by Paul Steinberg

(webmaster’s note: many of my students ask me this as a question; namely, ‘how can I get the most from my dance lessons?’.  Whether you are a beginner or a competing amateur, maximizing the results is always a good idea.  After all, why spend time and not make progress?  Paul’s ideas are sound; they all are good ways to make sure that your coaching does not ‘dead end’.)

Like so many things in life, you get out of ballroom dancing lessons what you put into them.

Simply showing up at your lessons is not enough.

The time and energy you spend between ballroom dancing lessons as well as during the actual lesson will can make a great difference in the results you achieve. Following are some tips on how to maximize your ballroom dance lesson experience. By approaching your lessons in a consistent, well thought-out manner, you will progress quickly towards your ballroom dancing goals. If you have invested your time, energy and money in ballroom dance lessons, it is worthwhile to take steps to maximize your outcome.

Before you even begin your ballroom dance lessons, you should spend some quality time considering what it is you want to get out of them. By having clear goals, you can then work towards achieving them. Too many people come into dance lessons without having given much thought towards what it is they really want to get out of them. Your dance goals should be formed with your instructor. Letting him or her know what you are trying to accomplish will enable them to provide you with the instruction you need.

When your lessons begin, it is important that you have the right mindset for each and every lesson. You should be well rested and focused for your lessons. Coming in tired and distracted will not make for a positive learning experience. You need to take good care of your body if you want to dance, because it is a physical activity. You also need to be able to put aside any problems of the day and focus on the task at hand. Maintaining that focus and concentrating throughout the lesson can be a large determining factor in your achieving your goals.

It is a good idea to come to your dance lessons at least fifteen minutes early. This will allow you to get yourself focused, warm up and practice some of last week’s steps before the lesson starts. By the time the lesson begins, you will be fully prepared and ready to make the most of it.

As you progress in your dance lessons, it is important not to get ahead of yourself too quickly. The best dancers keep their minds open to new information and know that there are always things they can learn to do better. Remember that your instructor is an expert and let them teach you. When the instructor demonstrates a new pattern or concept, let them finish it before you attempt it. If you do not understand something, speak up. Chances are, others in the class did not understand it either. When the instructor asks questions, answer. This allows you to be more actively engaged in the learning process.

After each class, it is a good idea to take down notes of what was covered in that class.  Doing this immediately after you finish, when everything is still fresh in your mind, can be a valuable tool to progressing towards your goals.

The time you spend between classes can be as valuable as the time during class In addition to going over your notes, you can use time between classes to practice on your own. It does not require very much space. Simply practice a sequence using smaller steps. Even visualizing the steps will be helpful later. You could use the time while you are standing in line at the grocery store to run through a sequence of steps. Much of the time that is lost in each dance lesson is spent re-learning what was taught the week before and forgotten. It is up to the students to minimize this.

Another way to take advantage of the time between classes is to listen to your dance music. By listening to the music you dance to regularly, you will develop a better sense of its rhythm. In turn, you will be able to dance better. When you listen to it, pay attention to the beats. Count them out and visualize yourself moving to beats.

As your dancing improves you may want to expand on your dance program. Taking different classes with different instructors can help you grow and expand. Additionally, private lessons give a level of personalized attention that cannot be achieved in group lessons. Apart from other kinds of lessons, most dance schools offer a weekly dance session for all their students. This is a great way to practice and is also a good opportunity to dance with other partners.

It is up to you to make the most of your ballroom dance lessons with clear goals, the right mindset and practice.

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Paul Steinberg is a very amateur ballroom dancer (but he enjoys it a lot) and publisher of www.BallroomDancingSecrets.com which offers more help and information for other aspiring dancers and dance students.