Dance as an art form and entertainment

Dance is art, entertainment, and sport at the same time. It expresses emotions through a series of ordered movements or choreographies. To learn to dance, you have to know these movements (gestures, steps, moves, etc.). It is a difficult exercise, especially for beginners.  

What style of dance to choose?

Many people are passionate about dance: more than 59% of people in Europe want dance to become a discipline taught in all schools. However, getting started in the dance is not as easy as you might think. In view of the dozens and dozens of dance styles present in dance associations or dance schools, it is sometimes difficult to make a choice. Musical tastes, personality, and place of teaching: it is better to establish a list of its criteria to choose well among the different types of dance.

So take the time to study the specifics of each dance lesson:

- Tap dance,

- Sports dance lessons (stretching lessons, Zumba lessons, barre, etc.),

- Argentinian tango,

- Cuban or Puerto Rican salsa,

- Hip hop dance,

- Cha cha cha,

- Swing,

- Flamenco,

- Bachata,

- Belly dance,

- Ragga dancehall,

- Ballroom dancing etc.

It is also possible to take private dance lessons to form your own opinion on a particular dance. 

How to learn to dance rock?

Rock is undoubtedly the most practiced dance. And it must be said that even as a beginner, you can always make a splash on the track by doing a few rock passes. A popular couple dance, rock dance continues to attract new followers every year.

Is this the type of dance you want to learn? Even if it seems complicated at first to find the right rhythm, once the basics of rock n'roll are learned, the advantage is that you can create your own style by varying the passes, from the simplest to the more complex. Rock is one of the ballroom dances presented in competition.

Where to start to dance rock?

First of all, you should know that the most danced rock which you learn in dance lessons is generally 6-beat rock. There is also the 4-stroke rock which is easier to learn. What is the main difference between the two? The answer is footwork.

- Four-beat rock is therefore played on 4-beat music, and support is made with one foot on each beat. You just have to follow the rhythm of the music to know how to move your feet.

- Six-beat rock is also danced to 6-beat music, but during the six beats, the dancers make eight supports with the feet. This is what makes this dance so fast and dynamic.

To learn 6-beat rock, you must first focus on the feet and learn the basic steps. To get into the habit of making eight supports, we can count as follows: 1, 2, 3, and 4, 5, and 6. 

The first two times are devoted to the rock step: 

The partners move the left foot back. The following beats allow you to take three chasing steps to the left, then to the right. Initially, it takes a little practice to assimilate the footwork and be able to dance automatically and smoothly. Then it's time to have fun by discovering the rock passes to evolve with your dance partner. There is a multitude of them. We cannot count them. Some are very complex, but others are easier to do. From the first rock dance class, you can take real pleasure in dancing and learn the first dance steps. To learn to rock dance, you have different possibilities. Choose according to your desires, your availability, but also your budget:

Learning to dance in a club: urban styles

Do you like to party and go dancing in a disco or at a dance party? Are you tired of always dancing the same way? Here again, Zumba dance will allow you to vary styles and bring your personal touch to the dance floor. Salsa, glued tight, zouk, and tango, these dances have a sensual side. It is perfect for couples. Taking urban dance lessons like hip hop will help you improve your dance skills and shine in a night club.

Do not hesitate to watch the clips of your favorite artists and the hits of the moment to detect new trends. You will be able to draw interesting dance steps to perfect your technique and assert your style for dancing in a discotheque. Among the urban dances, there are several different styles, each with much-codified movements:

- Hip-hop movements: boogaloo, hype, krump, or new-school hip hop

- The twerk: the trend for a few years in the clips,

- The shuffle: and it's very fast footwork,

- Voguing: also still very current, this style of dance borrowing the poses of the models comes from the American gay community but has since spread in all circles. And then don't forget to practice dancing close-up to reach a maximum level of seduction!

How to dance in a club? 

Above all, be relaxed, and focus on the music to pick up the rhythm and move according to the tempo. To know how to dance, you have to dance. First of all, forget your possible complexes and the eyes of others, get started. Your passion for dance will certainly lead you to expand your universe and try all the dances. Why not group lessons in salsa, bachata, waltz, madison, cha cha cha, acrobatic rock, pole dance, Latin and tropical dances, oriental dance, Argentine tango, country dance. The list is so long! One thing is certain: you are not done dancing. Do not hesitate to take advantage of the trial lessons offered in dance schools or in private lessons.

