At some point, your teacher will present an idea that may make you question their sanity, their intelligence, or listening ability.
While it may seem downright crazy to imagine, hear, or participate in - your Dance Journey really begins when you start working on a customized dance program.
A what?
Which is exactly why the goal of this article is to pull back the curtain, and better understand why your teacher isn't as crazy as you might think, and what goes into that program-thing they keep talking about.
Building the Perfect Dance Program
1. Dance Evolution
Fact: There is a future version of you that is a much better dancer.
This might sound crazy, but your dancing is going to get better. Like, a lot better.
Your teacher knows it, the New Student Counselor knows it, and, hopefully, you'll start to notice it. The program your teacher is planning is, in a way, designed for two people:
1. The Current You
2. The Dancer You
Your see, your teacher needs to take into account the immediate goals of The Current You ("Basic survival please..."), and what they might evolve to become in the future as The Dancer You ("Clear the dance floor, here I come....").
While your program will initially be built around a few core dances (Current You), there will probably be some additional dances, techniques, and activities planned for The Dancer You. Do not let your Current You panic.
2. Tempos
Fact: There will be slow, medium, and fast tempo music in your life.
One thing that dancers can sometimes forget - they can't always control the music. Whether it's live music at a nightclub, or a DJ at someone's wedding, the dancer should adapt to the music, instead of expecting the music to adapt to the dancer.
Slow Dances
Outside of the tempo of music you'll be able to dance to, slow dances are essential for developing the ability to talk and dance simultaneously. It's the same rationale behind learning to drive at slow speeds in a parking lot, the skills you gain from slow dances will be utilized in faster tempo dances as your dancing improves.
Medium Tempo Dances
Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to medium tempos. Dances like Cha-Cha and Swing act as a 1-2 punch in any social dance setting, and are perfect examples of medium tempo dances. Most of the popular music throughout the years falls into this medium, or mid-tempo, category.
Fast Dances
There are some fast dances that are popular and practical, like Salsa and Merengue. There are others that demonstrate your command of your dance hobby, and are generally reserved for the most advanced dancers, like Quickstep and Viennese Waltz.
3. Current and Future Venues
Fact: There will be some expected, and unexpected, places to use your dancing.
There are plenty of important places to use your dance skills, from wedding receptions to nightclubs. It's important that you plan dances that are relevant, or adaptable, in each environment.
Sometimes, the dance you might be expecting at a certain venue isn't the only dance to learn either.
For example, at a Salsa Club, you may find that you're dancing an equal amount of Merengue and Bachata. Learning a little of these may seem like a departure from Salsa, but it will actually allow you to dance more throughout the evening, and sharpen your skills in things like turns, leading, or following.
Bottom Line: The more you learn about dancing, the better your vision will be for finding dance opportunities.
4. Skills Vs. Favorites
Fact: There are some dances your teacher will recommend that may not be your favorite dances.
There are some dances that may not seem practical ("Hi there Tango..."), and some you may not ever imagine yourself doing ("Pleased to meet you Waltz...") - but if your teacher is recommending these dances, do not be alarmed.
Some dances are like multi-vitamins; They are designed to nourish the skills that will enhance the dances you care about the most.
Examples of "Multi-Vitamin Dances"
Tango
Not only is this dance much easier than most people think, it's also one of the best dances for developing timing and confident movement. Good timing is something that positively affects every dance you work on, and confidence in the way you're moving can show up on, and off, the dance floor.
Waltz
How important is your posture? Very. Is there a dance where good posture is looked down on? No. The Waltz is the best dance for developing posture, and, in the process, your balance.
Even if you never danced it in public, the Waltz instantly upgrades how you look from the waist up in any dance, or when you're not even dancing.
Just like aforementioned multi-vitamins, these dances aren't there to replace anything. They are designed to enhance the dances you care about the most. Just like a vitamin, dances like Waltz and Tango have very particular skills that can help enhance every other dance that you do.
Bottom Line: Allowing time for these dances will pay huge dividends in your dance future.
5. Time
Fact: There are no shortcuts to learning how to dance, but true professionals know how to be thoughtful and efficient with your time.
Your program will include a variety of dances, with the goal of acquiring certain skills like Leading or Following, Balance, Posture, Patterns, and Style.
To do that, your teacher will plan Units of Time. The Arthur Murray Unit is made up of Private Lessons, Group Lessons, and Practice Parties. This approach may not be the shortcut most people want for things like dance skills or six pack abs, but it is what has made Arthur Murray students successful on the dance floor since 1912.
Note: While your program will have an estimated amount of time it will take to complete that level of instruction, just like school, it's up to you to maximize the time that has been allocated.
6. Benefits
Fact: There are goals and benefits to taking regular dance lessons. The better your teacher understands which ones are most important, the better they can plan for your dancing future.
Great things happen the moment you start sharing your goals - Your teacher gains better perspective on the direction to take on your lessons, the New Student Counselor can offer suggestions in terms of dances or activities to get you there the best way possible, and you can begin your Dance Journey knowing that learning to dance will be one, of many, great features on the road ahead.
Whether you are looking for a fun alternative to going to the gym, want to increase your self confidence, meet more people, or just get a little stress relief - these are all wonderful goals that will accompany you in your dance development.
7. Communication
Fact: Your customized program will continue to evolve and adapt to your goals, but only if you keep the lines of communication open.
Your car may be a better communicator than a lot of people you know. There are warnings, lights, and gauges that indicate what you need to do to maintain optimum performance.
Your Dance Journey will have segments that may challenge you. You may make an unfair assessment, feel like your progress is slipping, or worse. If you were a car, your fuel gauge might send a warning light, but since you're not, you'll be getting regular check ins with your resident dance coach.
An Arthur Murray Supervisor is like a mechanic for your program. They make sure you are tuned up both in your dancing, and in how you are viewing your progress.
Final Thought
There's a version of you that will always question the wild and crazy ideas of your dance teacher. As fun and rewarding as your dance hobby might be, that tiny, questioning voice is like a trail of breadcrumbs back to the old you.
To your comfort zone.
Unfortunately, your comfort zone will do anything to stay relevant... even if that means questioning something that is clearly good for you to do. It's loss aversion at its finest, the feeling that losing your comfort zone will somehow be worse than what you're gaining in exercise, brain health, and a new social community.
Your dance program is, by design, a journey away from your comfort zone, and if you allow it to happen, you'll find that dancing is the first of many great things it will uncover.
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