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Becoming a dancer!
While I'm dealing with a mystery hip injury (sarcastic yay!) I thought it would be a good opportunity to work on my dancing ability. My background in gymnastics, so I can pick up tricks fairly quickly, but I have almost no previous dance experience. I would love some tips from some of the gorgeous dancers on here on how to look more graceful and dance better, if that's not too vague and nebulous a question.
At the moment I'm working on trying to copy other choreography off YouTube and filming myself doing it (cringe). I'm planning to run through all of Veena's beginner lessons to make sure I have all the basic transition moves down. But I was wondering if anyone else had any useful tips or answers to these questions
1. Are there any general secrets to looking better when you dance? I know that good posture with shoudlers back makes a huge difference, and I usually just use that to coast by. I think improving my back flexibility has also helped. But are there any other general things I should be thinking about?
2. How do I do sexy hair flicks and general head rolls? Usually I can work on my dancing by watching myself in the mirror, but it doesn't work when I'm moving my head around. Is there a particular way they get taught to dancers, or are you all just born with an innate talent for awesomeness? Also, if I got layers put in my hair would it stop it covering my face like Cousin It whenever I move my head?
3. At the moment I don't have the funds for more dance classes, but when I do, is there any particular style of dance that would be most useful?
If videos are needed, I'll try to be brave and post my attempts, but I'll see if I can get away with not posting for now 🙂
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12 Replies
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I'm having a similar issue with floorwork, so I'll give you some of my own experience. You just have to practice it, over and over and over. There really is no secret move or anything like that. At first dancing will feel awkward. Remember what it's like when you learn a new pole trick. The first couple of times you may not even be able to do the whole trick, it looks terrible and feels very awkward. You practice it again and again and eventually the edges smooth out, the video is postable, and it feels easy. The same thing with dancing. Don't worry about looking good right off. Just start slow, put some music on, and start feeling how your body moves. Practice, practice, practice.
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I do not have the lessons here but I am sure that Veena has some great ones. She also recently did a video that was pretty much all floor work that would be good to watch. There are quite a few that started out in S Factor that I would recommend to watch….Amy is the first to come to mind. If you can, also try to locate the S Factor dvds. Out of everything I've watched this is the only series that I know that really devotes everything to slow fluid movement.
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Some fluidity is innate, but a lot of it comes with just dancing and dancing and dancing and dancing some more, not doing tricks, just dancing. Put on some music that you LOVE and dance to it. Do a fast song (I don't do enough of these but I'm getting better about it), a slow song, something with rise/fall to it.
If you don't already, I'd highly recommend recording yourself. You'll be able to see your lines, how your hair flicks look, etc. I record everything, and though some of it is cringe-worthy, I always learn something from watching myself!
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in the beginning i was a better dancer then poler, one thing i will way is allways try and stay on your toes, and stop looking at ureself soo much!! Put on the camera, cover the mirror, put on some music you love or something you feel and just flow with it. practice filler material, like pole walks, a few pole steps, maybe i will make a vid and post it for you to show you what i mean. i work mostly on my dancing and pole spins not my upsidedown tricks, even tho i have quite a mix bag of those. i think ill make u a video hope i can help!!! I <3 Pole sooo much!
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I've found that the best way to dance is to be loose. Don't be stiff. By default, people who aren't used to dancing stiffen their bodies and try to do the movements (at least that is the case in bellydance.) Loosen your hips, arms, legs, etc, and the movements will come a lot easier (like tush wiggles, head spins, floor work.) Also, don't make any of the movements jerky…slow is the key.
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don t try to follow the beat too much, go slow
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Remember there are routines in the lessons that may help you out as well. All the ladies have great advice. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
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i like recording myself and to be my own critic , try that!
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I always record my practices. I think it helps sooo much and u can really see what you are doing wrong, and what you are doing right.
If u want to get a good hair whip, watch some of Leigh Ann's videos on youtube. Thats who i learned it from! Here is a video with lots of it.
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Thanks guys, it looks like I'm just going to have to suck it up and film a lot of dancing. I'll keep practicing, use nice slow movements, cover the mirror, stay on my toes, relax my body, practice some more and then practice some more. I'll definitely have a hunt around for S factor. I went through a few of the beginner lessons last night and it was very helpful – especially the leg kicks video, it was like "Aha! That's why everyone else's leg kicks look sexier than mine!
I'll check out Leigh Ann's video too – always nice to find someone else to admire on YouTube. I might have to postpone my hair flicks for a few days though, because I got rear ended yesterday, and hurt my neck, so now is probably the perfect time to be focussing on nice, slow, smooth dancing.
Once I'm happy I'll post a video to show you how I'm going.
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Definitely choose music that gets you riled up… I'm talking wet panties girl.
Choose a mood, (sassy, cute, etc.), and communicate it consistently through your face while you dance. If you can do that and point your toes, you can fake the rest!
This blog article is also helpful I think…
http://heartofpole.net/life-and-pole/how-to-dance-like-you-mean-it.html
Have fun!
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@gawkpop–I freakin love you!!! Wet panties!!!!
Awesome!!!
and I totally agree!!! Music should inspire and move you~
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