1. Take dance lessons consistently. Whether its group classes, private lessons or online dance lessons you need to keep sharpening your dance knowledge.
2. Practice frequently. Make it a habit to practice as often as you can. Watch this video podcast for a guide to practicing.
3. Go out dancing on a regular basis. You need REAL WORLD experience. Go out to a nightclub, a Ballroom dance party or a studio party for social dancing.
4. Have a goal. Having a specific goal will motivate you to get better quickly. Work towards a competition, a showcase or a wedding dance.
5. Dance with people better than you. This will push you outside of your comfort zone and challenge you to adapt to your partner very quickly.
6. Visualize your dancing. Have a clear image of what you want your dancing to become. This clarity will help you work towards the dancer you want to be.
7. Make technique a priority. Remember, it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. Even basic steps can look amazing if done well. Work on your standing leg, your posture, frame and other technique elements.
Many would argue that technique is the single most important thing. However, when preparing for a showcase or a competition, you are told to shift your focus from technique to “Selling the performance”.
Your teacher might say something like: “Your technique is not going to change in the next 2 weeks, but let’s make sure everyone can feel your emotions”.READ THE REST
Did you know that all of the champions in all 3 of the 2010 world professional divisions (in International Style) were from the USA? This just shows how far we have come in Dancesport. Past world champions have usually come from European countries like Germany, England, Scotland and others. CONTINUE READING & WATCH VIDEOS
Do you enjoy watching dance competitions but can’t always make it to the venue? I just found out about a new website: Starstreamers.com. They broadcasts dance competitions pay-per view style. Now you can watch some of the biggest dance competitions at home on your computer. The only requirement is a decent internet connection! READ THE REST
Dancing is as physically demanding as some of the most mainstream sports out there. Here is a video that proves that this is so. Professional “Dancing With The Stars” duo, Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo were motion captured to observe the strength, speed and flexibility they exude when dancing. A few key points from the video: A professional dancer doing Jive can reach foot speeds of 15MPH. A professional dancer spins at 180 RPM – Which is 4 times the speed of a record player spinning. I found out that the average tennis serve speed is of 175 RPM. Alright! We got 5 RPM on those tennis players! After watching the video, do you still have any doubts about the athleticism dancing requires?
So you want to know how to become a better dancer?
This is an article about a quality that I believe people need to have in order to improve and become a better dancer. What is it? In two words, “strong ambition!” When I say strong ambition I mean a willingness to become the best you can be as fast as possible.
It is a burning desire so strong that it would not let anything stop you from becoming the best leader, follower, spinner or whatever your goal is in dancing. I am talking about an urge that would keep you up at night knowing that next day you are going to dance at a party and you JUST HAVE TO DELIVER THE GOODS ON THE DANCE FLOOR! A feeling of I have to have to have to NAIL what I had practiced all these weeks. CONTINUE READING>>
I came across a great article written by Dr. Peter Lovatt who is a Psychologist and a professional dancer. Dr. Lovatt spends most of his time researching human nature and how it relates to dance. In this article he explores the reasons to why people dance. I often ask myself this very same question: Why do I dance? And why do people dance in general? There are many reasons and for me I realized that I love to dance because of the FREEDOM.READ THE REST
Have you ever gone through a month of intense reluctance to attend your dancing lessons? You just did not feel like going. You have not gone social dancing for a while, and you were losing the excitement you once had for learning how to dance. Something that used to keep you up late at night is not all that it used to be. That is perhaps when inspiration needs a little butt-kicking!CONTINUE READING
This dance video should remind everyone why they started dancing in the first place– to have fun! Danny (No, I don’t personally know him) and his partner are having so much fun together that it seems as though they are about to crack up at any given second. In addition, their dancing here is pure lead and follow. Notice how they are not thinking about anything, they are FEELING each others’ movement and interpreting the music. This is the way dancing was always meant to be. I challenge you to go out dancing next time and have as much fun as these two. Enjoy!
The subjectivity of Dancesport competitions can cause the results to vary greatly. As a dancer, you can only control how you dance. The resulting placement is in the judges’ hands. Therefore, being attached to results is quite futile and may lead the dancer to feel drained and frustrated.
It may even make him/her question whether or not to continue dancing at all. For instance, doing well in one competition makes you feel ecstatic. However, at the next competition you do not make the finals and you cannot help feeling miserable. Your emotions swing from one extreme to the next, leaving you feeling unfulfilled and disappointed.CONTINUE READING
Do you want to learn how to dance but have doubts about starting too late?
Latin and Ballroom is a great dance style to pick up for people who are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s (And beyond!). Yes I said 80s! I know an 82 year old woman who takes 3 lessons a week and loves it…CONTINUE READING
1. Take dance lessons consistently. Whether its group classes, private lessons or online dance lessons you need to keep sharpening your dance knowledge.
time researching human nature and how it relates to dance. In this article he explores the reasons to why people dance. I often ask myself this very same question: Why do I dance? And why do people dance in general? There are many reasons and for me I realized that I love to dance because of the FREEDOM. 
control how you dance. The resulting placement is in the judges’ hands. Therefore, being attached to results is quite futile and may lead the dancer to feel drained and frustrated.
