Category: Tips

Giving dancing bodies the correct fuel to perform is of utmost importance. Many professional dancers stick to specific pre-show routines before they perform, and these all include helping the body to achieve its best by giving it what it needs to do so. It is important for dancers to nourish their bodies, as the body is the dancer’s tool, and there is just one of those! It must be cared for accordingly so it is still fit and healthy. Similarly, athletes will also work hard to look after their bodies and nourish them correctly, in order to gain optimum output for what is required.

Whilst looking after the muscles and bones through diet and specialist care, the body’s overall energy and health must also be considered, both physically and mentally. Moving away from this concept is when dancers and athletes restrict their diets, as the body cannot produce enough energy to perform at its best, be it artistically or technically. The body will then turn to other energy sources within the body, so it is essential to retain the body’s muscle, strength, performance and appearance by consuming the right things. The body needs protein in order to repair itself effectively and prepare for the next day, as well as carbohydrates for energy and minerals and vitamins from vegetables and fruit.

Decisions about diet must be made according to what the body’s performance or health requires, balancing this with promoting general health and wellbeing. Burning out can occur at any stage of dance training or consequent career; the diet is the fuel that dancers invest in the body, as do athletes, and food should be balanced for wellness and enjoyment. When dancers and athletes discover how the body works best – in a combination of rest, wellbeing and diet – it will then become easier to produce the most on the way to its best self.

Many dancers take part in competitions throughout the year, and are often keen to learn new dances to present against their peers. Music can be a large part of a routine to impress a judge, but can make or break the dance regardless of how talented the dancer is.

It is important to ensure the music is age-appropriate; practising a dance can mean the music may fall by the wayside if it is listened to over and over again, but when it is heard by the judge it will be new and have an effect on how they view the dance routine. It will not only be heard by the judge, but also fellow competitors, teachers, parents and even younger audience members. A track may have a catchy rhythm or melody, but the lyrics may imply something quite different. That said, it is important to choose something both the student and teacher likes. You will both hear the music time and time again, so make sure you can create an honest, genuine connection to the music. It will be all too clear to a judge if you do not like your music – there will be force rather than flow.

There are many song choices available for many different genres and dancers. The choice does not necessarily have to be what is popular, with quirky and unique music choices just waiting to be discovered. Don’t just limit your choice to this week’s most purchased songs in the charts. Consider using underground artists to ensure your music choice is the only one used at a competition, or widening your search to different genres. You could use Broadway show tunes, classical music, instrumental versions or song covers by different artists in order to surprise the judge.

Don’t be afraid to take a risk with your music choice: it will stand out to both the judge and the audience. Ultimately a dance competition is about the total package – how it is performed, the costume, choreography, and the commitment of the performer. Music is just one ingredient, and all the performance elements must unite.

With the summer months well underway, many dance students are preparing to begin vocational or further dance training in September on a college or university programme. The years of study will pass by in a flash so it is essential to be ready to hit the ground running when beginning your studies, ready to get underway straight away.

There are many things prospective students can do to prepare for their studies, the first being making the most of your time off before the hard work begins. Having applied and auditioned for your place on the course, ensure you have a clear idea of the course structure and what you should expect to be doing when you arrive in the studio on your first day. There may be new information available to first year students that can be obtained, without the added focus on any of the other courses and institutions you may have applied to.

There may be preliminary reading you can start on in these summer months, such as background reading for the areas you will focus on, or general information on further education. Don’t leave it too late to gather all the materials you will need to begin your course, such as buying mandatory reading materials, and making sure you read them! Keep abreast of information from your institution, such as deadlines for registering for classes and semesters that are essential to your learning.

If you will be learning about new dance techniques, you may wish to take a couple of classes in the style in order to have an idea of the demands of the technique. You will be able to find out lots about your new tutors from the college or university website, giving you an idea of their work and their focuses on dance. Keeping active this way will mean your body is ready to train in September and alternative movement or fitness classes will help in cross-training. Seeing unfamiliar dance will serve to inspire you ahead of joining your peers in the studio, helping to open your mind to new dance and choreography.