Mastering New Moves

When we're learning something new like ballroom dance, it's easy to get impatient and want to be an expert right away.

Like all things worth doing, it takes a bit of time and effort to learn to dance with ease, but there are some tips and tricks that can help you learn faster.

Review Your Steps Before A Dance Party

This happens to us all - it's dance party time, and we're excited to break out a new step we just learned. We rocked it at class, and it felt great. The song comes on, you start dancing and then - your mind goes blank. You think "hey, what was that move again?"

Dance Party Amnesia is a thing, but don't worry - there's a simple cure: Refresh your memory by practicing your moves before the party.

Practicing before a party will help you remember your steps, and you'll feel more comfortable social dancing.

A note for Leaders: Dance parties are for leading moves that you know well and can dance smoothly. It's not a time to use others as unwilling participants in your experiment to see which moves what you remember.

Party time is not practice time. Party time is game time.

If you attempt a move while social dancing and it doesn't work for any reason - don't lead it again. Stick to steps you can lead comfortably and take note of figures you want to review at home or at your private lesson.

It's totally fine to just dance your basic; this is very normal when you're getting started, and it's a great chance for everyone to practice their fundamentals.

Keep it simple and with practice, you'll be able to dance more figures fluently.

Create Combinations to Lock In Long-Term Memory

Linking figures together can help you remember more steps with ease. This is also a great way to transition away from dancing basics over and over while you think of the next step.

Make a go-to series of moves that flows well. This could be as simple as dancing three moves in a row, or as elaborate as a full routine that covers all four walls.

Combinations also train your brain to recognize patterns on how to enter and exit figures in a sophisticated way so you can create new combinations on the fly.

You Don't Have To Remember Everything

Ballroom Dance is always evolving, and new steps are created every day.

You're not likely to remember every step you've ever learned and that's ok. So pick your favorites and keep those in your active rotation.

Once you learn a figure, it's in your brain (even if you consciously don't recall it). And if you encounter it again (or something similar), it will be easier to learn the second time.

So time spent learning is never wasted.

Appreciate what you've learned, and don't hold yourself to an impossible standard.

One final note:
Please know that you're a good enough dancer just as you are.

You might feel like people are judging you or not enjoying dancing with you. That's not the case.

People in a dance community are rooting for you. They're excited to have someone new share in this fun hobby. They love beginners because it keeps the scene fresh and lively.

Dancers remember how challenging it was when they were just getting started. So just relax, enjoy, and embrace the journey.

Keep going, and believe it or not - one day you'll be out on the dance floor dancing confidently and inspiring others with your smooth moves ✨

Stay tuned and check out our other Blogs for more dance tips 💡