Competition in dance

 

What if we redefined competition, comparison, and success in dance?

What if your thinking about someone else's achievement has nothing to do with your ability to succeed? Their success does not imply failure. Instead, it demonstrates that success in dancing is feasible.

Your current frame of mind...

If you're doubting your ability to achieve or if the fear of failure is making you reconsider your path to professional dancing, it's important to analyse and work on your mentality.

This present style of thinking also makes it very simple to get lost in comparison, whether you're comparing your body or your abilities to others.

Your current environment…

In your present dance setting, you may not be the "favourite." That has nothing to do with your ability to succeed elsewhere. It also has no bearing on the opportunities that may be provided to you when you audition at other institutions or firms.

Even if your dancing school claims to promote body acceptance, it's possible that they don't. There are profoundly engrained assumptions about what a dancer's body "should" look like. You can't deny the possibility that many, many dancers have an implicit bias against bodies that don't suit the ideal. It is possible that their prejudiced casting or auditioning is not a conscious thought process for them.

The fact that it may be unconscious doesn't make it OK. It could just be a reason why they're talking to talk but don't seem to be putting words into real, inclusive action.

The teachers or artistic directors you encounter…

It may take a few tries to find the right professors or company for you. This is something I believe should be acknowledged and celebrated, yet many people do not. Let's forget about that. Allow yourself to experiment with different options and situations to find your greatest place to dance.

The good news is that you will be encouraged to develop your dancing for yourself if you are in a supportive environment. Return your attention to your dance intention and inspiration.

Quick Tip: If you've been wanting to start journaling but haven't been able to do so, consider setting a daily intention. It might be your motivation for dancing that day or how you want to live your entire life.

Seeking approbation or external validation isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, if it is your primary reason for dancing, it is time to adjust your focus.

Your Concept of Success

The thing with success is that we frequently define it by the standards of others. We hear accolades for the big stars and well-known individuals in the dance business, who usually dance for one of a few top companies. You associate that with success in your young dancing brain.

When that result seems unattainable, you persuade yourself you've already failed. So, change your perspective about success. Most dancers are motivated by their passion for the art form. Make the objective of having a venue where you can dance as much as you want.

Success, according to that concept, may imply dancing with any size organisation, from the tiniest professional groups to even more recreational dance outlets. Perhaps teaching is the path that will allow you to dance all day. Begin now to let go of other people's conceptions of success and look deep inside yourself and your motivation to determine what path in dance will bring you the most joy, fulfilment, and satisfaction.

Take Action:

Spend some time writing about your success vision. Begin by identifying the people, places, or experiences that have impacted your current perception of what success "should" look like.

Then listen to yourself. Block out the noise from your peers, society, the dancing industry, and your fear of what others may think. Answer the following questions: What makes you happy?

When do you feel the most at ease?

Who do you want to spend your time with?

How can you combine passion with purpose?

Where do you most feel at ease?

What is the significance of these items to you?

 

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Core strengthening for dancers

What is the definition of core control?

All of the muscles that help you stay balanced and run through the trunk of your body make up your core. As a result, your core is much more than your abdominal muscles. The muscles on your sides, back, and through your pelvis are also included. Deep core muscles include the transverse abdominis, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and multifidus (muscles located between your vertebrae). The rectus abdominis, obliques, erector spinae, and gluteal muscles, on the other hand, are outer core muscles. The deep group is a supporting group that acts on a more delicate level than the outer group, which consists of large, active moving muscles. Finding a comfortable balance between the two is crucial. We frequently over-activate our outer muscles while neglecting our inner muscles.

What role does the core have in dancing technique?

You must keep balance while dancing while undertaking a variety of tough manoeuvres. Your core stabilises your body, helping you to accomplish tough dance routines without losing control and guaranteeing that you complete them securely and firmly every time. It also increases stamina by integrating your core in breathing and improving the efficiency of your motions. Out-of-control bodies consume energy!

Dancers should strengthen their core muscles in a variety of postures and activities because they work together to stabilize the body in a coordinated manner. The following exercises for strengthening general core strength are recommended by three former ballet dancers who are now Pilates instructors.

With the ball, do double and single leg pelvic curls.

Step 1: Lie down on your back with your heels on the ball and your legs bent at a 90-degree angle, with the ball against the wall.

Step 2: Exhale and gently press your heels into the ball, sliding your pelvis and spine off the mat one bone at a time, until your hips are high and your knees, hips, and shoulders are all in a straight line.

Step 3: Take a deep breath in and slowly exhale, working your way back down your spine until you're flat on your back.

Rep ten times, then try with one leg. As you improve, you'll be able to move the ball away from the wall.

