Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Positively Dancing: Practice makes PERMANENT
Positively Dancing: Practice makes PERMANENT: I am sure everyone has heard the saying, "practice makes perfect" or even the newer spin on it, "perfect practice makes perfect performance"...
Practice makes PERMANENT
I am sure everyone has heard the saying, "practice makes perfect" or even the newer spin on it, "perfect practice makes perfect performance". I stand up (or sit down as I am typing) before you and say, "NO!" Those are both incorrect statements.
Perfection is not an attainable or relaistic goal! And for some folks, I would even go so far as to say, that it's a way of being lazy and getting out of doing their best. So why are we setting up our young people for so much failure??
I prefer to teach my students (and they have been of varied talents, skills, interests & backgrounds) that the way you repeatedly practice something is the way you are going to "perform" it- whatever IT is. I instruct them learn to be their own coach when I am not with them and to atempt to self-correct. I LOVE it when they begin recognizing the errors or bad technique in themselves (eventually in others) and know what to do to correct it or (and here's the big one!!! ) ASK for direction to get them past this stumbling point and onto the next and the greater....!!!!
Ask yourself some of these questions the next time you're in rehearsal or dance class:
I would love to hear more of the questions YOU ask yourself when practicing!
This time of year is so important for most dancers to really focus on mastering their choreography. Let me hear how you get your dances mastered and what teachiniques help you!! I will include them in my follow up blog.
Until then, have a SPARKLE-y day!
Dancingly yours....
Kelley King
Dance Central
TheDanceCentral@yahoo.com
Perfection is not an attainable or relaistic goal! And for some folks, I would even go so far as to say, that it's a way of being lazy and getting out of doing their best. So why are we setting up our young people for so much failure??
I prefer to teach my students (and they have been of varied talents, skills, interests & backgrounds) that the way you repeatedly practice something is the way you are going to "perform" it- whatever IT is. I instruct them learn to be their own coach when I am not with them and to atempt to self-correct. I LOVE it when they begin recognizing the errors or bad technique in themselves (eventually in others) and know what to do to correct it or (and here's the big one!!! ) ASK for direction to get them past this stumbling point and onto the next and the greater....!!!!
Ask yourself some of these questions the next time you're in rehearsal or dance class:
- Did I just do MY very best?
- What can I do to improve the next time?
- Do I hear my teacher's voice giving direction in my head while I am practicing?
- Have I asked for help where I am struggling with certain areas?
- Is this how I want to perform this dance?
- What more can I do to reach the next level as a performer?
- Am I lifting other dancers up around me?
- Am I visualizing my very best performance(s) in my head before I drift off to sleep? ( I highly recommend this one!)
I would love to hear more of the questions YOU ask yourself when practicing!
This time of year is so important for most dancers to really focus on mastering their choreography. Let me hear how you get your dances mastered and what teachiniques help you!! I will include them in my follow up blog.
Dancingly yours....
Kelley King
Dance Central
TheDanceCentral@yahoo.com
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