Practice Tip for the new year

Happy New Year!

This week’s practice tip is to start (and maintain) a dance notebook. When you start beginner (and when you move up to intermediate) I send you a copy of the student manual for that level which contains a list of everything that is covered in all the sessions of the level you are starting. I recommend you print out the manual and put it in a 3-ring binder, this is the start of your dance notebook. You should bring your dance notebook with you to class every week. Write down notes under the moves covered that will help you remember how the move is performed and anything else you might have learned about the movement. You can either dance with the notebook at your feet or have it to the side of the room. If you don’t want to take notes during class, then you should take a few minutes at the end of class before you leave the room to write down your notes. This will allow you to practice what was covered each week before the next class and can be very beneficial as each week’s material usually builds on what was covered in prior weeks.

In advanced class, there is not a class manual, however I will often email or handout an information sheet on the topic for the session which usually includes a list of moves that will be covered. This should be added to your dance notebook and again brought each week.

When you attend dance workshops, it is often easier to travel with a spiral notebook rather than your 3-ring binder. Take notes during the workshop or whenever there is a water break. Take 5-10 minutes at the end of the workshop to look over your notes and add anything you missed. Also make sure to keep any handouts provided by the workshop instructor. I type up my workshop notes when I get home as my writing during a workshop often leaves a lot to be desired and sometimes includes random drawings which mean something in the moment but I won’t understand in six months. I also scan the handouts I receive and store everything in a folder called “Continuing Education” on my computer. This is my version of a dance notebook, but I still have a 3-ring binder with all my notes from my beginner and intermediate classes.