but mind that there are other exciting activities and sports out there. They not only contribute to your overall health and strength, but will maintain your mental health and keep your mind open. Sometimes, over-training in a particular sport leads to burnout. Therefore, it’s a good idea to include a diverse scope of activities in your life; try swimming, biking, or running in addition to your dancing and you will realize a major return on that investment.
4 Dress appropriately
Appropriate attire is very important. Proper dance shoes, quality tights, and light clothing will give your body the support you need. Take into account what you are doing and use your attire as a tool. If you are practicing, wear your dance attire made for that purpose; your clothing should not bother your when performing difficult dance moves and should give you the maximum range of motion.
5 Learn to listen to your body
A good dancer is in tune with his or her body. They understand that food is fuel, but the body needs different fuels for different demands placed upon it.
When someone is doing physical exercise that is a little bit harder than usual, the process of muscle hypertrophy, or muscle building, is activated. This is when small microscopic tears occur in the tissue, which is perfectly normal. After the trainings, the body builds these damaged muscle fibers back, which increases strength and the size of the muscles – this is how athletes (or dancers) get stronger and stronger. It is clear that by taking protein, you can boost this recovery phase.
Learn how to use food to your advantage. Your muscles need nourishment to regenerate and rebuild. Take high-quality (all natural) supplements to give you the energy you need and to enhance your muscle recovery.
You can also invest in some all natural and highly effective focus supplements from the same company. These keep your mind clear and allow you to function at peak performance levels in practice, performing, and auditioning. Everyone from college students to powerful corporate CEOs are taking advantage of this new age, smart pills.
Practice these tips and you will soon find yourself growing as a dancer and helping others to reach their goals as well.
Wendy Dessler
Guest Blogger
Wendy is a super-connector with Corpina.com who helps businesses with building their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She used to dance Jazz-ballet when she was a teenager, and she still practices it to maintain her body fit.
