Getting The Most Out Of Dance Class

Taking class is a big part of every dancer’s life. Here are some tips for getting the most out of every hour you spend in the studio:

+ Listen to all the corrections. Just because the teacher didn’t direct a correction to you specifically doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from it.

+ Don’t get mirror-dependent. It can be easy to rely on the mirror too much for your dancing. Practice not looking too.

+ Change things up. Don’t stand at the same place at the barre every time (I know it’s hard!). Go in the first group if you usually wait until last. Do things differently and challenge yourself–it will pay off in the long run.

+ Warm up properly. Don’t get to class and expect plies to do the trick for you. Go early. Warm up well. You’ll be glad you did and your body will thank you. Plus, this is just a good habit to get into…

+ Clarify any corrections. If you got a correction in class that you weren’t 100% sure about, take a minute to ask the teacher about it after class is over. In order to improve, you need to be able to take the instruction you get in class and apply it to your dancing.

+ Engage your muscles. If you cheat and don’t stand correctly, you are going to pay the price of not building the proper muscles. Make sure you are engaging your muscles instead of just going through the motions.