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	<title>Education Archives &#8902; VS Dance Club</title>
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	<description>Vancouver Dance Studio - Ballroom &#38; Latin Dance Lessons</description>
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		<title>What you never knew about competition</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/what-you-never-knew-about-competition/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jun 2018 06:10:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance & Competition]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2371</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever imagined what it would be like to compete?Maybe you’ve watched dancing with the stars and wondered if you could ever do that&#8230;Well my friend, I’m here to tell you it’s possible!Competition is often an “illusive” topic. Today, I wanted to pull back the veil, dispel the myths, and explain what competition really is. My hope is that <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/what-you-never-knew-about-competition/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/what-you-never-knew-about-competition/">What you never knew about competition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452.jpg" class="alignnone wp-image-2370 size-full" height="682" width="1024" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452.jpg 1024w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452-100x67.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/img_0452-944x629.jpg 944w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<p><center>Have you ever imagined what it would be like to compete?Maybe you’ve watched dancing with the stars and wondered if you could ever do that&#8230;Well my friend, I’m here to tell you it’s possible!Competition is often an “illusive” topic. Today, I wanted to pull back the veil, dispel the myths, and explain what competition really is. My hope is that it will provide you with some insight to see if competition might be right for you!Below we’re going to explore who is right for competion, why on earth you’d want to compete, and once you do how you can become successful at it.</p>
<h4>Who is competition for?</h4>
<p><strong>The Myth</strong>: Olympic athletes, people who want a career in dancing, or people who’ve been dancing their whole life.</p>
<p><strong>The Reality:</strong> Competition is for <u>anyone</u> who wants to get more out of their dancing. When you compete, you are entered in your own level, and age category. Levels start from “newcomer” (6 months and under), and go all the way up to professional.</p>
<p><strong>The Myth:</strong> Competition is for people who have a partner.</p>
<p><strong>The Reality:</strong> There are a few different paths to competition. You can compete in Am-Am, which means a student who competes with another student; or you can compete in Pro-Am, which means a student who is competing with their instructor.</p>
<p>Now one big think to consider is that most of our students who do Am-Am, also do Pro-Am&#8230;Wondering why?</p>
<p>Well there are a few reasons this happens. Number 1, sometimes you have different desires. One partner likes the smoothness of the Waltz, and the other loves to boogie down with the Cha Cha. By competing with an instructor, everyone’s desires get met.</p>
<p>One other benefit of this is not all partners have the same competition desires or drive, and that is OK! By competing with an instructor, this takes the pressure off of putting the pressure on one other.</p>
<p>The second reason is, when you dance with an instructor your personal dancing grows exponentially. It’s like playing tennis with a pro, versus rallying back and forth with someone at your same level. It will cause you to up your game faster. Also, it provides you with a better skill set to dance with your partner.</p>
<p><strong>The Myth: </strong>Competition is only for extroverts.</p>
<p><strong>The Reality:</strong> Some of the best performers I know are introverts. Not only is competition an outlet for them to express, but they realize it’s a learned skill.</p>
<p>Some people are naturally more comfortable in the beginning, but once you understand performance is more of a science, then you really have the opportunity to rise.</p>
<h4>What are the benefits of competition?</h4>
<p>Oh boy there are plenty!</p>
<p>From the pride you feel from accomplishing a BIG goal, to the confidence you get from being able to put yourself out there.</p>
<p>The social circle you build of like-minded friends, who just “get&#8221; this dancing thing.</p>
<p>Oh, and can we talk about the thrill of being on the dance floor for a moment?</p>
<p>Plus, I&#8217;ve also heard some people don’t mind the travel opportunities for competition (Hawaii anyone?)</p>
<p>And yes &#8211; some people do it for the pure joy of dancing&#8230;</p>
<h4>What gets you results in competition?</h4>
<p>Success can be measured multiple ways, but the most successful dancers I know, all do one thing:</p>
<p><strong>Consistent, effective effort and planning!</strong></p>
<p>One of my closest friends and I are Foosball enthusiasts&#8230; to say the least. We play as a team, and we LOVE a good game. Whenever we would play opponents who switched their initial (successful) positions, we would look at each other and say “<em>Rattled</em>!”.</p>
<p>Rattled is when you take yourself off course once you start to feel a little resistance &#8211; could range from an unfavourable result, being physically tired, not wanting to push past your comfort zone &#8211; so when you&#8217;re rattled you do the equivalent of jumping ship, whether it be changing partners, switching choreography, or aborting your plan. It’s like you&#8217;re grasping at straws against your better judgement, to get past that initial muck; unfortunately, it often leads to more muck.</p>
<p><strong>Consistent, effective effort and planning!</strong></p>
<p>So now over to you &#8211; What do you think about competition? What has held you back in the past? And has this article given you some new insights or encouragement?</p>
<p>As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.</p>
<p></center></p>
