125 Ways To Improve Your Dancing!!

Dance Professional and Ballroom Sage Dan Calloway once said, “Find what you do well and do it well.”  This is great advice for dancers at all levels. 

Whether you are Social Dancers or Competitors, Newcomer Bronze Dancers or National Champions, Senior Vs or Youth, there are countless ways to improve your dancing.  Here are 125 suggestions to start you on the right track:

1. Practice – They say you must go over a lesson three times before the information solidifies. Then practice it 100 times more.
2. Take private lessons.
3. Find a partner.
4. Find a practice partner.
5. Go to group classes – there is always something to learn.
6. Try formation dancing.
7. Join a college team, or maybe coach a college team.
8. Go to practice rounds.
9. Compete! Are you already competing? Compete at a higher level or more often.  Already competing too much?  Slow down for a bit and get your practice in.
10. Learn another Style: Smooth, International Ballroom, Latin, Rhythm.
11. Don’t buy a new dress unless you need it. Save the money for lessons.
12. Go to a social dance.
13. Dance for a charity event.
14. Rotate partners at a social dance – If you dance better than the partner, see how good you can make them look. If they are the better dancer…learn from them.  Above all, be patient with your partner and yourself.
15. Dance Pro-Am.
16. Dance Mixed proficiency.
17. Dance Teacher student.
18. Dance Solo-proficiency.
19. Teach.
20. Do a Show Dance.
21. Watch videos of dancers who are better than you.
22. Go to Camps. Learn about Dennis and Anna’s experience.  
23. Work on your posture.
24. Work on your basics.
25. Dress the part.
26. Watch professionals at comps.
27. Buy new shoes.
28. Drills Drills Drills!
29. Take up an instrument.
30. Followers, try it with your eyes closed.
31. Improve your nutrition.
32. Get a good night’s sleep.
33. Try weight training – core.
34. Consider cross-training – Walking, running, swimming, skating.
35. Try ballet/yoga/Pilates.
36. Drink more water; try pickle juice or coconut water.
37. Find a good chiropractor.
38. Take care of your joints or find the right doctor to repair the problem.  Check out Mike Lynch’s in-depth article on his road to recovery.
39. Be aware of grooming and hygiene.
40. Practice arm styling.
41. Take tap dance lessons.
42. Try acting lessons.
43. Experiment with hair and makeup – Can you do it in a pinch?
44. Figure out what tanner works for you – experiment with spray-on tan and body makeup.
45. Stretch before you start…STRETCH BEFORE YOU START!! 
46. Put together a competition checklist.
47. Stretch after you finish.  
48. Practice your face – make faces in the mirror. Use expressions when you practice.
49. Practice performing.
50. Plan your practice – today we will do…
51. Ask fellow dancers for tips.
52. Approach your dance time as a happy time; leave the rest of the world outside the studio door.
53. Be nice to your partner.
54. Don’t argue during lessons…heck, don’t argue! The person that is wrong might just be you. Remember, you are both trying to get it right.
55. Tell your coaches about your injuries.
56. Set realistic goals and expectations.
57. Listen to your body.
58. Practice partnership. Check out Patti Panebianco’s article on Shared Axis.
59. Followers, wait for the leader.
60. Don’t smoke or vape.
61. Listen to ballroom music – tap to the beat.
62. Invite a visiting pro to your studio.
63. Tape your dancing and study it.
64. Have someone photograph your dancing – stills don’t lie.
65. Young dancers, don’t run over the Seniors. You will be there one day, plus the judges won’t appreciate it…neither will the Seniors.
66. Try Belly Dancing, Square Dancing, Argentine Tango, HipHop, Break Dancing.
67. Teach a family member to dance.
68. Not to be cliché, Dance like no one is watching.
69. Then, Dance like everyone is watching.
70. Laugh/smile – This is supposed to be fun.
71. Imitate.
72. Breathe.
73. Try morning exercises/calisthenics.
74. Work on your frame.
75. Practice lead/follow.
76. Try dancing your partner’s part.
77. Try leading someone else through your routines. Followers, you can do this too.
78. Know your choreography and patterns.
79. Understand the counts.
80. Learn pattern names, counts, and footwork
81. Be able to start anywhere in your dance.
82. Keep a notebook. Take notes during classes and lessons. Take a video of your coach doing it right or summarizing a lesson.
83. Relax.
84. Hold yourself up.
85. Work on something specific with your partner and discuss it – Not, he is working on the count and she is working on precision.
86. Paint your nails and use your hands to be expressive.
87. Travel overseas to watch or dance in a competition.
88. Quit blaming your scores on judges that don’t like you.
89. Stop making excuses.
90. Make dancing a priority.
91. Get in shape – look in the mirror, you are your best judge.
92. Quit complaining about aches and pains, we all have them! When someone asks you how you are, say “Great!”
93. Encourage friends to join. The more the merrier.
94. Figure out what you can practice at home.
95. Try Zoom classes, lectures, and YouTube.
96. Watch Dance Academy videos.
97. Practice the hard parts – Don’t always start over, try working your routines backward.
98. Followers, Stay with your partner until they stop.  It’s really hard to do sometimes but make the effort.
99. Make it work, no one cares how you feel.
100. Leaders, make her comfortable.
101. Followers, recognize that it won’t always be comfortable.
102. Followers, let him drive and be grateful you are not doing it.
103. Leaders, appreciate that they are doing it backward and in heels. Yes, I went there!
104. Followers, MOVE!!! A bicycle that doesn’t move, falls over.
105. Don’t criticize your partner – heavy, stiff, did it wrong. Neither of you are perfect, or you would be Professional World Champions!!! And Professional World Champions do go for coaching.
106. Remember, this is supposed to be fun!
107. If something doesn’t work today, try another dance.
108. Be happy and appreciate that you are dancing and not at work.
109. Always have your dance shoes with you.
110. Go through routines/lessons in your head – visualize.
111. Listen to music and think about the interpretation.
112. Ask someone good to demonstrate a pattern, and see what it should look like
113. Practice your bows and turns.
114. Think UP, unless you should be thinking DOWN.
115. Know there are hundreds of ways to improve a frame.   Listen to suggestions.  Find what works for you.
116. Don’t go into old space.
117. Go clubbing.
118. Practice alone.
119. Practice your routines to different types of music; work on interpretation.
120. Work on cardio.
121. Respect and listen to your coach! Respect and listen to your coach! Oh, and respect and listen to your coach!!
122. Break in your shoes and costumes.
123. Remember winners never quit and quitters never win.
124. Give your body/injuries a chance to heal.
125. Find what you do well and do it well! – Dan Calloway

Do you have suggestions for an article?  Send them to Rose-Ann Lynch at americandancer@usadance.org.