It’s back-to-school season! That means it’s time to hit the books. Even though you might no longer be in school, that doesn’t mean you can’t stand to learn a few new things. It’s fun to learn something new, and ballroom dance is a challenging subject. Here are a few tools we love to use to help us learn and improve our technique when we’re dancing!
Lessons
Of course, in-person instruction is one of the best ways to learn ballroom dance. Nothing can take the place of one-on-one and group lessons in steps, technique and rhythm. Repeating drills and moves over and over with a qualified instructor will help you reach heights and skills you might never have achieved on your own.
Dance Frame Teaching Tools
The foundation of every dance move is your stance and body shape, so getting the proper form into your muscle memory is vital. It only takes 100 repetitions of a move to learn it, but if you learn it incorrectly, it can take as many as 700 correct repetitions to fix your form and do the move properly. This is why it’s so important to have help when you’re first learning the way to hold your body while dancing. If every move you make extends from an incorrect body position, you’re creating much more work for yourself later in fixing your form. Here’s a tool we really love.
At-home DVDs
These are great for learning the basics of new styles of dance, or for doing workouts on your own. These can be done on your time, and the cost is just the price of the video. This extra practice will keep you in-shape and help improve your muscle memory outside of classes.
YouTube Videos
For specific pointers on technique or short new moves, videos are a great practice tool. They can break things down to the smallest details, so you can practice step-by-step without taking up valuable class time trying to get the finer points of a move. This practice can help you walk into class prepared with specific questions for your instructor, which can help you get the most out of your time.
Local Ballroom Dancing Events
Practicing steps is the best way to keep your skills sharp, but actually dancing is the best way to put your skills to use. These events lack the pressure of competition, but are still a great way to see your progress and remind yourself why you started dancing to begin with. You’ll make new friends and put your skills on display, which will build your dancing community. These are also helpful for the times when your motivation is hitting a low point – going to a dance event will help get you out of a stressful mindset and renew your enjoyment of dance. You might even learn a new skill while you’re there!
Phone Apps
Finally, a tool you can carry with you wherever you are. Apps like Ballroom Genie can help you learn new steps and improve your technique, and all you need to use them is a smartphone. These tools are great both for the level of convenience they provide and the detailed instruction you gain access to.
There are many ways to learn and improve in ballroom dance. Your education is never complete, so use as much as you need to immerse yourself in learning everything you can. If ballroom dance is your passion, we recommend giving some new tools a try to add a new facet to your education. Visit your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios for new tips and lessons!