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Looking for more tips about competition?<br />Grab our <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-event-preparation-checklist/" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">event preparation checklist here!</a></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/what-you-never-knew-about-competition/">What you never knew about competition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>5 criteria for choosing a dance instructor</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/5-tips-choosing-dance-instructor/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2018 20:03:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance & Competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Dancing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2360</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; Choosing the right dance instructor can be tricky, especially when you’re starting out. However, if you do some leg-work in the beginning, it can set the tone for how much you enjoy your lessons, and how successful you can become in your dancing. I’ve compiled a list of 5 questions you should think about when you’re starting or re-evaluating <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/5-tips-choosing-dance-instructor/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/5-tips-choosing-dance-instructor/">5 criteria for choosing a dance instructor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2361 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363.jpg 1024w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363-100x67.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VictoryDance0363-944x629.jpg 944w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Choosing the right dance instructor can be tricky, especially when you’re starting out. However, if you do some leg-work in the beginning, it can set the tone for how much you enjoy your lessons, and how successful you can become in your dancing. I’ve compiled a list of 5 questions you should think about when you’re starting or re-evaluating your dance journey.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">1) Do they have experience?</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Depending on your goals the amount of experience necessary for your instructor may vary, but big picture your instructor should be qualified to teach your dance needs. When you’re working with an experienced instructor, they have the ability to see the big picture for your dancing, and because of this, the journey will be more fun and successful.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">2) Are they a good dancer?</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is an essential ingredient for a dance instructor. They don’t have to be an undefeated world champion in dancing, but having proper dance skills serves as the foundation for their teaching, and their understanding of dancing. Also, dancing with an instructor who has strong dance skills will make your lessons more fun and inspiring.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">3) Are they a good instructor?</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">This one is a no brainer; we all understand how important this is for a dance instructor to teach well. One thing to note, its one thing to be a good dancer, but being able to teach somebody to dance well is an entirely different matter. Good instruction includes things like planning for your lessons, clarity of explanations, following through on what they’ve taught you (you shouldn’t be learning random things all the time) &#8211; this type of instruction will make your lessons flow nicely and achieve results.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">4) How do their students look?</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is an important one – the quality of the student the instructor produces is like their resume. You should like the style that their current students dance at their appropriate level. The other thing you should look for is that their students aren’t stagnant – they should be getting better over time. This correlates with question 2 &amp; 3; every instructor can bring you to a certain point that matches their level of experience. For example, someone can teach you a few basic things and get you comfortable with that – and somebody can actually teach you to become a world class dancer, either socially or competitively for years to come.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">5) How do you feel when you take a lesson with them?</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">A part of making you a good dancer should include you feel successful about the progress you are making. The actual progress should come before the feeling of being successful; you do not want an instructor who is blowing smoke about how well you are doing when you’re not actually progressing.<br />
If you are in a constant state of overwhelm, and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel it’s probably not the best fit. You want to be challenged, but a qualified instructor knows that you need to focus your energy on achieving “one thing at a time”, versus “all the things, all the time”.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">When you are looking for an instructor feel free to test it out! You are investing your money and time, and you should get results while enjoying the process. Take a few lessons with them, and analyze it throughout. On the opposite end, if you’ve been with an instructor for a long period of time and are just treading water, you may need to analyze your situation and see if it’s time to move on.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As always, the best conversations happen in the comment section.  I want to know:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>What is the most important factor to you when choosing a dance instructor? </strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <img decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/5-tips-choosing-dance-instructor/">5 criteria for choosing a dance instructor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>A prescription of patience</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/a-prescription-of-patience/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2018 21:32:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Practice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Dancing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2344</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; &#160; Have you ever had that thought, “I should have this by now?” Whether it&#8217;s remembering a pattern, identifying the music, or maybe keeping our darn head up; it&#8217;s easy to become impatient.  We usually identify patience as good, impatience as bad, but I propose it&#8217;s all about timing! Come to think of it, I&#8217;m actually feeling a song <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/a-prescription-of-patience/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/a-prescription-of-patience/">A prescription of patience</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-2349 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/prescription.jpg" alt="" width="172" height="172" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/prescription.