We’ve talked a lot on this site about dancing for fun and for exercise, but what if you’re interested in learning to dance professionally? Or, at least, to dance as well as a professional? There are a number of options available to you.
Do you need talent?
The best professional dancers have both raw talent and loads of instruction and practice. If you lack talent, you’re less likely to become one of the best. But can you become a professional on drive alone? Absolutely. Talent gives you an extra edge over the competition, but hard work will take you far. In fact, someone who works hard at dancing will outshine many people who have a talent for it but don’t bother to practice.
Getting Instruction
The obvious way to learn how to dance is to take classes. If you take this route, you need to make sure you find a good instructor, and one with whom you feel compatible. Otherwise, you may learn bad habits that cause you problems down the road. Classes also provide a degree of socialization which some people thrive on and others find intimidating. In classes, you have group dance projects that help you learn teamwork and hopefully foster a supportive atmosphere. In some cases, the atmosphere may be more competitive – which, again, works for some personalities better than others.
It’s a good idea to try a number of different dance classes and instructors instead of sticking with the first you find. You will learn different techniques and tricks from various instructors, and be exposed to different styles you may never have considered trying.
Learning on your own
You can actually learn a great deal on your own by watching other people dance, or by renting instruction videos for use at home. But if you want to become a professional, you will need to incorporate some in-person instruction. Only an instructor watching you as you dance can tell you precisely what you’re doing right and wrong. They can give you tips about how to use your particular body – a dance move performed by two people with very different builds can look very different, and what works best for one dancer may only work fairly well for another.
Beyond instruction: passion
I said earlier that it’s possible to become a competent professional dancer without any particular talent, if you put in the work. But one thing that makes a dancer stand out from the crowd is passion. Passion is contagious. If you actually feel the music and strive to tell its story with your body, others can feel that passion. This can be as exciting as seeing a complicated maneuver done just right, or watching someone whose unique talent allows her to dance like no one else. Your passion is something others can relate to and enjoy feeling when they watch.
Whatever methods of instruction you choose, develop your passion and feel it every time you dance in performance. Look for instructors, dance styles and situations that bring out that passion in you.
