How to be a Better dancer - Hints, tips, cheats Pt 1

I've decided, in my own little way, what I can do, to give back to something that's given me so much. I'm not a teacher, so I can't really teach, and I'm not a performer, so I can't really provide someone with a performance.

But I thought, as an geek, I can give people, what we call hacks, cheats, tips and shortcuts. I've decided to drop some of these in between my blogs, to try to help the community. :)

Today, I'm going to try to cover some hints, or practices you can do, before hitting the dance floor.

I've talked previously about the importance of practice, and how to get more dances = practice. But we all have a life. Work, family, etc and you can't always go dancing. What then?

Tip 1) Listen to music. - Some of the people who take their time improving, I have noticed that they expose themselves to the dance once a week, at the class. That's it. Now, who can learn a language at once a week? Play the piano? Drive a car? Probably not. Dancing is the same.

While doing the basics in the bus or train has the potential to be arrested, or at least getting the occasional glare, listening to the music is free for everyone to do. Speaking geek, the music and the rhythm gets memorised in your memory. It's good for you. This isn't to stop you from doing the basics when you are alone at home.

Tip 2) Counting - Anyone up for shortcuts? Two things at once? Well, we do this all the time. Ask a personal trainer for a superset. Twice the workout at half the time.

While listening to your music above, count the beat. 1-2-3, 5-6-7. This would be the next best thing to actually taking the steps. If you had to lose concentration because you are crossing the street, try to see if you can pick up the 1 again. This is just like when you are dancing, and you lose the 1, and have to try to get back. It's a good practice.

Tip 3) YouTube - Beside my friends and the dance floor, my next greatest teacher was YouTube. Once you have your basics nailed, there are great classes online, that you can watch and practice. Mental images, match it with counts. Just don't bust it out on the social floor with out practicing it thoroughly first.

Tip 4) Dave from Paradizo Dance told me about when he was learning to dance. He made a list prior to going social, and ticked off the moves as he did it. I think this is a good way of "not panicking" when you get to the dance floor, as beginner leads can. Stick with a few moves, and get better with it, use the tick list, like a shopping list, and expand it as over time.

OK guys. Those are a few stuff you can do at home, at your office, at your time, alone without a partner. Hope it was helpful.

Happy dancing!