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/prescription-100x100.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/prescription-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 172px) 100vw, 172px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Have you ever had that thought, “<em>I should have this by now</em>?”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Whether it&#8217;s remembering a pattern, identifying the music, or maybe keeping our darn head up; it&#8217;s easy to become impatient.  We usually identify patience as good, impatience as bad, but I propose it&#8217;s all about timing!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Come to think of it, I&#8217;m actually feeling a song coming on:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>&#8220;To everything, turn, turn, turn&#8230;</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>There is a season, turn, turn, turn&#8230;&#8221; </em></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-2348 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/60s-GIF-downsized_large.gif" alt="" width="236" height="182" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So, like the Byrds said, there is a season to be patient, and a season to be impatient.  What it comes down to is where in the stages of learning you are.  Let&#8217;s break it down, and diagnose when to apply patience and impatience, so it works for you, and not against!</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Initial Stage</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Diagnosis: Patience</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The Initial stage is when you’re first learning something new: a new step, a new technique, or body position for example. Think of it as the time when you&#8217;re gathering data.  You have to be meticulous, and patient not to rush through and miss important details.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mantra for Initial Stage:  <em>Keep calm and carry on.</em></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Awkward Stage</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Diagnosis: Patience</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Okay, so now you’ve made it to the awkward phase: Congratulations, and come on in!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is not our most favorite stage to be in, but the silver lining is, now that you&#8217;ve gathered the data you can get to work. This diagnosis for this stage is <em>big time</em> patience! Give yourself grace, and put in the time.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mantra for Awkward Stage:  <em>This too shall pass.</em></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Conscious Stage –</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Diagnosis Patience</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Okay, so you no longer feel like Bambi when she first started to discover her legs, and you’ve got all the tools under your belt, worked through the kinks, and now you can do the skill, but it still requires concentration. It also requires&#8230; you guessed it, patience! This is the tipping point.  After this stage, you&#8217;re going to be a natural, honey!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mantra: <em> I think I can, I think I can.</em></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Natural Stage –</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Diagnosis: Impatience</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">You probably thought this diagnosis was never coming! Why here&#8230; Why?!?!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is the stage where people tend to mellow out and slip into old habits. They’ve done all the legwork to be successful, been in the trenches, and now they&#8217;ve achieved that one perfect action – and then they want to relax?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">No!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is where you need to drill that new action and make yourself a pro at it! You’ve been patient now for three stages, time to kick it up a gear and make this natural stage last.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mantra:  <em>Started from the bottom, now we&#8217;re here.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So there you have it.  Next time you start to feel patient, or impatient identify what stage you&#8217;re at; are you on course, or do you need to adjust your sails?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As always, the best conversation happens in the comment section.  I want to know:  Are the stages of learning new to you?  Where do you find yourself becoming the most impatient?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Warmly,</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Freebie:  Grab our <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-guide-effective-practices/" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Guide to Effective Practices</a></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/a-prescription-of-patience/">A prescription of patience</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>3 myths &#8220;social dancers&#8221; are believing, and how you can avoid them</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/3-myths-social-dancers-believing-can-avoid/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Mar 2018 06:37:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Dancing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2167</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; Many times I’ve encountered the situation when I’m dancing with someone, and then all of a sudden say: “Oh, I’m just a social dancer. I&#8217;m not serious or anything” And I’m left confused… What are they meaning when they tell me that? Is it that they&#8217;re not serious about bringing home a trophy, or looking like a star on <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-myths-social-dancers-believing-can-avoid/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-myths-social-dancers-believing-can-avoid/">3 myths &#8220;social dancers&#8221; are believing, and how you can avoid them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2173 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-100x67.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/VSDCHarrison078-944x629.jpg 944w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Many times I’ve encountered the situation when I’m dancing with someone, and then all of a sudden say:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">“<em>Oh, I’m just a social dancer. I&#8217;m not serious or anything</em>”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And I’m left confused…</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">What are they meaning when they tell me that? Is it that they&#8217;re not serious about bringing home a trophy, or looking like a star on the floor?