Break These 5 Bad Habits to Improve as a Dancer

When you stay out late and neglect your studies in school, you’re hindering your ability to perform well academically. The same holds true for certain bad habits that dancers have. If you’re skimping on sleep or eating poorly, you could unintentionally be holding yourself back from your true performance potential. Here’s how to improve as a dancer by breaking these five bad habits.

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1. Not sleeping enough

Sometimes, it might seem like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Whether you’re a high school student trying to balance dance and homework or a pre-professional struggling to maintain relationships while attending a conservatory, it’s absolutely essential that you stick to a strict sleep schedule. Aim for at least seven or eight hours per night – otherwise, you’ll be sluggish, easily distracted, and impatient.
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2. Eating poorly

Cupcakes at school and greasy pizza on the weekend are tempting, but dancers need to adhere to a healthy diet, just like any other athlete. Ensure that you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as foods with protein and fiber. This doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a sweet treat once in a while, but it shouldn’t be a regular habit.
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 It’s also important that you’re eating enough to support your active lifestyle. Skipping meals in an attempt to lose weight will surely backfire – it’s better to eat smart than to not eat at all.

3. Skipping warm-up or cool-down

If you’re late for class, you may be tempted to do a few simple stretches before jumping into the action. If you have big plans after rehearsal, you may rush off without letting your body cool down. Both of these bad habits can seriously harm your body in the long run. Skipping warm-up makes you more prone to injuries. Similarly, taking the time to cool down will give your muscles and heart the time they need to return to normal after a long workout.

4. Dancing through an injury

While you probably don’t want to take time off from dance, even small injuries can become big problems if you don’t give them time to heal. If you’re ever in pain during class, don’t just push through it. Talk with your teacher and visit a doctor if necessary. You need to give your body time to recuperate if you want to be able to dance to the best of your ability.
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5. Not hydrating

Many people are guilty of not drinking enough water on a regular basis, but you shouldn’t be one of them. Because dancers lose water through their sweat, it’s easy for them to become dehydrated. When this happens, you’ll be tired, nauseous, and prone to cramping. Protect your body – and your performance – by drinking at least eight glasses of fluid each day. Most of this should be water.

Bella Diva Dance offers belly dance classes in Denver. Our new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave. and Birch St., near Colorado Blvd. Visit us today!

10 Things Great Dancers Do Differently

Looking up to great dancers is natural, and you should – they are great role models. However, do you ever wonder, “how did they get so good?” Well, guess what? It’s not magic, and it’s not a natural talent, either. Great dancers are great because they do lots of things differently. Read on to find out ten actions they take and why you should, too.

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Good dancers:

1. Overcome excuses about why they can’t practice

They understand that there’s no way they will keep moving up if they aren’t practicing. Look for and practice moves and concepts that challenge you and practice them until they are perfected.

2. Take music seriously

3. Use both a mirror and video regularly in practice

Analyze yourself and your steps so that you will gain a better perspective on how your steps look.

4. Seek out instructors/mentors

5. Take aches and pains seriously

Our world is full of promising dancers who ignored their injuries and failed to excel. Part of training your body correctly is listening to any aches it may have.

6. Develop a unique voice and perspective

They strive to make new discoveries so that they develop their unique voice and perspective on dancing.

7. Always work on improving fitness

Good muscular balance and aerobic conditioning benefit your dance ability.

8. Truly believe they can do it

They have the ability to improve because they have a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset.

9. Get consistent, accurate feedback

Sure, feedback can be daunting, and we may feel attacked, but it is important to receive the perception of others.

10.Committed

They know they are in it for the long run, so they keep going even if it gets really tough.

Do this now!

Grab a notebook and ask yourself which of these qualities you are already putting into practice and which you are neglecting. Evaluate yourself honestly. For each action you can improve on, jot down a few notes about how you can improve. For example, “I want to analyze myself on video more often.” Your notes might say, “Take a 60-second video halfway through practice. Watch it three times, pick two things to work on, then work on them for the rest of practice.”

Remember: being a great dancer is not magic. As soon as you start taking actions to improve your dancing, you’ll see results!