Can you hit your single, double, triple pirouette clean every single time? Do you practice at home as much as you can? Do you practice choreography until it becomes muscle memory? Do you perform with your face and eyes and tell a story or just ‘go through the motions’? Do you often get reminded to point your toes or straighten your legs?
Being CONSISTENT is far more important than being perfect. You might be able to hit something once, but can you do it four or five times in a row? Being consistent means you are reliable. You also may be placed in the front more often because you can do the job you are asked to do. You get more results from class as a dancer, by consistent attendance, practicing on your own or from private or semi-private training.
A few tips that may help;
- Take Lessons Consistently. In-person feedback and quality training training is essential. At The Dance Academy in Lehi, Utah we are consistently providing our dancers with outstanding dance education and exceptional technique. It takes time to become an incredible dancer. Make sure you have realistic expectations. It can take several years, but it is always worth it.
- Practice Daily at Home. Becoming a better dancer requires muscle memory and that requires a lot of repetition. It doesn’t have to be complicated (daily stretching and pointing toes can help improve muscle memory.)
- Use Your Face and Eyes. Far too many dancers just ‘go through the motions.’ At The Dance Academy in Lehi, Utah we are consistently helping our dancers learn to tell a story when they are dancing. We educate our dancers how to be performers that people want to watch and engage the whole self while dancing. This is more rewarding for the dancer as well as the audience.
- Stay Inspired. Life can get in the way. Some days you might be more inspired than others and that is just fine. Find your triggers that energize you and help you get back into the groove. Watch your favorite dance video, ask yourself why you started and remember all those little girls that look up to you in big, big way.
- Don’t Give Up. Too many times dancers quit or give up because they didn’t make the team they thought they should make. Dancers or parents switch studio’s, because they think the grass is greener or are promised something that won’t ever really pan out. Dancers may also quit trying because they start to compare themselves. If you quit now, you will soon be back where you started and when you started, you desperately wished to be where you are now.