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">That I get, not everyone wants to compete.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">But, when they say they are are a <em>social dancer</em>, I scratch my head, because I know the measurement of success for a social dancer is how <em>good</em> you feel to dance with, and if people are <em>enjoying</em> their time dancing with you.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">That sounds like something we should be serious about!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So let me start here: Whether you are a social dancer or a competitive dancer, in essence, you are a dancer; and as a dancer, there are general truths across the board.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So in hopes of getting on the same page, and clearing up any confusion, <em>myself included</em>, I want to tackle the statements that have left me the most puzzled and offer some friendly solutions.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Ready</em>?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">1) “Technique is for the Pros”</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Hold the phone, before thing&#8217;s get heated let’s draw on our friends at <em>Merriam Webster</em> to clear things up on what technique <em>actually</em> is.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Technique: The manner in which basic physical movements are used.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Now I understand the definition of technique has morphed from the above to a stuffy, boring, mechanical movement that brings to mind images of writing your name on a chalkboard 1000 times, booooring!  But what it <em>actually</em> is, is freedom!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The technique is the fundamentals of dancing, it is, in essence, the skills of movement. When you have good technique it could also translate to you having balance, coordination, understanding, and confidence.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Who doesn’t want some of that?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Think of technique like this:  If you were playing tennis with a friend, learning technique would be what keeps you from swinging the ball out of the court, and being able to have a good rally.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I’ll be honest, there are usually 2 types of people who tell me<em> technique is for the pros</em>:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">1) The “they don’t feel they can be that good” dancer. This person feels self-conscious when they dance, and they think they are<em> undeserving</em> of technique. By saying that they are <em>not</em> focused on the technique they hope it will lower their partner’s expectations.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2) This one is going to be controversial so brace yourselves… they&#8217;re selfish dancers.  That’s right I said it! They usually come overconfident and think they can twist, turn and dip their partners with no second thought.  By the same token, the women who say &#8220;Oh I just need a good lead then I can follow&#8221;, with no regard to how that<em> following</em> feels to their partner. They don&#8217;t value that technique is what makes you <span style="text-decoration: underline;">feel</span> good to your partner, and when you only care about how the dance feels to you, you&#8217;re dancing at the expense of your partner&#8217;s effort.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So let me wrap this one up, good dancing requires good movement at every level and stage, from a beginner social dancer to a world champion. The movement (technique) is the prerequisite to good dancing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So, if you fall into scenario 1, look at this as your boost of encouragement. You ARE good enough to learn technique! Trust me, it will only empower you, and fill up your dance card.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If you are in scenario 2 and don&#8217;t want to adjust course, then dancing solo would always guarantee you the spotlight!</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">2) More Patterns are the Key&#8230;</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">There is a study that says people remember only 7% of the content they are exposed to.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Shocking right?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">But the more I think about it the more it rings true. When I dance with a lead this is my experience; I notice is he on time, does he move nicely, how aware is he of my comfort.  When I speak with my male students, or Vlad it&#8217;s pretty much the same list men use to evaluate their partners.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If you noticed, what didn’t make the list was “how many patterns do they know”.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Now I know that flashy patterns are sexy and exciting (and they have their place, definitely!), but a flashy pattern danced poorly is like an overcooked soufflé. Spend the time on the execution and thing&#8217;s like musicality, movement, and awareness, and your partner will thank you for it!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">3) I Prefer to Dance with Experienced Dancers</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Social dancing… SOCIAL dancing…</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>What&#8217;s so social about eliminating half the dancers on the floor?  </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Let&#8217;s talk&#8230; dancing with all levels of dancers <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not only</span> grows a healthy and fun dancing community, but it also makes us better dancers ourselves!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As a dancer, can you imagine the growth you would experience if you were so in tune with leading or following ANY level of partner?  You would have greater clarity, and become more sensitive and responsive.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Finally, and what I would argue is the most important part, social dancing should be social, the more social we are, the more fun we have! This is the main point of it all! So enjoy different experiences, and enjoy building one another up.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Food for thought</strong>:  Remember every great dancer was once a beginner!