Benefits of learning dance?

Are you looking for reasons to learn to dance like a god? There are a lot of them, but the best reason to take dance lessons is that you like it.

Impossible to embark on dance lessons if the motivation is not present. As with all leisure activities, the practice of dancing should come from a desire on your part to learn a particular dance. But everyone has their reasons for starting to dance. Some people choose to take dance lessons at a dance school or in association with entertainment.

Like music lessons or painting lessons, dance lessons allow you to forget your everyday life for a few moments and spend a moment having fun on the music you love. 

Practising the dance clears the mind and is good for the brain. It is important to have an activity outside of school or work in order to get out of the professional framework and indulge in your passions. Taking dance lessons is also an opportunity to introduce a few hours of sport into your weekly schedule. Many people forget the importance of sport for health, whether it is for the body or the mind. However, some are more artists than athletes. Dancing can, therefore, be a very good compromise between the two. It allows you to play sports without really realizing the physical effort since it is, above all, fun. Taking dance lessons in group lessons can also be an opportunity to make friends. If you arrive in a city that you do not know, you should not underestimate the importance of finding leisure activities. They allow you to get to know new people, and why not go out and dance together? Dance is also recognized as a lethal weapon in terms of seduction.

Maybe a few dance lessons can help you woo your other half. If you have already found your soul mate, this can also be an opportunity to learn to dance to prepare for the ball of your wedding. Stress management, self-confidence, weight loss, creativity, flexibility, memory, the benefits of dancing on the body and mind are numerous.

And that, whatever the style of dance chosen (ballroom dance, Latin dances, Cuban salsa, bachata, kizomba, oriental dance, dancehal, hip hop, modern dance, Viennese waltz, sports dance, etc.).

What equipment to buy to start dancing?

Dance courses, classical dance lessons, private lessons, body expression lessons, dance lessons, in general, require you to have some dance equipment available but nothing really bulky. You first have to choose your clothes. These should be appropriate for the type of dance you are going to learn. Try to use the fitted clothing instead of loose clothing because the loose clothes can hinder you while you make dance moves. For instance, you can choose leggings. Swapping clothes between girlfriends can also be a good solution to find an outfit without breaking the bank. Paso doble, swing, dance, jazz, Zumba, cha cha cha, breakdance, dancehall, contemporary dance, ballroom dance, Latin dances, flamenco, pole dance, couple dance, each style of dance has its own particularity. The shows are also an opportunity to buy new accessories for D-Day.

Because learning to dance in a dance center is also about having fun. Perfect all the dances okay, but in style!

How do I get the rhythm in my body?

To have the rhythm in the body, this is the dream of many of us. Unfortunately, unless you have been immersed in dance from an early age, you will not have "the rhythm in your body." Is dancing hereditary? No, it is not genetic; it is cultural. It is a question of tradition. If your parents are dancers, then you will find it easier to feel the beat. If they've introduced you to dancing, maybe making you dance in the living room or at family parties, then you probably already have the rhythm in your body (or almost). For those who don't have the rhythm in their body, then the following should please you.

Three secrets that will speed up your learning of rhythm and dance

Making fun of yourself because you can't dance is a shared fear!

Stop the fear! We can already feel you stiffen and shake as your foot barely brushes the dance floor. The first mistake is to underestimate yourself: "I can't dance, shame." Do you think you are the only one or the only one in this situation? On the contrary, this fear is shared by MOST people. The first solution is to assume that you don't know how to dance.

Play it!

To think that there are those who have the rhythm in the body, and those who don't is a mistake.

No one is born a dancer. When someone in front of you dances superbly well, know that they have certainly been dancing for years!

Protect it to learn by copying it. It's like Mozart, an outstanding musician from 5 years old, described as gifted. Know that at five years old, he had touched a piano more often than most of his 20-year-old friends!

Learning to move is hard!

It takes a while for our bodies to assimilate a new movement. Indeed it requires a capacity of coordination of movements. Dance is, therefore, a mental exercise beyond the physical. So give it your all, go to sleep, and let your brain take in what it has learned. When you wake up, your brain will have done more work than you can imagine. You have probably had similar experiences before, for example, a complex situation that you could not solve, and coming back to it later will solve the problem in a few moments.

Author: Vicki Lezama