The Dance Primer

In my last post, I focused on critics and also mentioned how to deal with them specifically. I think it would also be helpful to take a look at the different ways people react to criticism. Doesn’t it make you cringe when you watch a performer on a reality competition show that gets super defensive […]

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Criticism is a huge part of our lives, and if it hasn’t been there in our dancing yet - it’s very possible it will be soon, especially if you’re serious about improving. The most public example I can think of is American Idol/SYTYCD - where those who have the confidence to audition in the […]

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We’ve looked at motivation before. As you know, I dance because I think it’s fun. Recently though, I’ve posted about some struggles I’ve faced in my dancing. Gretchen Rubin, who authors The Happiness Project, has once again posted an article that I think can relate to us as dancers. She titles the post “Six questions […]

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I was going to put up a new post today, but I’m excited by the disagreement and discussion about the feather metaphor on my last post. So, for today’s post I’m asking if you would please, read through the comments on the Spaghetti/Bricks/Feathers post, and add to the discussion yourself.
Some talking points:

What metaphors would you […]

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I’ve been thinking of ways to talk about frame lately. The word itself can be kind of confusing. I’ve talked about posture, relaxing, Barbi and such in the past - but I thought of a new metaphor that I’m liking better the more I think about it.
Most of you who partner dance have probably heard […]

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I was having a conversation the other night with a new dancer who will not go social dancing. He seems to understand the import of social dancing, but his fear of messing up - and having a partner there with him to suffer his mistakes - petrifies him. Someone else mentioned that girls would rather […]

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Do you know the difference between a Romantic and a Classicist? When I was a music major in college, I got in trouble for interpreting a Mozart piece Romantically. I had done so intentionally, and had my justifications, but it didn’t fly with the department head.
In music, and in dance, I am most definitely a […]

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Here’s more of our interview with Naomi Uyama. In this part, she has some pretty inspiring things to say about performance and competition. Read on!
Amberlynn: So what’s the best thing you done to really improve you dancing?
Naomi: The most effective, or the more rewarding?
A: Both.
N: I really think the thing that helped me […]

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When I teach beginning partner dancing, I focus on what for me are Three Basic Fundamentals. They are:

rhythm
frame
and fun

Rhythm is what makes it a dance in the first place, connecting your body to the music. Frame takes the musical connection a step further, beyond yourself and to another person. Without good frame you’re missing a […]

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Why do you want to dance, anyway? This is a good question to ask yourself whether you’re just beginning, or “hitting a plateau.” For me the answer is the same as it is for most things I do in life; because it’s fun.
Now that I know my motivation is fun, I can set my […]

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