5 tips for beginner dancers
Author: Cha Her
As a competitive Hip Hop dancer, many people would come up to me and ask me how I got into competing for World of Dance Chicago and winning 2nd place at Minnesota State Fair 2017 with my dance team. I tell them it’s never too late to learn how to dance, whether for fun or competitively. Dance has always been part of my life growing up, it was not only part of my culture, but it was something I could do for fun with my friends. My drive to dance was to connect with people and share the same passion.
I believe that dance is a form of sport that requires a lot of body strength and control of one muscle (which we call isolation). Dance comes in many styles, which can be daunting for beginners, but once you know these five dance tips, it’s not so scary.
Tip #1: Look up while dancing
The most common mistake when dancing is looking down at your feet and not looking up. Always look up to whoever is dancing next to you, in front of you, or you can even view yourself if you are in a studio.
Tip #2: Feel the music
Let the music control you and follow what your body is feeling. Dance comes naturally to people who feel the music out. Don’t be afraid to be yourself when dancing; use this opportunity to express yourself.
Tip #3: Always stretch and warm-up
An essential part of dancing or any sport is stretching and warming up properly. In a social setting, you do not have to do extreme stretching, but doing arm and leg stretching is always a good idea. In a dance studio environment, we typically take about 15 min to warm up not to cause any injuries when dancing.
Tip #4: Take a dance lesson
If you want to take dance to another level, invest the time to learn the foundation and fundamentals of dance. Many resources on the internet and social media platforms can help teach you a few dance moves.
Tip #5: Have fun with dance
The best advice for beginners in dance is to enjoy the moment and have fun with dance. It’s hard to let go of yourself and be present when you are cautious of how you look, but dance is all about having fun. Let yourself be okay with growth and know that you continue to grow from here.
These are my five dance tips for beginner dancers to feel inspired and joy when dancing. Remember again that you do not need to be the best dancer to dance at parties and with people. Use dance as your canvas to express yourself and your creativity. Go out there and dance your heart away!
Cha Her