During this time of year, many people reflect on the past 12 months and make new goals for the year ahead. These goals may include eating healthier, spending more time in nature, being more disciplined with their exercise routine, or finding a new job. For dancers, these resolutions are also important. Setting goals for the new year is a healthy way to keep improving on your skills to become a better dancer. Here are some popular new year’s resolutions for dancers and how our dance classes in Toronto can help you achieve them.
Try a New Style of Dance
Is there style of dance that you have always been curious about but never had the courage to try? As a dancer, one of your 2020 resolutions should be to finally try it out! Taking advantage of this opportunity to experiment with a new style of dance can help you branch out and challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. You don’t need to go to an advanced class; a simple beginners’ class is a great option, or you can register for a summer program. You will be happy you chose to try something new, and it will further prove that you are a dancer that is not afraid of a challenge.
Work on Your Acting Skills
Another way you can challenge yourself in the new year is to participate in a dance performance where you need to take on a character and act the part. Acting gives dancers another tool to help them portray a story using body movement. Whether you choose to take acting classes or simply observe your favourite dancers as they portray new characters, developing this skill will take you far as a dancer.
Work on Your “Bad” Side
Most dancers quickly realize that one side of their body is stronger than the other. In the new year, commit to working on your weaker side. If you are right-handed and notice that you tend to put a lot of weight on that side of your body, try to convert your exercises to focus on the left side. Your dance trainer or coach can help you create the right exercises and routine to ensure that you are balancing out your body. Practicing dance with the other side of your body may feel uncomfortable, but it will make your dance performances much better.
Improve Your Artistry
One of the key aspects of dance that make it different from sports is that it requires artistry. Aside from demonstrating speed, precision, balance, and endurance, dancers are also required to express emotion and evoke feelings from the audience. A dancer may have perfected their technique but if they lack artistry, their performance can feel dull and boring. On the other hand, an actor who performs with emotion can take the audience on a magical journey and allow them to experience the feelings of the performer. Let this new year be a time for you to focus on improving your artistry.
Cross Train
It’s true that dance can be a form of exercise, but without proper training you can end up becoming an injury-prone dancer. Developing a cross training routine that helps you focus on your strengths and weaknesses can turn you into a strong dancer and prevent injuries as you dance. In the new year, find another form of exercise that will help you strengthen your body so you can perform your dance routines better. Some ideas include swimming, Pilates, yoga, or weight training. Whatever exercise you choose, ensure that it is tailored to training your body as it needs.
See Shows
When you are constantly attending dance classes, rehearsing, and performing throughout the year, the last thing on your mind is attending another dance performance. However, attending other shows is incredibly inspiring and rewarding. It helps you understand the dance scene better and allows you to network and chat with friends and colleagues. By supporting the work of other artists, you make yourself an active participant of the art form. Consider attending a performance next year and take some friends or family members with you. You will be surprised at how motivated an energized you feel afterward.
Get on a Regular Sleep Schedule
Perhaps the most important resolution to make for the new year is to get on a regular sleep schedule. It may also be the easiest resolution to follow! Set a bedtime schedule and commit to it to ensure that your body is getting enough time to rest and recover before each practice.
How Performing Dance Arts Can Help Young Dancers in 2020
If you liked these 2020 resolutions for dancers and are looking for more ways to help your child improve their skills, our dance studio in Toronto is the right place for them. At Performing Dance Arts, we provide students with extraordinary instructors that are certified and trained to teach your child how to dance and how to improve more with each lesson. Our teachers will nurture your child’s social and emotional development and maturity, so they can do well in other areas of their life. We understand that a good dancer takes more than technical skill, and we do our best to ensure we are fostering the right growth in all areas of their lives. Our studio inspires creativity and our instructors will motivate your child to dance with passion, creativity, and excitement.
Let your child experience the joys of dance by contacting us today. We will provide you with all the information you need to know about our programs, as well as what your child will need to bring to their first class. You can also visit our Toronto dance studios to see our facility for yourself!
