Prepare To Party
So you've decided to take the plunge? Great! Now the only question is where to begin. You'll probably get a lot of different advice depending on who you ask. The most honest answer . . . it just depends. Different strategies work for different people. Just be careful that you choose the course that works best for you, not for your friends and certainly not for some studio's business interests. With this in mind, I will recommend what I feel is the best strategy for most people who are just getting into dancing.
Aside from those few individuals who are absolutely petrified by the notion of taking a wrong step in front of other students, the best setting for most beginning dancers is the friendly atmosphere provided by our weekly practice parties. To find out why, try clicking on the following links...
- TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY . . . REASON #1
Our practice parties are not just for seasoned dancers. They are also an opportunity for newcomers to get their feet wet in a friendly and encouraging group learning session. These sessions are specifically designed for beginners, so you'll never be faced with any intimidating advanced combinations. And if you're still having trouble after our Friday party (or miss it altogether), just come back Saturday for the very same instruction. You can't go wrong!
- TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY . . . REASON #2
If you're just starting out, you probably have no idea where to begin. Most beginning students have seen some dances TV and heard some names here and there, but when they see a dance, they don't know what it's called, and when they hear the name of a dance, they don't know what it looks like. Attending weekly parties offers beginners the opportunity to see all the dances, learn their names, and try out some basic steps, so when I ask them in lessons what they'd like to begin with, they know exactly where they want to start. In short, this is your opportunity to be in the driver's seat and take charge of what you learn and when.
- TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY . . . REASON #3
Learning a few basic steps is one thing. Actually dancing them in front of other people on a crowded dance floor is another. Often students want to take private lessons until they feel proficient enough to show themselves before others. Unfortunately, many of these students inadvertently end up banning themselves from public dance events by their own rising standards of proficiency. They never feel good enough, and so they never really use what they learn in lessons. Attending parties first and learning with other dancers generally helps to remove these fears of public display from the outset and provides a healthy context for all group and private learning.
- TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY . . . REASON #4
The importance of becoming a part of the dance community cannot be underestimated. If you're out there trying to go it all alone, you may succeed, but it's that much harder to do. Getting to know others who are going or have gone through the same learning phases as you is integral to an enduring and enjoyable dance career. Meet our students, make friends, and get involved in their lives, and you'll find that the reality of dancing among friends is worlds better than the anxiety of dancing in front of strangers.
- TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY . . . REASON #5
Now you may accuse me of being a little biased on this point, and you'd definitely be right. I've Got Rhythm offers a unique learning environment that is especially helpful to new students. Our studio operates on the principle of mutual edification. Put simply, we help each other out. So if you just cannot manage to get down a step, don't be surprised if one of our veteran students comes alongside to walk you through those steps. At IGR, it's not about any one person. It's about learning together. So you can be assured that when you attend one of our parties, you'll find all the help you need.
For these reasons and many more, I always advise people to begin their dancing career by attending one of our weekly practice parties. Don't wait until you feel perfectly comfortable with your dancing (which will never happen), but challenge yourself to get out there on the floor and do your best. Once you've broken through that barrier, it's just a matter of learning the steps. So rather than jumping into group and private lessons with no idea where you want to go with your dancing, let your first few party experiences inform your goals. Then your group and private lesson time will be that much better spent.
