The last post in our mini-series is here! We’ve looked at the teacher and parent roles (if you missed them, you should read them first! Click here for Teacher and here for Parent), and now it’s time to turn our attention to the final and most important part of the triangle, the dancer! While teachers and parents are definitely important, it is ultimately the dancer who brings the most to the table. The passion, commitment and love they have for dance defines the way their dance career will play out, both good and bad. How can dancers support themselves and get the most out of their dance education? We’re glad you asked 😉
Honestly, before a dancer can even begin to think about supporting themself in their own journey, they need to be sure it’s what they want to do. When you love something, you’re much more able to work for it. So, you have to ask yourself “do I love dance and want to make myself better at it?” Hopefully your answer is yes, and if so, then amazing! It’s time for you to start building your own staircase to success (with the support of your parent(s) and teacher(s) of course).
In our experience, here are some things that help a dedicated dancer become even better:
1. Showing Up to Dance Class
Ok, this isn’t as obvious as it sounds. Of course, showing up to class consistently matters, but how you show up matters even more. It’s not just about putting in the hours; it’s about making those hours count. Arriving prepared, setting specific goals for improvement, and paying close attention to the corrections your teacher offers are all key. It is very possible to do an entire dance class and not retain anything the next week, but that’s not something a dedicated dancer does! Make sure you are making the most of your time in the studio.
Here’s a cheat sheet on making your studio time productive:
- Write down your corrections (unless you’re a superhuman who will remember everything your teacher says).
- Tell yourself you’re there to work – arriving mentally prepared to push yourself means your body will accept the push more easily.
- Keep your long-term goals at the front of your mind – have them written in your notebook and glance at them before each class. Then when something is hard you can quickly remind yourself why you’re doing it.
- Be social! All your dance pals will help you get better if you let them. Chatting about dance (or not dance), and watching your classmates can raise your spirits, making you more likely to be mentally capable of the push.
2. Commitment to Practice
Practice is so important (so important in fact, that we have a whole other post dedicated to it. Click here to read it). We know… practice can be tough. A lot of the awesome parts of dance (like your friends, an encouraging teacher, the studio space) aren’t there when you practice so it can be hard to motivate yourself. But you also know that practice is the foundation of progress in dance. So, what can you do to help yourself make it happen? Start with tangible things, since those are easier to achieve. Decide on a space in your house to practice in and collect your dance things (ghillies, swords, a speaker, resistance band etc.). Once your space is ready, you’ll feel more motivated. Next? Start small. A whole practice can feel daunting. So instead, commit to doing something small like doing 10 shedding movements. Easy right? Once you’re done those 10 shedding, your brain will have shifted into practice gear, and it will be easier to continue. Besides, if all you accomplish that day is 10 shedding movements? That’s better than nothing. Here’s a little guide to helping yourself start a practice session (some may help you and some may not! Play around until you find your right fit).
- Make your practice space inviting & practical (sure, get your dance equipment, but what about twinkle lights or motivational posters? Maybe a playlist of your favourite artist is in order?)
- Start small! Commit to doing a small amount of dance to begin (like 10 shedding, or 1 dance, something your brain will say this is easy)
- Use a checklist (bonus if you take your notes from dance class and turn them into a checklist) – brains like to see progress. As you practice, check off what you’ve done!
- Make it a routine – brains also like consistency. Try practicing at the same time each session. Your body will start to expect the exercise!
- Get accountable – text a dance friend (or teacher!) and tell them you’re practicing, send videos to your teacher for feedback if they are open to that (at CSHD we LOVE it), or ask a parent to sit in. Involving other people makes it so much easier to continue.
How you choose to do it is your call, just make sure that you’re making it happen! Right now, you may not want to practice, but future you will be oh so glad you did.
3. Openness to Feedback
Feedback from teachers is a gift, even (maybe especially) when it’s not what you want to hear. Being open to constructive criticism and actively working on those notes shows a growth mindset. Rather than dwelling on what might feel like a mistake, treat feedback as an opportunity to refine your skills and reach new heights in your dancing. The hard truth is that improving is hard and sometimes uncomfortable. But if it doesn’t feel like change, it won’t bring any change, so you have to be open to doing the hard things and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone.
The hard truth is that improving is hard and sometimes uncomfortable. But if it doesn’t feel like change, it won’t bring any change.
4. Leave Excuses at the Door
It’s not new info that excuses can hold you back. But most of the time, a dancer has an excuse for a reason – it probably feels really valid to you, and that’s because it is! There are good excuses and bad excuses, but at the end of the day, they’re all holding you back. Maybe you’ve heard of the stories of athletes who couldn’t afford the proper equipment but competed anyway and won through pure determination and practice (if not, look some up, there are lots and they are inspiring!) A great dancer becomes great because they are willing to push through the things holding them back, not by giving them space. So, if you don’t have a space at home to practice, or you can’t afford a private lesson, or your parents don’t support your goals that’s hard and they’re definitely valid excuses. But what can you do? Can you ask for help? Can you modify? Can you use the internet to help? If you start with what you can do, rather than what you can’t, you’re opening a lot more doors for yourself.
And as for bad excuses, get rid of them right away. No, your dance shoes are not too big to see your pointed toes (believe us when we say we’ve heard this one a thousand times). You aren’t too busy to practice. It’s not your parent’s job to bring your dance shoes or knee socks to class. Any time you give those silly excuses weight, you’re actively holding yourself back. It may feel like it takes the onus off you, but in reality, it just sets you back.
5. Clear Communication
Healthy communication is a two-way street. Dancers should always feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, and goals with both their teachers and parents. If you’re uncomfortable chatting with your teacher or parent, you should definitely ask yourself why! Whether it’s discussing challenges you’re facing or expressing what you hope to achieve, clear communication builds trust and makes sure everyone is working toward the same goals. The other parts of the triangle can’t help if they don’t know what’s going on.
5. Maintaining Balance
Dance is an amazing passion, and we often joke that it’s the only thing you need in your life, but we don’t really believe that. It’s so so important to balance dance with other aspects of life. School, social activities, and downtime are all essential in keeping a well-rounded and fulfilling life. The minute you start to tip the scale of balance (in any direction, not just dance), life feels much harder and out of control. A balanced dancer is a resilient dancer, better equipped to handle the physical and emotional demands of the sport.
Tips for keeping balance:
- Set aside time each week for a variety of different activities (family time, seeing friends, hobbies, working/volunteering etc.)
- If you notice that dance is starting to feel more like a burden than a joy, consider taking a break or changing something to bring back the happiness
A great dancer becomes great because they are willing to push through the things holding them back!
The Triangle of Support—teacher, parent, and dancer—can be such a beautiful thing. We’ve seen so many dancers, from recreational to ultra-competitive thrive because the triangle is all working together. When each side is doing its part, the dancer can be their best self and isn’t that the whole reason to come to class?
That’s our miniseries done! It’s been so fun to highlight the triangle and everything it can do for an amazing dance journey. Now we’re excited to move on and tackle some other aspects of dance that need talking about!
