Masterclass Dance Company

By Rachel Oberg It is important to know how to get the most out of each and every dance class you attend, so that you can continue to improve your skills and become a better dancer.  So how do you get the most out of every class? First and foremost, always come to class prepared.  This means that you have fueled your body correctly with good nutrients, have water with you to keep you hydrated during class, have stretched and warmed up your body prior to class, and you are mentally ready to work hard. It is important to keep a positive attitude.  Dancers tend to be perfectionists and often times get frustrated when something is not working exactly the way that they want it to, or if they are not able to perform something correctly.  It is important to remember that dance is hard, and it takes time to improve and build muscle memory.  If you continue to work hard and apply your dance teacher’s corrections to the best of your ability, you will improve over time.  Compare yourself to

By Kelsey Richardson Taking a dance class can be both exciting and intimidating. There are numerous techniques a dancer can use in order to get the most benefit out of a dance class. The ideas that the instructor simply wants you to succeed and that no one is there to judge you are the first ideas a dancer must accept when entering a dance class. With these ideas in mind, the dancer should absorb everything the instructor says. Whether the dance style is hip-hop or contemporary, the student should try to mimic the instructor as closely as possible. For example, if the instructor teaches certain moves hard-hitting and others smooth, the dancer’s approach to the choreography should be the same as it was taught. The dancer should also keep the precision of the choreography in mind. This means, when mimicking the instructor, the dancer should make sure that their body placement is correct. Each instructor has their own style; as a student, each dancer should attempt to master each styl

Many parents don’t get it; well, many girls don’t get it (yet) either.  There’s so much more to being a dancer than the physical act of dancing.  As with any sport, especially competitive sports, there are inherent lessons learned along the way – commitment, team work, etc. Other lessons have a personal effect and often must be realized by the individual rather than taught.  For me, these lessons made the difference in growing as a person through my experience in dance. 1. Be motivated, not jealous. Guilty! When I saw a girl that could get her leg up to her face, I resented her for it.  When I saw a dancer do eight consecutive pirouettes, I was envious.  It took many years as a dancer to learn that no amount of jealousy would make me better. Even today, I still catch myself falling into old habits.  But what I realized is that dancers who are better than me should be inspirational – I shouldn’t take it personally that someone is a stronger dancer than myself. I changed my minds