Dance Practice on a Regular Basis - Practice makes perfect
One day, I attended a workshop At the LA world Salsa Congress, with one of Salsa’s Grand Masters, Ismael Otero. This is what he had to say to us: “In my classes, the beginners want to move up to intermediate level right away, those in the intermediate level want to take advanced-level classes, and advanced students want lessons for beginners…! Why do you think that advanced students return to basics?”.
If I remembered this anecdote, it is because I notice this very same fact in my classes every single day.
As with any discipline, dance requires regular practice that prepares our mind and body such that we can master movements, learn more readily and gain flexibility and nimbleness in our motion.
Yet, practice is not a question of spending time and energy on complex patterns or acrobatics. Seasoned dancers know that the best practice is merely a question of the basic steps, like a musician practicing scales, or a singer practicing vocals…
The basics allow for adjustment of the body to the rhythm of the music, to centre oneself and remain so, and to create an automatic response of our movements. Once the body is able to recreate the basic steps as second-nature, then it is able to complete more advanced movements and allow for much greater creativity.
To help you prepare well for dancing and to practice more often, I would suggest dropping in for the basics at 6:30 p.m. If you think that you have nothing to gain from a beginner’s class. Think again! Quite the contrary - at this level I can offer you valuable advice that will greatly help you on your way to becoming a good dancer.
If you would like to make comments on this topic, feel free to do so right here….
One day, I attended a workshop At the LA world Salsa Congress, with one of Salsa’s Grand Masters, Ismael Otero. This is what he had to say to us: “In my classes, the beginners want to move up to intermediate level right away, those in the intermediate level want to take advanced-level classes, and advanced students want lessons for beginners…! Why do you think that advanced students return to basics?”.
If I remembered this anecdote, it is because I notice this very same fact in my classes every single day.
As with any discipline, dance requires regular practice that prepares our mind and body such that we can master movements, learn more readily and gain flexibility and nimbleness in our motion.
Yet, practice is not a question of spending time and energy on complex patterns or acrobatics. Seasoned dancers know that the best practice is merely a question of the basic steps, like a musician practicing scales, or a singer practicing vocals…
The basics allow for adjustment of the body to the rhythm of the music, to centre oneself and remain so, and to create an automatic response of our movements. Once the body is able to recreate the basic steps as second-nature, then it is able to complete more advanced movements and allow for much greater creativity.
To help you prepare well for dancing and to practice more often, I would suggest dropping in for the basics at 6:30 p.m. If you think that you have nothing to gain from a beginner’s class. Think again! Quite the contrary - at this level I can offer you valuable advice that will greatly help you on your way to becoming a good dancer.
If you would like to make comments on this topic, feel free to do so right here….
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Check out the professional shows on the big screen and feeling the excitement of Latin and Brazilian dances via this video live.
Check out the professional shows on the big screen and feeling the excitement of Latin and Brazilian dances via this video live.