Thursday, August 4, 2011
Where are we now?
So, wow! It's been a bumpy ride moving to our new location and I've been so busy using a hammer and paintbrush, I've completely left the blog alone. Now we're starting to get settled in and it's time for me to get my fingers typing. If anyone had told us how much trouble this move was going to be up front we might have waved it off and watched the old studio be torn down around us. Thankfully, we've had a loyal group of students that have stood behind us through it all and we definitely send you our heartfelt thanks. The ride is almost over. We're back to teaching all of our regular lessons and are ready to settle in to a routine again. Back to teaching all of those great group lessons and having those fantastic parties you've all come to know and love. For all of you that have been waiting on the sidelines for things to settle down, come on back. We can't wait to see you again! If you haven't come in to see the new place, we'd love to have you drop by. You know who you are. We look forward to seeing you all on the dance floor and now that the dust is starting to clear, we'll see you soon. The blog is now back up and running. Google Maps now knows where we are and our website has all of our new info on it. Check the calender on the website for our upcoming events and have a great summer!
Monday, March 21, 2011
How much do we retain? When do I get it?
In any given study, we only retain about 20% of what we learn. The sooner we use what we learned in our last training, the better the brain retains what has been introduced in that session. Whether it be a technique, pattern or rule of dancing, this will always apply.
What does that mean to the average learner? Of course, the younger we are, the better we retain new information, but the most important factor in maintaining a steady progression of new information is frequency and repetition. As in a workout program, there are many benefits from repetitive actions being done 3-4 times per week, however there is also a point of diminishing returns. In a perfect learning environment, every day would be the best option, due to not having as much time to forget what was previously introduced and maintaining a high level of training. In our REAL life however, this is not feasible due to time commitments, transportation or budgets, so we must find a happy balance between frequency and real life. 2-3 sessions of learning per week is the best, including group training and private instruction. The steps, patterns and techniques, as well as development of control and balance can be achieved in the group training, while more feeling and understanding of the patterns and techniques can be covered in private instruction. The more challenging movements require more frequent repetition and reminders, while the easy-to-grasp movements require less.
Linked to this is how we learn. There are 4 stages of learning that every new student must pass through in order to "Get It":
1-Unconcious Incompetent-this is the level at which you don't know what you don't know.
2-Concious Incompetent-where you know what you don't know but can't do it yet.
3-Concious Competent-where you are doing the movement but still have to think about it.
4-Unconcious Competent-You've Got It! This final stage is the point at which your body takes over and you can achieve the desired movements without any concious thought whatsoever.
To go through these stages can take different amounts of time depending on frequency of training, age, physical health, motivation and relaxation during the learning process. Mainly, Be Patient With Yourself! Learning anything worth doing takes time and you will hit many plateaus along the way. The main thing is to enjoy the journey and picture yourself after you have reached your dancing goals. Take your time, listen and learn, and practice, practice, practice. Thanks again for your time and I'll see you on the dance floor.
"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another. " ~Author Unknown
What does that mean to the average learner? Of course, the younger we are, the better we retain new information, but the most important factor in maintaining a steady progression of new information is frequency and repetition. As in a workout program, there are many benefits from repetitive actions being done 3-4 times per week, however there is also a point of diminishing returns. In a perfect learning environment, every day would be the best option, due to not having as much time to forget what was previously introduced and maintaining a high level of training. In our REAL life however, this is not feasible due to time commitments, transportation or budgets, so we must find a happy balance between frequency and real life. 2-3 sessions of learning per week is the best, including group training and private instruction. The steps, patterns and techniques, as well as development of control and balance can be achieved in the group training, while more feeling and understanding of the patterns and techniques can be covered in private instruction. The more challenging movements require more frequent repetition and reminders, while the easy-to-grasp movements require less.
Linked to this is how we learn. There are 4 stages of learning that every new student must pass through in order to "Get It":
1-Unconcious Incompetent-this is the level at which you don't know what you don't know.
2-Concious Incompetent-where you know what you don't know but can't do it yet.
3-Concious Competent-where you are doing the movement but still have to think about it.
4-Unconcious Competent-You've Got It! This final stage is the point at which your body takes over and you can achieve the desired movements without any concious thought whatsoever.
To go through these stages can take different amounts of time depending on frequency of training, age, physical health, motivation and relaxation during the learning process. Mainly, Be Patient With Yourself! Learning anything worth doing takes time and you will hit many plateaus along the way. The main thing is to enjoy the journey and picture yourself after you have reached your dancing goals. Take your time, listen and learn, and practice, practice, practice. Thanks again for your time and I'll see you on the dance floor.