Adductor squeeze with Criss Cross

Step 1: Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat. Place a softball between your knees. Place your hands behind your neck with your elbows open.

Step 2: Raise your head and shoulders off the mat while maintaining a neutral pelvis.

Step 3: Exhale while gently squeezing the ball with your left elbow crossed over your right knee with your left elbow crossed over your right knee.

Step 4: Inhale deeply and slowly rotate your torso to the centre, releasing the squeeze.

Step 5: Exhale deeply while crossing your right elbow across your left knee.

Alternate sides to keep the chest lift going. Reps should be increased until you reach ten.

Kneeling glute lift

Step 1: Go in a neutral spine position on your hands and knees, with your knees exactly under your hips and your hands beneath your shoulders.

Step 2: As you exhale, shift your weight to your left knee and raise your right foot to the sky, keeping your knee bent, foot flexed, and leg parallel. (Take care to keep your spine in alignment)

Step 3: As you inhale, return to the starting position and repeat with the left leg.

Perform ten reps on one side before switching sides. Then, while keeping appropriate alignment, try ten reps extending the opposing arm forward.

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Dealing with Criticism

 

Consider yourself in class, enjoying your quadruple pirouette in the mirror after a successful performance. You've been working on this move for months, and it's finally paid off! You feel proud and relieved when you land cleanly in the fourth place, and you look over at your teacher to see if she saw. Before moving on to the next student's work, she instructs, "Keep your shoulders away from your ears." Unfortunately, your good mood has been shattered. Your dance always appears to have difficulties, no matter how hard you try.

A constant barrage of corrections can make you feel overwhelmed and cause you to lose sight of your enthusiasm for the medium. Every dancer, on the other hand, must learn to deal with these criticisms. So, how can you learn to productively and calmly deal with criticism? Here are four ways for turning criticism into a positive rather than a negative experience.

Remember the Reason Why

You enrol in a dance class to better your abilities. We need comments to know what is and isn't working to progress in anything.

If someone criticises your technique, try not to take it personally. Even pros are criticised. Receiving negative feedback does not suggest that you are untalented.

Consider the Source

If you're feeling overwhelmed by criticism, take a moment to prioritise. A teacher's technique-related critique, for example, is normally given more weight than a peer or parent letter. Similarly, if you're rehearsing for a specific piece, the choreographer will undoubtedly have the last say in how steps are performed.

Remarks about your technique or performance are different from comments about your body, which are more likely to injure you, even if they are meant to improve you. So, how do you know whether to take physical comments seriously? This is when the importance of delivery comes into play. It's more essential than a peer, a parent, or an overzealous costume mistress mentioning that you must have liked your birthday cake last week if your teacher speaks to you individually and respectfully offers to cross-train.

Learn When to Let Go

Your first reaction after receiving in-class criticism might be to practise a bad move over and over again. However, sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the treatment will not be absorbed into your body that day. That's perfectly fine! Return to it with fresh eyes after sleeping on it. Though your technical issue may be caused by something you can't fix—such as short Achilles tendons or tight hip sockets—likely it's that your body requires some time to adjust.

It's not the same as giving up if you take a break to repair a problem. Consider why something isn't working properly. There may be a learning curve, and you'll need to allow yourself some time to catch up. Maybe there's a flaw that can be corrected through cross-training. Maybe it's just a terrible day; in that case, put it aside and come back to it later.

Be Kind to Yourself

Inner strength is required to handle criticism maturely and positively. You must make an effort to accept yourself as you are and to forgive yourself when things don't go as planned. Isn't it true that saying something is simpler than doing it? Consider the following scenario: As a dancer, you never stop learning. You'll face another task once you've overcome the first.

It's crucial to channel one's passion for greatness in a positive direction. Excessive self-criticism may jeopardise your goals by leading you to endure pain or hate everything you do.

After a while, this frequently leads to depression and damage. Reframe the situation by learning to operate within your body's restrictions rather than becoming frustrated.

As you progress through your training, keep in mind that you are your own toughest critic. Keep your pride in check, but remember that what you think of yourself is the most essential thing.

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ADVICE TO BEGINNER HIP HOP DANCERS

 

One of the pillars of hip hop culture is hip hop dance. It's a ferocious fusion of a wide range of street dance forms that have recently gained popularity among individuals all around the world.

Contrary to popular misconception, learning to dance hip hop is not as difficult as it appears. There are several basic dancing moves to start with that are simple to learn, such as the icebox. However, before diving into the art, it is necessary to familiarise oneself with these basic concepts.

1.    Musicality - This is where you'll need to know about music and how it relates to dance. For any dancer, being in rhythm with the music and conveying it through the dance is essential.

