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Just because a dancer puts forth a lot of energy doesn't necessarily mean they are putting forth a lot of effort. Energy is important. You must have energy to be entertaining. But effort is even more important. What do I mean by effort? Effort is striving to complete each step correctly and each movement to the fullest before moving on to the next step and movement. Effort is trying your hardest to demand your body to hold correct body placement at all times and execute all elements with technical proficiency. When a dancer truly dances hard, they have put forth tremendous effort not just energy. Your body will only do what you demand it to do. Dancing hard is pushing past any limitations one may have put on themselves, putting in effort and energy at all times, giving more than you think you have, and finishing a class or performance stronger than you began even when you are tired.
Dancing smart means applying the knowledge given to you....and applying all the time. It means never being lazy giving your body an opportunity to create bad habits. In dance class, you are training your body for performance. What do I mean by this? This is a four part answer. First, a dancer should always have something on their face. When would a dancer ever perform expressionless? They wouldn't so why would a dancer train expressionless. A dancer is training for performance whether it be for a recital, community event, competition, an audition, or for company performance. For example, during training if a dancer is learning a turn, they should smile. Creating a genuine, easy, natural, peaceful smile can be difficult. The best place to learn it is while learning a turn. A dancer should learn choreography with a face. They should train center floor and across the floor with a face. A dancer should ALWAYS dance with something on their face. Always. Secondly, dancing smart means NEVER MARK or practice incorrectly giving the body an opportunity to create incorrect muscle memory. When it comes to choreography, this can cause the dancer to forget the actual steps, whether it be what comes next or how it should be done. It is easy to forget details when you mark. Third, a dancer must train in straight lines and formations. Again, training leads to choreography. Choreography consists of lines and formations. It all begins with training. Finally, to dance smart means to apply the corrections given the first time and don't ever forget the corrections. I was taught if a correction was given to anyone in a class to always assume it was directed towards me and apply it. That is good rule to follow! Dancers who dance smart progress at a much faster rate. When you dance smart, you are able to master skills more quickly and move to the next level at a more rapid rate. To advance, you have to have a solid foundation. You cannot have a solid foundation unless you dance smart.
Dancing hard and dancing smart go hand in hand. Is it hard to always do everything correctly with something on your face? Yes, it is. But a dancer has to try, and try, and try again. Being a "mover" is easy. Being a dancer requires hard work and mental stamina. I love teaching and pushing dancers past limitations they may have put on themselves. Seeing them realize them difference between what they thought was dancing hard and actually dancing hard and dancing smart is the best!! I love it twice!!
My wonderful, kind, beautiful, ballet teacher, Madame Majewska, didn't mix words and she did said it best. "You can be an uncontrollable mover or you can be a dancer. You have the knowledge. The choice is yours."
Dance hard. Dance smart.
Meredith
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You can read more posts from Meredith on Dance Apps Inc. app with NappyTabs, Dancer's Toolbox under Dancer's Dish.