It’s common during dance class to find yourself with a little bit of downtime. Whether your dance teacher is working out a section of choreography, changing the music or drilling one-on-one with another student, you might occasionally find yourself in a holding pattern during your class. It’s definitely NOT an invitation for you to stop and do nothing, talk to a neighbor or kick up a ruckus. Nope, no thank you, no way! Instead, make use of every moment and perfect your craft. Here are five things you can do in dance class while you’re waiting for direction from your teacher:
1. Stretch.
Flexibility is as important to a dancer as water is to fish! It’s the foundation on which every single piece of dance technique begins. If you are not flexible and mobile, then it’s extremely hard to execute most dance steps properly. So, if you find yourself with downtime during a dance class, then pick a stretch and hold it. If you have arrived early to a class, begin warming up in a quiet corner. Don’t just stand there, stretch something!
2. Review.
If your teacher has just taught you a new dance step, such as an outside pirouette in jazz class for example, then you can be practicing it over and over. Even if your teacher said, “Practice this three times,” and you’ve done it three times- but your teacher hasn’t moved on yet- then keep working! Maybe you’re done before your teacher has gotten around to giving the next piece of instruction, or she has found herself working with another student for longer than expected. Please don’t shout, “Miss, I’m done! What should I do now?!” Chances are, you weren’t a master after the three times anyways. Why? Because mastery doesn’t happen in a minute or two. Keep polishing, keep practicing, and work on your move until you’ve been told to do otherwise.
3. Practice.
If you have been taught a combination or a dance, and you find yourself with a hot second to think through it, then downtime during dance class is a great moment to remind yourself of your choreography. You do not need to perform your dance “full-out” in the middle of the room to practice. Simply mark through your steps in a quiet corner, and it will make a remarkable difference in how much you can remember when it comes time to do the dance as a class. Your teacher will be so impressed with what you retained!
4. Write.
So you’ve stretched, you worked on your new step until the cows came home, and you’ve reviewed your choreo so well you could do it in your sleep. You really are done. What now? Pull out your dance notebook and jot down your step or combo so you can remember it next week! For example, pretend you just learned the Martha Washington in tap class. You’ve practiced it several times, you’ve worked through it slowly on your own, you even stretched out your ankles, but your teacher hasn’t switched it up yet. You’re still in Martha Town. There’s nothing else to do right now, right? Wrong! Jot down “scuff-heel-flap, hop-shuffle-step, flap-click-heel-stomp” in your notes, and you’ll never forget about Martha as long as you live.
5. Watch.
If your teacher is working with another student, or practicing a piece of choreography she’s about to teach you, then consider zipping your lip and watching to learn. You can pick up some of the movements before they’ve even been taught to you! Similarly, you can listen for the corrections the teacher is giving to another student and apply them to your own dancing. Genius! If your teacher is demonstrating a step across the floor, you should pay attention and mark. After all, that teacher is an expert- don’t miss an opportunity to learn from the best!
Remember, every minute counts. Somewhere, someone is working hard. When they meet you on the dance floor, they’ll be ready. Will you? No doubt, because the next time you have downtime during a dance class, you’ll know exactly what to do. There is always a teachable moment in dance, so make sure to use each minute to learn something awesome!
Looking for a dance studio in Westminster? Call or contact Elevate Dance Center today.