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So there you have it! This one may have rocked the boat a little, but I hope it brought a new perspective to some common thinking.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As always, the best conversations happen in the comment section, and I can&#8217;t wait to hear from you!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Find out what all the fuss is about!  Try our <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-dancing-kitchen/" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">free &#8220;Dancing in the Kitchen&#8221; Tutorial here!</a></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-myths-social-dancers-believing-can-avoid/">3 myths &#8220;social dancers&#8221; are believing, and how you can avoid them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>5 Beliefs that Stop People from Dancing</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/5-beliefs-stop-people-dancing/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Mar 2018 21:18:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Dancing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2153</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; &#160; Often people, who would love to dance, put the brakes on for a variety of reasons. This article is all about serving up some truth towards the top 5 beliefs we hear that keep people off the dance floor. So read on, and let’s get those toes a tapping! 1) Feeling Self-Conscious: No one likes feeling clumsy or <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/5-beliefs-stop-people-dancing/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/5-beliefs-stop-people-dancing/">5 Beliefs that Stop People from Dancing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2155 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-scaled-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-100x67.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_569245267-944x629.jpg 944w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Often people, who would love to dance, put the brakes on for a variety of reasons. This article is all about serving up some truth towards the top 5 beliefs we hear that keep people off the dance floor.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So read on, and let’s get those toes a tapping!</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">1) Feeling Self-Conscious:</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">No one likes feeling clumsy or awkward. We often worry if people may be watching or judging us and if we are even good enough to be out there. If you ask any dancer how they felt when they first started, they likely will have shared that sentiment.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Dancing is about fun and expression. A good instructor will meet you where you are, and guide your learning process. Learning how to dance will also improve your confidence and coordination with every lesson you take.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As in any physical activity, like skiing or skating, the tangible improvements come before the feeling.  For example, a skater may find &#8220;I can skate around a rink falling only 3 times, instead of 7&#8221;.  In dancing this would translate to, &#8220;Now I know a move I didn&#8217;t know before&#8221; or &#8220;I can do this dance to the music&#8221; or &#8220;I just learned a new body action&#8217;.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">2) Bad Past Experience:</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Many people stay away from dancing because of a previous negative experience. It can range from attending a class where the instructor went way to fast and you felt left behind, or a negative comment someone said about how you dance or even have memories of dancing with an ex.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Whatever the reason, it just left a bad taste.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Doing some homework before you start taking lessons can help make the next experience more positive. Start by looking for a Club that can provide you with a plan for your dancing. You should not have to self-diagnose.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If you ever looked at Mayo clinic when you’ve been sick, you know self-diagnosis can leave you in a panic! Find an instructor you can trust, &#8220;test drive&#8221; them, and then share the past experiences you want to avoid. A good instructor will take the lead, develop a plan, and make the next experience successful.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">3) Have No Rhythm/Two Left Feet:</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Maybe you’ve had a teacher who told you that you have no rhythm or a partner who’s expressed, you’ve got two left feet, or perhaps you came to the conclusion all by yourself.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">First let me assure you, these statements may be true right now, but they are not final.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
Now that that’s out of the way, let me paint a parallel scenario for comparison. Now picture this; I want to learn to speak Italian. Now I haven&#8217;t grown up with Italian being spoken around me or had yet to take a lesson.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Would anyone assume that I could already speak it?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The obvious answer would be no, but somehow with dancing and music, people believe they either have it or they don’t, even before they step foot on the dance floor. As dance instructors, it’s our job to teach your feet what to do, and educate your ears on what to hear.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So if you think you have no rhythm or your feet are in a tangle, you’re welcome here, and this is exactly what dance lessons are for!</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">4) Think they Need a Partner:</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">You&#8217;re right if you think you need a dance partner to dance, but you don&#8217;t need a dance partner to learn.  You need an instructor to learn.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">  Often people are under the assumption that they need a partner to get started dancing, or in order to take it to a higher level. At first glance, the reasoning seems to make sense as an observer, but there are a few holes in the theory I’d love to shed some light on.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">1) The majority of people who take private dance lessons, dance with an instructor. This is called pro-am dancing. The benefits of taking private lessons with an instructor are that they are zeroed in on your dancing needs, and you improve at a much quicker rate!