Learning choreography can be an immensely satisfying experience. Every time I learn a new routine, it challenges my dance memory, my ability to concentrate and pay attention, and my capabilities to not get lost when I’m getting lost!
Learning a routine is hard. Yes, it fits the music, and you can learn the combinations. But the ball game changes when your instructor wants you to change your positions, find a new partner in the middle of a complex move while not knocking into anyone else on the way, and magically appear in your new spot, doing the next combo, as if it was no effort whatsoever! (And yes, the dancers from my team will be nodding right about now. 😉 )
Dexterity is required when learning a new routine. So here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your choreography course and the best results at the end of it.
- Punctuality
This is so important. (That’s why it’s number 1!) Lives get busy, and we all have a lot going on. It’s easy to think, “I’ll catch up, doesn’t matter.” Except it does matter. Other people arrived on time, they’re ready to work. Your instructor does not want to explain things multiple times. Also late-comers affect the overall drive in the class. Think about a rally where everyone’s united in their cause – that’s your dance rehearsal. Dancers all have different reasons for learning choreographies. But if everyone is ready to work, your limited time together will be way more satisfying!
- Quick refreshers in your own time.
OK, so you have an hour once a week with your team. When you come back next week chances are you won’t remember the stuff you learned and have to go over it again. Sounds right? Wrong! If you want to move forward and feel good about your progress, the best thing would be to run through the steps the next day after your class, and then the day before your class. You don’t need your partner for it – just some focussed attention for yourself for about 5-10 minutes. You’ll be amazed how much you’ll retain!
- Dealing with brain overload.
Can’t remember what’s next? Moves look similar? The music is faster than expected? Try to use whatever techniques you have used in exams at school/university, or on a super busy work day, or when speaking a foreign language that you’re not yet fluent in. Breathe! Focus your attention on “right now”, and if you make any mistakes – DON’T FRET!
I see so many times people focussing on what they get wrong. You lose connection or forget something, and you stop or get cranky with yourself. (Every dancer does different things!) Showing how frustrated we are with ourselves simple excuses our mistake to those watching us. Productive? Not really. In fact, it places attention on NOT getting it right.
There is a common misconception that dancers often face: “I’m the only one getting this wrong.” In reality, no-one is watching you, and EVERYONE is getting something wrong that they don’t want others to see. So yours is one of many, MANY mistakes happening in the rehearsal room. (If it were easy, everyone would be doing it, right?) Keep practicing and pay attention to your instructor. If you’re a coffee drinker – have a cup before your rehearsal. If you need food for better brain power – grab a healthy snack before you arrive. Arrive ON TIME (see ‘Punctuality’ above) or 5 minutes early to help yourself focus on the session, and leave negative thoughts at the door. Dance is meant to be fun, and you only have an hour or two to create some magic!
- Decide to improve NOW.
Every time we put things off to tomorrow or next class or even next run-through, we tell ourselves that it’s ok to aim low right now. That’s detrimental to your progress. It is true that we are DEFINITELY going to stuff up at some point. But every time you do a rehearsal, a run-through of the routine, or even just a combination, it’s a chance to do better! If you throw it away, you will have wasted an opportunity you can’t get back. So just do it. NOW.
- Respect the thing you’re learning.
Why do choreography? Some do it to improve and challenge themselves. Some do it to get the buzz of performing. Some even do it to cross off an item on their bucket list. Your reason is never wrong. But I hope that learning choreography will not be the final destination of your dance journey.
Over the years I have seen dancers stop taking classes when they start learning choreographies. No doubt, a routine can help you master particular moves and give you a sense of accomplishment, but too often dancers feel they have learned everything because they’ve done a performance.
Actually Salsa is not a performance dance style. It is social. It is about using a language to make ‘conversation’ with our bodies though a connection with our partner. Leader ‘asks’ questions that get responses from his partner. Sometimes he’ll get an unexpected comment from her that may alter the course of whatever he was saying. It’s wonderful! Choreography removes this spontaneity inherent in social dance.
We can also learn a lot from other dance performers. I don’t normally like comparing ballet to Salsa, but ballet dancers leaping across and pirouetting all over the stage spend 5-6 hours in CLASSES, then do their rehearsals, then perform. No-one EVER has said to a ballet dancer, “Ok, you’re performing now, so don’t worry about classes, cos you know everything.” You want to look good on stage? Then go to class. Whatever you dance.
So I hope that learning a routine is a way of improving and challenging yourself as a dancer. If you want a buzz – perform, if you want a challenge – go for it. But respect the nature of the dance you’re exploring: social, challenging and ever growing.