A nice photo of an attractive couple that bears no relevance to this article. |
Unless you’re lucky enough to be born into a culture that dances – or have a close friend to teach you – then you probably have to pay for classes with your hard earned money.
So to make sure you squeeze out every penny’s worth, its important that you commit as much as you can to memory.
Obviously, the social and fitness benefits are on their own merits to taking classes. But for the thriftier dancer, myself included, I want to get the most for my cash!
1. Put The Wine Glass Down
Sweet merciful nectar of the Gods, deliver me from my awkwardness. |
I’m not saying don’t drink at all (Lordy!). For the sake of a 50 minute lesson, I was personally amazed how much easier it was to learn a routine whilst sober.
By all means, catch up with the other dancers with a few shots after your class and you can effectively have your cake and eat it.
2. Go Feet First
He’s going to get those shoes wet! |
I find it helps to just get my feet right and my body facing the right way first. Then I worry about leading, and then I can worry about styling.
Sixty percent of the time, every time, if your feet are on point then the rest of you will be.
– Me [just now]
So if you just imagine where your feet are going around the dance floor, you are only having to recall a two dimensional sequence then thinking of the form of yourself and your partner.
3. Use Your Muscles
A picture of a lady who has no problem opening her own jars. |
Therefore don’t get to worked up in regards to their positioning being spot on. Just trust your brain to put your feet down where you want them.
The same goes for lead, sometimes you can’t imagine the move, but the arms and hands just remember by themselves.
4. Take Smaller Bites
What a Mad Lad! |
5. Repetition
Another generic shot of some dancers to give my blog an air of professionalism. |
You won’t remember a routine unless you practice it and commit it to muscle memory.
Muscle Memory isn’t a pseudo scientific term, its a legitimate type of training from gamers playing Street Fighter to infantry stripping weapons.
As early as possible, and as boring as it sounds, rehearse what you have learned – making use of the social time after class.
6. Mental Images
The pics you can find online! |
Making use of zany mental images helps commit the sequence of a routine as well as connect the finer details to the easier more basic steps.
So if you have to rotate a hand, or remember to perform something early, make up a mental story about it. I don’t just mean like in your brain, like as in actually MENTAL.
Little sidestep you forget? Imagine you have to squash a tiny rat.
Adjusting the hand position? Imagine you’re mashing some herbs for a pie, maybe to console that tiny rat’s family you squished at the beginning of the routine.
Whatever it takes to commit it to memory!
7. I’ve Forgotten
Thanks for reading,
Keep on shimmying!