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2) Most people, who initially take lessons as a couple, start to recognize the need for taking solo dance lessons as well. Often they start taking lessons together, and end up taking additional lessons on the side, so they can strengthen their individual needs (leading and following), explore desires or dances they may not both be interested in, and then come back being stronger and happier dancing together.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Even if you do have the goal of finding a dance partner, the best way you can get started on that is working on your own dancing. The better you are as a dancer, the more people are attracted to dancing with you, and the higher chances you have of finding a partner.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Lastly, find a Club that cares about the social aspect of dance. When checking out where you’d like to take lessons, ask them questions. What is your community like? Do you encourage people to switch partners in groups? Do you host events where you can meet people and dance socially?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">5) Feel A bit shy:</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Learning any new activity takes courage. If you are shy, one encouraging thought is that dance in itself is a method of communication and one where you don’t necessarily have to speak a lot to enjoy.  Dancing in itself is the entertainment that removes awkwardness.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Many of the best dancers in the world are shy, and they find dancing to be an incredible outlet for expression.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I would love to hear if any of these reasons were what kept you from dancing and if you are feeling encouraged and ready to give it a shot!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If you’ve enjoyed this article please share of comment in the comment section below!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/5-beliefs-stop-people-dancing/">5 Beliefs that Stop People from Dancing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>3 Steps to Practice Better with your Significant Other</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/3-steps-practice-better-significant/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Feb 2018 04:18:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Etiquette]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Practice]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2141</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; &#160; Dancing with your significant other is amazing; you always have a practice buddy, and each week you have designated time spent in one another&#8217;s arms. On the flip side, it can also be a bit of a challenge. As the honeymoon phase wears off, it’s easy to become frustrated and impatient with one another. Maybe it’s because thing’s <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-steps-practice-better-significant/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-steps-practice-better-significant/">3 Steps to Practice Better with your Significant Other</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2143 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066-600x400.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066-100x67.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066-944x630.jpg 944w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_613859066.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Dancing with your significant other is amazing; you always have a practice buddy, and each week you have designated time spent in one another&#8217;s arms.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">On the flip side, it can also be a bit of a challenge.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As the <em>honeymoon</em> phase wears off, it’s easy to become frustrated and impatient with one another. Maybe it’s because thing’s don&#8217;t feel as great as they did on the lesson, or perhaps you both recall different versions of your Coach&#8217;s instructions.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Whatever the case is, in order to get back (or keep) that initial joy you shared, it&#8217;s essential to learn how to resolve conflicts within practices peacefully.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So, are you ready to get back the <em>lovin’ feeling</em>?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Thought so… Let’s go!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Picture this all too familiar scenario for couples (<em>Guilty over here!</em>):</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">You&#8217;re dancing your choreography and all of a sudden your partner comes to an abrupt stop. By the look on her face you know all too well it can’t be good, “You’re not leading me!” she says. Taken back he retorts, “While you’re not waiting for me TO lead you<em>.</em>”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Now, at this rate you can imagine the practice is going downhill fast, so before this gets uncomfortable, give this strategy a shot:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Step 1:</strong> Set a timer for 5 minutes. During those 5 minutes practice the way the Lead is suggesting (without complaint). At the end of the 5 minutes keep your conclusion to yourself.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Step 2:</strong> Repeat step 1, but this time for the 5 minutes practice the way the Follow is suggesting. Again, at the end of the 5 minutes keep your conclusion to yourself.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Step 3:</strong> Set a timer once more for 5 minutes. This time only give thought to your <em>own</em> dancing, and concentrate on what you need to improve.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Once you finish all three steps, evaluate the excercise. If you agree on what step felt best to you as a couple, fantastic! However, if you did not find a conclusion, then you are missing the information needed to make it work. Put what you are doing on hold, and get your Coach&#8217;s input on the next lesson.  This will save you frustration and prevent you from creating habits that hurt your dancing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">It’s very easy to take our dance partners for granted, but if as couple you adopt the mentality of “how can I improve myself<em>?”