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Best Practices For Perfect Practice

2/26/2017

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Practice is an integral part of ensuring continuous, steady progress for dancers at any level. Almost all dancers know they should practice, some actually do it, but many struggle with how to practice effectively. Whether you’re a new beginner or a seasoned champion, here are some ways to maximize your practice time:

  1. Plan it out. There’s a quote that goes something like, “if you really want something you’ll make time for it, if not you’ll make excuses.” Practicing can be like that… between homework, activities, dinner, and family time, it can be easy to let practicing fall to the wayside. Schedule your responsibilities and include a dedicated practice time. My own rule of thumb is to take your total class time for the week and aim to practice for an equal amount of time throughout the week. For example, if you’re a beginner taking 60 minutes of class/week, aim to practice either 3x/week for 20 minutes, 6x/week for 10 minutes, etc. If you’re a championship dancer attending class for 6 hours/week, aim to practice 4x/week for 90 minutes, 6x/week for 60 minutes, etc.
  2. Reserve a space. Dancers often find themselves dancing down the grocery store aisles, around the house, and waiting in line. But ask yourself - how often are you wearing your dance shoes, dancing to music, or really focusing on what you’re doing? By setting aside a time and space to practice you’ll help yourself ‘get in the zone’ to practice efficiently. Your space doesn’t have to be large or fancy. Just an area that you can wear your shoes, dance to music, and be free of distractions.
  3. Focus on your weaknesses. It sounds easy, but most of us don’t love to address our faults. It’s much more fun to do the things you’re good at, but your practice time will be much more effective if you work on areas that need attention. Maybe it’s your foot placement, or a new rhythm you’re yet to master, or remembering a step. Instead of admiring how great your turns are, making up treble reels, or practicing rhythms from shows, really dig into your weak areas and make an improvement, no matter how small.
  4. Write it down. I’m a huge fan of documenting everything so a practice log is an extension of this. Write down when you practiced, how long you practiced, what you practiced, and a short reflection of your practice session. Day to day it may seem repetitive or uninspiring, but when you look back at your log after 3 months, 6 months, or even a year later you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the changes you’ve made and noticeable improvements. A practice log can help you adjust or reset your goals as well as spot any trends in your practice.
  5. Get a buddy, if you need one. I’m a big proponent of dancers practicing on their own even from a very early age. I prefer dancers to be self-driven and developing the skill to practice independently is something that takes time. Some of us just aren’t cut out to go it alone though. If you’re someone who spends more time wandering around your practice space, picking out the best reel, tying your shoes, and looking in the mirror than you do dancing you may need an accountability buddy. Ask someone in your class to swap practice notes each week - having to be accountable for your own practice and being able to see someone else’s work may be the kick you need to maximize your own time.

SRL students have access to practice sheet templates and practice journal templates in our member’s area. Make sure you’re using them each week to be the best dancer YOU can be!
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Want to win tickets to Dublin?

2/13/2017

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Have you heard the news? 

From now until St Patrick's Day, SRL is including a chance to win 2 RT tickets to Dublin on Aer Lingus with every car magnet purchased from our online store! The winner (to be drawn 3/18) and a guest of their choice will receive 2 economy tickets to fly from Bradley to Dublin and back to be used on dates of their choice (some blackout dates apply). If Dublin isn't your destination du jour, you can add a ticket to almost any destination in Europe for a nominal fee. The same applies stateside if Bradley isn't your local airport; you can add a connecting flight on partner airline JetBlue to make your dream vacation to Dublin a reality!

How do you enter? Visit our online store and purchase your desired quantity of magnets (each magnet purchased = 1 ticket into the draw). We can mail them to you or have your favorite SRL dancer deliver it to you by indicating their name in the notes section. By placing your order, we will have all the contact information we need to notify you should you be drawn as our lucky winner!
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Making the Most of Dance - A Parent's Role

2/1/2017

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Our last blog was about how dancers can make their dancing both in and out of the studio. However, a motivated and enthusiastic dancer is only part of the puzzle - for a dancer to be truly successful they need to the support of both their parents and their teacher. Today we’ll explore the role of the parent in a dancer’s training and how you can help them along the path to greatness!

Each dancer has different goals for their dance education and their goals may change over time. Your goals for the dancer may be different than the goals they set for themselves, and that’s okay too. Some dancers have the goal of making friends in class and attending the St Patrick’s Day parade. Other dancers want all of that plus making the top competitive rank of Open Champion. No matter what your dancer’s goals are or what your goals for them are as a parent, here’s how to foster and encourage them throughout their training:

  1. Show interest - It sounds simple, but many of us are so caught up in our lives or aren’t verbal enough about showing an interest in those we care about. Asking your dancer about what they learned that day, what they’re excited for in their next class, or what friends they talked to at class reminds your dancer that you’re interested without being pushy or overbearing.
  2. Encourage practice, but don’t force it - Yes you heard right, don’t force them! Often parents think that if their dancer isn’t practicing, they aren’t interested. However, this isn’t always the case. What you may not see is their legs moving under their desk at school, skipping down the halls or the grocery aisles, or their playtime turning into their stuffed animals participating in a class at their bedroom studio. Depending on where your dancer is in their dance journey and their age, this is a perfectly acceptable means of practicing. In my book, dancers who are self-directed and enjoying their practice time will be so much more successful in the long run than dancers who set a timer with a frown on their face because mom or dad is making them practice.
  3. Encourage your dancer out of their comfort zone - Especially for very shy dancers, dancing is a palatable way for them to ease out of their comfort zone. Gauge what your dancer is comfortable doing (going into class on their own, asking questions, socializing with classmates) and encourage them to take a step forward when the opportunity presents itself. With St Patrick’s Day coming up, dancers have many different avenues to build their experience and confidence while tackling challenges. Your dancer may be initially apprehensive to participating in a parade or dancing in front of their school, but if parents present it as a fun way to show off their hard work and really celebrate their achievement the dancer will feel amazing afterwards. That same dancer will feel better about trying new things in both dancing and in life following a positive new experience.
  4. Ensure preparation - Whether it’s for class, a performance, the recital, or anything in between, ensure your dancer is ready for anything. Make sure your dancer is dressed appropriately, has their shoes and equipment for class, or brings what they need to an event or performance. The dancer can take age appropriate responsibility in packing their bag or costume, but as a parent you can ensure you print out a list provided by the teacher or double check it before getting into the car. For anxious dancers this is particularly crucial in ensuring they have a positive and exhilarating experience.
Since I'm sure you don't hear this as much as you should, thank you to all the dance parents out there, on behalf of your dancer(s) and their teacher(s).

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  • Home
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