"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another. " ~Author Unknown
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Ballroom Dance 101
Today I decided to start off with some basics of good dancing and go from there.
First off, one of the most important things about dance is BALANCE! Without being balanced as an individual, the ability to be balanced in a partnership is almost impossible. Just like with relationships, each individual needs to be able to keep control of themselves and have the ability to move their body in a way that is balanced and controlled. The best way to do this is to practice any patterns and movements solo and very slowly. The slow-motion practice will not only teach the muscles to remember the correct movements (and then allow the brain to think about other things), but will also strengthen the muscles and allow for more complicated and intricate movements and patterns later.
Secondly, CONTROL is needed to allow sudden and smooth changes of direction while maintaining the integrity of the frame and partnership. Without self-control it is a given that leaders will be unable to lead and followers will be unable to follow. Trying to Dance without control is like trying to drive without a steering wheel or sail without a tiller. The partners will drift haphazardly around the floor, careening off of others and taking away the poetry and expression each individual puts in to the dance. With control, the partnership and the individuals within the partnership can each express what the Music is telling them to do. The above mentioned exercise is the best way to learn control, as well as learning to isolate your different muscles and muscle groups.
Most people in American society have little to no body awareness. We don't take the time to learn how our bodies work and then when we have an ache or a pain, we can only say "it hurts here" or "this isn't working right today". A dancer has the ability to isolate different parts of the body and find the source of movement for each action. Take the time to learn about how your muscles work and how to make them do what you want them to do. Be in control of your body instead of it being in control of you. Learn to appreciate this amazing machine we have been gifted with and realize that with all of the advanced technology humans have created, NOTHING in this universe compares to the AMAZING technology right within ourselves.
Thanks for reading and I'll be back in a week or whenever an important or amusing thought pops in to my head.
BC
"I am a dancer. I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living.... In each it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes in some area an athlete of God. " ~Martha Graham, c.1953
First off, one of the most important things about dance is BALANCE! Without being balanced as an individual, the ability to be balanced in a partnership is almost impossible. Just like with relationships, each individual needs to be able to keep control of themselves and have the ability to move their body in a way that is balanced and controlled. The best way to do this is to practice any patterns and movements solo and very slowly. The slow-motion practice will not only teach the muscles to remember the correct movements (and then allow the brain to think about other things), but will also strengthen the muscles and allow for more complicated and intricate movements and patterns later.
Secondly, CONTROL is needed to allow sudden and smooth changes of direction while maintaining the integrity of the frame and partnership. Without self-control it is a given that leaders will be unable to lead and followers will be unable to follow. Trying to Dance without control is like trying to drive without a steering wheel or sail without a tiller. The partners will drift haphazardly around the floor, careening off of others and taking away the poetry and expression each individual puts in to the dance. With control, the partnership and the individuals within the partnership can each express what the Music is telling them to do. The above mentioned exercise is the best way to learn control, as well as learning to isolate your different muscles and muscle groups.
Most people in American society have little to no body awareness. We don't take the time to learn how our bodies work and then when we have an ache or a pain, we can only say "it hurts here" or "this isn't working right today". A dancer has the ability to isolate different parts of the body and find the source of movement for each action. Take the time to learn about how your muscles work and how to make them do what you want them to do. Be in control of your body instead of it being in control of you. Learn to appreciate this amazing machine we have been gifted with and realize that with all of the advanced technology humans have created, NOTHING in this universe compares to the AMAZING technology right within ourselves.
Thanks for reading and I'll be back in a week or whenever an important or amusing thought pops in to my head.
BC
"I am a dancer. I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living.... In each it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes in some area an athlete of God. " ~Martha Graham, c.1953
Friday, March 11, 2011
Dancing Through Life
So today I decided to start blogging!!!Yay!!! I'm with the new trendy in-crowd...lol. I'm going to start sharing with everyone some of my insights on dance and how it relates to life, as well as offer advice on getting that new step to work or how to fix your sink...ha! Every now and then I'll enter an anecdote or 2 about my daughter or the way the world is distorted by our perceptions. I hope anyone reading this gets something out of it and hope also that I can keep it going on a routine basis. Any input and suggestions will be appreciated. And so, here I go!!!!
Bryon C.
Bryon C.
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