</em> you will preserve your dance relationships for years to come. Often, our expectations are unrealistic of our partner (more on this in future blogs), and the weight of those expectations can be crushing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Think, how do you treat the men or women you dance with socially? Most likely, you show patience, encouragement, and positivity. Use that model as the standard for how you treat your significant other, and the changes and growth you will experience in your dancing will blow your mind.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As always I LOVE to hear what you think,  please share in the comments below how it goes when you try it out!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Ready for more practice tips? Grab our <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-guide-effective-practices/" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">guide to effective practices here!</a></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-steps-practice-better-significant/">3 Steps to Practice Better with your Significant Other</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to Evaluate a Performance/Competition &#8211; A Questionnaire</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/evaluate-performancecompetition-questionnaire/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2018 06:07:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance & Competition]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=2127</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; &#160; An underrated, yet very important opportunity for a dancer happens in the days that follow a big event.  It’s during these moments where you have a clear recollection of your mindset, abilities, and habits.  If you use this time to evaluate your performance strategies you&#8217;ll likely gain valuable insights into how you can up your performance game in BIG <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/evaluate-performancecompetition-questionnaire/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/evaluate-performancecompetition-questionnaire/">How to Evaluate a Performance/Competition &#8211; A Questionnaire</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-2129 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/man-writing-2-300x177.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="177" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/man-writing-2-300x177.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/man-writing-2-600x355.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/man-writing-2-768x454.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/man-writing-2-100x59.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/man-writing-2.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">An underrated, yet very important opportunity for a dancer happens in the days that follow a big event.  It’s during these moments where you have a clear recollection of your mindset, abilities, and habits.  If you use this time to evaluate your performance strategies you&#8217;ll likely gain valuable insights into how you can up your performance game in BIG ways.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The first time I came across an evaluation like this was in <em>Dance to Your Maximum&#8230;Maximilliaan  Winkelhuis, </em>  This evaluation is based on some of his questions, with a blend of things I&#8217;ve found helpful throughout the years.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Mindset:</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">
1) On the day of the event, were you able to focus solely on the dancing? If no, write down any factors that pulled you away.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
2) During the week of the event, how many private lessons did you take? During those lessons, did your Instructor make you feel secure and prepared?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
3) When setting up each dance, were you able to concentrate? If not, write down any distractions that came up.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
4) At the event, did you have people coming out to support you? Identify if this is important to you?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Physical:</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">
1) Did you feel healthy and energetic on the day of the event? If no, describe how you felt.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
2) How did you sleep in the night, week, and month leading up to the event?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
3) Had you done a simulation of the number of dances you would be performing prior to the event? If so, how early did you start the simulations (1 week before, 2 weeks, 1 month?)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
4) Did you have a good warm-up before you danced? If no, do you have a warm-up plan at the event?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
5) How were your food and beverage choices at the event? Did they nourish you? Keep you hydrated? Make you crash?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Planning:</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">
1) Did you leave yourself enough time to arrive at the venue without stress? To familiarize yourself with space, change room, park, etc…</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Dancing:</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">
1) How would you describe your stamina?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
2) While dancing: Did you feel in control of your body? Did you have a connection with your mind? Did you have a connection with your partner?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
3) For your choreography: Did the choreography fit your abilities? Was it well-rehearsed? Did any part feel too-old? Too-new?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
4) Was your technique up to the standard of your level?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Look:</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">
1) Did your look have a clear concept? (Costume/hair/makeup/shoes?)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
2) Did your look accentuate your strengths and conceal your weakness?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>External Factors:</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">
1) Did the judges have any effect on your performance? How aware were you of them?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
2) Were you comfortable in the venue?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
3) Did you have a positive/negative/neutral feeling about the size, shape, or quality of the floor?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
4) Did you have a positive/negative/neutral feeling about the music played?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
5) Did you have a positive/negative/neutral feeling about the audience?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
