How Being Multifaceted Can Help You Become a Better Dancer
Too much of any one thing is not always healthy in the long run. When you put all of your focus into one thing for too long, you could become stagnant or even burnt out. This philosophy can also be applied to your dance journey.
As a dancer, you may be inclined to pour all of your energy and attention into your craft, especially if you believe dance is your primary purpose in life. When it comes to mastering your craft, consider the idea that it can often be equally, if not more, beneficial to diversify your skills and observe the impact they make on your dance experience.
Ideal Skills for Dancers
Focus
Being able to concentrate and give something your undivided attention is not always easy. Distractions such as personal matters, unfamiliar environments, or a heavy workload from school/work can all have an impact on your ability to give something your full attention. In dance, a lack of focus can make choreography harder to pick up. It can lead to a lackluster performance. At the very worst, a distracted mind can lead to a severe injury.
Rhythm
The key to having rhythm is having a strong physical connection to music. Our bodies were built on rhythm (your heart literally beats like a drum!), and when we are in tune to those feelings while listening to music, we can allow the rhythm to move freely through our bodies and be translated on stage. As a dancer, having a strong sense of rhythm will ensure that your flow of movement and energy levels are on point and aligned with the choreography.
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Form/Technique
In all things physical, when you repeat a movement or sequence several times over the course of weeks, months, or years, the movements begin to feel like second nature. This is called muscle memory. Once you understand and have perfected the mechanics of a ballet position, for example, you will find it more effortless to do, and you will look more natural on stage.
Strength, Stamina, and Flexibility
The three of these skills go hand-in-hand, especially in terms of dance. Having a high level of strength ensures that your muscles can withstand hours of twisting, jumping, squatting, and lifting. With proper form, strength also helps prevent injuries and sprains. Stamina helps you push through multiple performances, auditions, and practices while keeping your energy high and performing to the best of your abilities. Flexibility ensures that your movements in dance are accurate, elaborate, weightless, and seamless.
Creativity
As with all forms of art, being able to inspire and be inspired is essential. In dance, the ability to imagine scenes, embody characters, and manifest ideas into movement requires a lot of creative thinking. That being said, there are times when your well of creativity may run dry. Exploring other forms of art is a great way to prevent this from happening.
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You may be wondering, how can I gain these skills outside of my dance lessons? Take a look at this chart filled with physical, creative, and mentally stimulating activities that will complement your dance expertise.