Dance lessons can be fast-paced and can have a lot of moving parts. Depending on the style of dance, there can be warm-ups, bar work, floor routines and then working on the choreographed dance. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but that is to be expected and it will get easier with practice. The most important part is to keep up and not give up! It will take time to learn all the steps and understand how to count. It’s also a good idea to try out some different styles of dancing so that you can find what works best for you.
Viewing Dance Through a Conceptual Perspective
It is essential for dancers of all ages to be able to view their dance work from a conceptual perspective. Taking a steps-only approach or a theme-based approach deprives dancers of the ability to develop their own movements and artistic voices.
To explore viewing dance from a conceptual perspective, teachers can construct and present set material and then allow time for students to ask questions. This can be done by allowing students to dance barefoot and by encouraging them to question the form and movement details rather than focusing on rote learning.
Another way to encourage a conceptual dancer’s point of view is by reframing the class point of view to focus on nonlocomotor skills as well as locomotor ones. This can be done by replacing comments about physique-related attributes (e.g., extreme flexibility or perfect proportions) with discussions about performance skills, musicality and artistic qualities.
