We all want to improve at things we do in life. As dancers, it can be a competitive world out there. Some of us want to become professional backing dancers, some of us want to be in the musical theatre industry, some of us want to become choreographers and some of us purely dance just because we enjoy it! No matter why we dance, we want to improve and capture our progress.
Here are 3 IMPORTANT traits we can work on to become a better dancer and by better I do not mean perfect, I mean the process….
MOTIVATION AND DETERMINATION
What motivates you as a dancer? Is it having that dream of being on stage every day? Is it simply just because you love it and it makes you feel good? If we are not motivated in dance then how can we seriously be determined to improve every time? You’ve got to stay motivated no matter the situation. Dance is your safe space and can just shut everything else off going on in the world. Write your goals down, watch your own videos, get inspired by other videos, remember why you first started and push each time you step in the room.
ABILITY TO FOCUS
We are all human. So yes we have our good and bad days like anyone else would. There may be days where you feel completely exhausted after a long day or with summer creeping up you might not be focused on dance you may just want to have lazy days and sunbathe. Being able to snap out of any of that to focus is what often sets apart a dancer from a great dancer. Wake yourself up, eat healthily, stay hydrated and refocus your mind. What you can do on a bad day determines the type of person you are and your consistency determines a successful person from a non-successful one. It may seem harsh but it’s the truth, so lets’ go!
ENTHUSIASM
When I think of dance, I think of pure excitement! How does dance make you feel? Does it excite you thinking about when the next class is? Are you that person that practices every day or can’t stay still when you hear music (100% me)? Even in everyday life, maybe waiting in a queue counting beats in your head, free-styling in your mirror in your bedroom or just generally dance in your free time. Dancing can be hard work use that genuine enthusiasm to really love it and get the most out of your classes! What you put in is what you get out and without the passion applied from the start, the performing facials and expressing feelings becomes a chore when it shouldn’t be! Put your heart on the line for the things you love the most!
All these traits are SO important to think about every day in the dance industry. If you love dance let me assure you that these traits are what you need to work on all the time to become a great dancer. It’s mind over matter, before even stepping foot in the studio. We all want to improve as a dancer no matter what and love seeing our growth over time. As well as skills such as facials, textures, levels, dynamics, choreography ‘pick-up’ and everything dance in-between. We need to recognise these traits and remember how important they are EVERY time we step into that studio.
Why be a good dancer when you can be a great dancer. When the mind is right first, the rest will take care of itself.
What We Need To Work On As Dancers
