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Using video can help you to perfect your form.[/caption]
Ask any professional dancer and they’ll tell you: video is one of the best ways to improve your dancing.
Watching videos of yourself will show you where you need to improve, and can highlight areas that may need special attention. Watching videos of other dancers can also be beneficial. It can inspire you to improve and help you to perfect a technique that you’ve wanted to master.
If you want to improve your routine, don’t overlook the power of video! Let’s delve a bit deeper and see how you can use video to improve your dance.
Learn From Others
There’s a good chance that you’ve heard it before: we learn by watching.
When you watch someone perform a dance move, it makes it easier for you to learn how to do it too. This is because when we watch someone dance, and see it unfold, our brains can map out the actions into our own mental representations, helping us to be able to perform the moves ourselves.
Having the ability to stop, pause, and re-watch a routine in slow motion is great benefit of video since this luxury is something that you don’t have when watching a routine in person.
Keep in mind that passively watching videos without a strategy in mind isn’t nearly as beneficial as watching with a plan. There’s nothing wrong with watching dancing videos for enjoyment, or in hopes of being inspired, but for the best results it’s important to watch the videos with the intent of learning the moves. Studies show that we gain the most benefit from observation when we have the intention to repeat the action ourselves. So watch those videos with the intent of mastering the moves, and you’ll pick them up much faster.
As beneficial as it is to watch someone perform the move you have been struggling with, it can also be helpful to hear about how they struggled, and overcame their difficulties. There are plenty of well-known dancers who have struggled at one point or another. Listening to their stories and putting their knowledge into practice can help to keep you from making the same mistakes.
Watch Yourself
Making videos of yourself –and watching them is another great use of video.
Watching yourself can help you to find out where you need to improve. While it can be painful to watch, especially in the beginning, it’s a great way to see where you could make improvements.
It is also great to have a record of your past dancing –to help encourage and motivate you to improve beyond where you have come already. Looking back over old dance videos can be encouraging. It will show you where you were, and how far you’ve come, and give you great motivation to keep on going.
When it comes to recording yourself, it’s never been easier. Thanks to smartphones, you have your own portable recorder on you wherever you go. Just set up your phone and let it record you, or ask someone to do it for you, then playback your routine later.
Are you ready to use video to improve your dancing?
Remember, no professional dancer made it to where they’re at without practice and a lot of hard work. So go ahead –watch some videos, and make your own. Keep at it and you’ll soon notice improvements!
Are you serious about dance? Looking to improve your dance skills? Visit Dance Hub to find dance classes and instructors in your area. Make new friends and hone your skills. It’s never been easier to connect with others who love dance!
Image: Peter Voerman
