Dance Advice | Dance FAQ’s | Becoming a Good Dancer
Becoming a Good Dancer
Interestingly the basics of becoming a good dancer are the same basics you apply to become good in any field, which is essentially hard work and practice. There is no set path to become a good dancer, outside of practising, training and working hard. One of the main issues that I have come across with regards to dancer challenges is location and proximity to dance classes and dance schools which means that logistics and access to a dance education have a lot to do with the direction of careers. However, it’s important that the dancer is empowered and understands that all options are available to them. It is for them to follow their own path and if need be, to build their own. The good dancer will do whatever it takes based on a number of factors and this could include moving to a city or applying for a dance school far away. There are many routes and directions you can go and there is no right or wrong way to make it as a good dancer. It is important that you practise and become an expert in what you do. Practise your dance steps, choreography and freestyle. The enthusiastic dancer that will succeed does not need to be told this, it will come naturally. That natural drive translates into something else that you will need: confidence. Confidence breeds confidence and will make you attractive and inspire people. It’s important that you are confident in yourself as a human being as well as a dancer. It’s also important that you are friendly, presentable, clean and an easy person to work with. So attitude is very important when it comes to working as a dancer. Sometimes a dancer will lose a role because they are too hard to manage. This is much more frequent than you might think – a dancer won’t get the role because they’re an idiot, even if an incredible talent. Always remember this! Sometimes the less talented dancer can get the job because they are easier to work with and have a great attitude and energy. Another important thing to try and develop is the direction of energy and life experience into your dance moves. I can say proudly, I put my whole life experience into every move I dance. Even when I rehearse, I put everything into it… I take each step very seriously. It’s almost like each step is my last act or some kind of religious offering – never just “do the moves”, dance like it is an honour and a privilege. This energy will project to the audience and even into the room during a dance class. Live the music and express it through your whole body. Don’t forget your hands and face and eyes. Your facial expressions are extremely important too. I ‘lived’ dance during my youth and beyond and in a sense I had no choice because I was performing on stage from before I was ten years old. However, if you live, like many of my students, in rural areas with fewer performance opportunities, I suggest that you do everything you can to create those opportunities for yourself. This might include entering dance competitions but might also involve waiting until you do have the chance to travel to a place where you have more dance classes and training opportunities. However, you must never just wait because you must, without excuse, use that time to train with what you do have. Read every dance book, learn from DVDs or online lessons, absorb from the greats through television. Connect with dancers and artists virtually and in the flesh. Learn about musicality… there is always, no matter where you are, opportunity to grow and expand as a dancer. Attend as many dance classes as you can and if you don’t have any dance classes or you are beyond the local standard then take advantage of this and create a dance class. You could do this with friends or create something for children or other budding dancers – don’t be afraid to create a dance path for yourself. The same lessons that you will learn will give you experience that you will utilise as you grow as a performer and a dancer. It’s also important to balance your schedule because dancing is a physical activity and you will feel tired at times. It’s also important to remember that to become the best dancer that you can be, you should be able to express different aspects of life, which means that you should experience as much of life as you can. That means that you should study history and literature and the arts in general, not only because this is a wonderful intelligent thing to do but because it will, without question, help you become a more effective communicator and dancer. It will also help you decide whether dance is what you really want to do. I suggest you keep your options open and really think about the direction of your life because no matter what happens, you will do what you end up doing anyway, so there is nothing to lose. Dancing is something that you should enjoy and do naturally and it should be fun. If it’s fun for you, then working hard will be having fun and you will succeed. Keeping an open mind will also help you keep your artistic mind expanding and this includes dance style. Make sure that you try as many different styles as you can; identify what you like and gain experience. You can use that experience and maybe later learn to fuse dance styles or moves. Once you’ve tried various styles you will naturally lean towards one or the other. These can be your foundation dance styles that you can focus on with your basic ballet technique. It’s not necessarily that every dancer has a foundation in ballet but it is certainly strongly suggested and encouraged because your options and opportunities will be restricted if you don’t have a basic solid ballet foundation. Don’t be afraid to dance for yourself. This is when you find an empty dance studio or dance in your bedroom. Express your physicality, play the music, practise and have fun. You will be shocked at how many times your creativity will flow and things will happen. Often your creativity will be more likely to flow in this type of environment than any type of official or formal dance class or setting.