2.    Body Awareness - When it comes to dancing, your body is your most valuable asset. The more you grow acquainted with your own body, the more natural and regulated your actions will become.

3.    Execution and Movement - Variation in execution is what transforms a collection of steps into a dance. Some dancers have been observed dancing as if they are a part of the music. This is due to their ability to comprehend music as well as master their body and control them to reflect the sounds they hear.

4.    Dance Classes - Taking at least a few dance classes will allow you to absorb your teachers' attitude and feeling for the dance. Hip Hop is more than simply a dance; it's a way of life. It will be impossible to grasp without a thorough definition from a skilled dancing instructor.

5.    Setting Goals - Taking the first step is difficult, but once you do, you'll need to progress from a beginner to an intermediate. Set objectives for yourself; they will provide you with a benchmark to work towards while practising, and once you achieve your goal, you will discover that the sky is the limit for you.

In conclusion, hip hop is more than just another dance genre. It's a beautiful, unique and sophisticated work of art that daily inspires millions of people around the world to forget about their problems and start dancing like no one's watching.

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Best Choreographer Dance Academy

 

SDA Best Choreographer Dance Academy in Andheri West Mumbai specialises in urban, contemporary, jazz-funk, and other dance styles. Dhiraj Bakshi, our founder, is a visionary who believes in nothing but the best. As a result, we stand out and can train our students at a much faster speed and with higher end-quality, ultimately making it lighter and cheaper. There is stringent quality control among all other instructors, which he does extremely well, standardising the teaching process and making us the best there is.

Since its inception, Split Sole Dance lessons in Andheri West Mumbai have shaped and trained its students in a variety of dance genres that are on par with international standards. The key premise at Best Choreographer Dance Academy in Andheri West Mumbai is to strive, perseverance, teamwork, dedication, and sacrifice while maintaining a fun-loving environment.

At dance Studio, we believe that dance should be pleasurable, that it should take your spirit away from the everyday grind and allow you to explore your space, your thoughts, and connect with your body. SSDA was founded in 2009 to provide a forum for everyone with an interest in dance. It is the idea of Mr Dhiraj Bakshi, who believes that the power of dance can transform an interest into a passion in everyone interested in it.

 

Our dance classes are top class dance studios In Mumbai

SSDA Dance Studio is now a Dance Institute that specialises in Contemporary, Hip Hop, Bollywood Jazz, and Jazz Funk dance genres. The emphasis is on conveying dance nuances and refining techniques. A typical SSDA class begins with a warm-up, progresses to method training, and concludes with choreography. Choreography is crucial because it helps with muscle memory, mental agility, and focus while also teaching the importance of teamwork and respecting one's boundaries. SSDA holds regular programmes for both children and adults, as well as workshops.

Students in our dance lessons are regularly engaged with the industry's top specialists and learn all the tricks and skills from the faculty themselves, who are professionals in the dance industry with years of expertise and great knowledge of the industry's technical know-how.

Dance is a polished form of art that needs no introduction.

To dance is to live in a world where people of different shapes, sizes, ages, and ethnicities share the freedom of movement, the beauty of music, and the power of personal development. It's about living in the now when pleasure is at its greatest and everyday cares and problems go away. If you fall in love with dance, you might just fall in love with yourself.

Our dance studio is regulated in terms of flooring, and the institute is managed utilising technology. Our dance school is dedicated to teaching the greatest dancing at the most affordable prices. Our Best Choreographer Dance Academy in Andheri West Mumbai is built to international standards, and we provide an environment that fosters creative perfection in the competent and eager dancer.

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6 Dance Styles That Help You Lose Belly Fat

 

Is your unwelcome belly fat keeping you awake at night? Allow dancing to relieve your stress! Few people realise that dancing can be a calorie-burning aerobic workout that helps tone your stomach. If you despise going to the gym or walking on a treadmill, consider taking up dancing classes!

To combat belly fat, follow a low-calorie diet and engage in high-intensity dance moves. We recommend the following six dance styles:

1. Latin Dancing

Latin dance styles such as Cha-Cha, Salsa, Rumba, and Reggaetón are excellent for losing belly fat. These dance styles involve quick movements and footwork, which can aid in calorie loss. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), an hour of Salsa can burn up to 500 calories for a 150-pound person.

2. Hip-Hop Dancing

Popping, locking, breaking, popping, shoulder shrugs, hip isolations, and quick turns are all part of hip-hop dancing. According to Harvard Medical School, doing fast hip-hop moves for an hour can burn approximately 446 calories for a person weighing 155 pounds.

3. Belly Dancing

Perform belly dancing for 10 minutes every day to tone your abs. Twist your body to contract your abdominals. Choose moves such as the rib slide, hip circle, figure eight, camel, and belly roll.

4. Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom dancing, according to FOX News, is a great workout that involves uncommon muscle groups. Ball dancing emphasises the back, abs, and legs. It also reduces belly fat by increasing fat and calorie burn.

5. Zumba Dancing

Zumba dancing burns calories that have been stored in the body. If you perform this dance form for one hour every day, you can burn 400 to 500 calories. Zumba dancing is thought to be a good cardiovascular exercise.

6. Ballet Dancing

This low-impact dance form can shape your body in a short amount of time. It can stretch and lengthen muscles, providing you with a full-body workout.

Dancing is one type of exercise that can benefit both your body and your soul. It improves stamina, flexibility, and self-confidence. Dancing can also lower your risk of developing diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis.

7. Cha-cha

If you want to lose stubborn belly fat, we recommend incorporating an hour of Cha-cha dance into your daily routine. When performed correctly, this Latin dance form involves quick movements of every part of your body (arms, hips, legs, and waist) and will serve as a rigorous workout. Depending on your weight, a 60-minute Cha-cha session can help you burn up to 500 calories.

8. Salsa

Salsa is a great way to work your core because it involves fast spins, moves, and quick footwork. You can easily burn 400-500 calories in an hour of Salsa dancing, depending on your weight. It's also a great substitute for your regular cardio workout due to its spins, twists, and turns.

5 POPULAR WESTERN DANCE FORMS ONE MUST LEARN

 

Dance is a nonverbal means of expressing your feelings or emotions. Some dance to express themselves, while others dance to make a living. Dance culture is a vast culture, yet most people are unaware of it. People in India are only familiar with traditional dance styles such as Kathak, Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, and so on because they were taught to us in school. When it comes to western dance forms, most people are only familiar with a few of them, such as hip hop, Bollywood, freestyle, belly dance, and so on.

Here are 5 POPULAR WESTERN DANCE FORMS ONE MUST LEARN

1. Hip Hop Dance:

Hip Hop Dance is a term that refers to street dance genres that are primarily performed to hip hop music. Hip hop dancing can be done for fun or as a pastime. It can also be a method to stay engaged in competitive dance and make a living by performing professionally. Hip hop differs from other styles of dancing in that it is frequently "freestyle" (improvisational). Hip hop dancing gangs frequently compete in freestyle competitions known as "battles." Crews, freestyling, and battles are the primary distinguishing features of this dancing form. Hip hop dancing is a culture that incorporates a variety of dancing techniques such as breaking, locking, popping, krumping, lyrical, and so on.

2. Contemporary Dance:

Contemporary dance is a technical dancing style. It is one of the most popular genres among formally trained dancers all around the world. Despite being schooled and influenced by conventional (classical), modern, and jazz traditions. It has evolved to incorporate elements from a variety of dance forms. It is frequently thought to be closely related to modern dance, classical dance, and ballet due to technical similarities.

Concerning the main point of its techniques, contemporary dance tends to be a mixture of ballet's strong and controlled legwork and modern's emphasis on the midsection. It also incorporates contract release, floor work, fall and recovery, hand movements, and improvisational elements from modern dance.

3. Ballet:

Ballet Dance is a highly technical dance technique with a vocabulary based on the French language. It is characterised as a fundamental technique employed in a variety of dance styles or cultures. It has been taught in a variety of schools all across the world.

Ballet is the choreography and music for a ballet performance. Ballet dancers provide the choreography for the ballet dance style. Traditional classical ballet is typically performed with classical music and classic costumes and staging, but modern ballet is frequently performed with minimal costumes and no set of scenery. 

4. Jazz :

Jazz dance is a style and technique of performance dance that originated in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. Dancers in the Jazz dance form are encouraged to inject their personality into each move. Basic turns in jazz include chains, arouses, pirouettes, jazz turns, and some ballet turns. Grande jetes, twisting jumps, and tour jetes are all part of the Leap experience. Jazz dance is distinguished by the "Jazz walk." Jazz walks can be done in a variety of dance forms. "Contraction" is another prominent jazz move. To cultivate a contraction, position the torso with the back curled outward and the pelvis pulled forward. You'll also learn the fundamentals of Jazz Square and leg holds. It takes a lot of practice to acquire jazz dancing techniques.

5. Belly Dance:

Arabic dancing is another name for belly dancing. The hip whirl is a middle-driven manoeuvre in belly dancing. Unlike all other western dance styles, the emphasis of this dance form is on torso muscular isolations rather than limb movements in space.

 Level shifts, voyaging steps, turns, and twists are all used by dancers of various styles. The arms are utilised to outline and complement hip motions, to send emotional cues, and to create beautiful lines and shapes with the body, particularly in more balletic, westernised styles.

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