6) Did you have a positive/negative/neutral feeling towards the other competitors?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Try to fill out the questionnaire with as much detail as possible. By getting into a consistent habit of doing this exercise after each event, you will start to identify patterns and be better equipped to make choices that elevate your dance game.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I love to hear what insights and takeaways are the most relevant to your life and dancing right now. Please leave a comment at the bottom of the blog, and let’s carry on this conversation!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Handle your next event like a pro! <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-event-preparation-checklist/" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Click here for our event preparation checklist here!</a></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/evaluate-performancecompetition-questionnaire/">How to Evaluate a Performance/Competition &#8211; A Questionnaire</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>Breaking through Performance Anxiety</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/breaking-performance-anxiety/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Dec 2017 19:14:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance & Competition]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=1767</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; &#160; Has this ever happened to you? You’ve done the training, you’re in the costume, and it’s go-time but all of a sudden you feel like Bambi when she first learned to walk. This body you&#8217;re in is unrecognizable – it’s not moving the way you’re used to at all! This is a scary feeling (I’ve been there), but <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/breaking-performance-anxiety/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/breaking-performance-anxiety/">Breaking through Performance Anxiety</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1768 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/nervous-guy-300x102.png" alt="" width="300" height="102" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/nervous-guy-300x102.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/nervous-guy-600x204.png 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/nervous-guy-768x262.png 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/nervous-guy-100x34.png 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/nervous-guy.png 772w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Has this ever happened to you? You’ve done the training, you’re in the costume, and it’s <em>go-time</em> but all of a sudden you feel like Bambi when she first learned to walk. This body you&#8217;re in is unrecognizable – it’s not moving the way you’re used to <strong>at all</strong>!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is a scary feeling (I’ve been there), but it <span style="text-decoration: underline;">can</span> be changed. So much of axing performance anxiety is training and focusing your mind on what <em>you do</em> want to think of, versus what you don’t.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Today you’ll walk away knowing 3 tactics that will kick those event jitters to the curb!</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">1) “You can’t build a long-term future on short-term thinking.” ~ Billy Cox</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Becoming a great dancer and enjoying the process while you’re at it requires long-term thinking. If you are able to view performances and competitions as <em>a part</em> of the road to get to where you going, rather than the “<em>be all, end all</em>” your experience will be more pleasurable, and your anxiety levels will decrease, resulting in greater performances. If your success is determined by the “perfect” dress, performance, or result, the pressure you’ve placed on yourself can be crushing. So, settle in to get the win!</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">2) Have a Plan for the Event</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Having a clear plan minimizes your stress by guiding your thoughts rather than leaving them up to chance. Now, I understand that everything can’t be planned out, but <span style="text-decoration: underline;">you can</span> plan your food, warmup, outfits, event strategy, and even plan for after the event. If the last one came as a surprise, I want you to think of the expression:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“Plan for a marriage, not just a wedding</em>.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If you only plan for the wedding you wake up the next morning and then what? But, if you plan beyond the day you have so much more to look forward to! As well, it goes back to relaxing the mind by eliminating the “<em>I only get one sho</em>t” thinking.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">3) A Great Warm Up Does Wonders</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">Gently warming your body up is one of the best ways to turn the mind away from <em>stinking thinking</em>. Your muscles are going to be going through a period of stress, and if you start a performance cold your autonomous nervous system will be angry. What makes a productive warm-up can vary.  I would recommend designing with your teacher what will work best for you.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So there you have it, the 3 tools I’ve found over the years most successful for tackling nerves! If, while reading this article you found some old doubts or thoughts creeping in whether this could work for you or not, I encourage you to give it a shot! We understand that learning to dance takes practice, planning, and patience, and if you can give the same understanding to learning to perform, you will regain control of your event.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Which tactic are you most excited to try?  I&#8217;d love to hear from you in the comments below!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Til next time,</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Keep calm before performances using our <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-event-preparation-checklist/" target="_blank" style="display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">free event preparation checklist.</a></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/breaking-performance-anxiety/">Breaking through Performance Anxiety</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>3 Ways to Increase Productivity for Beginners</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/3-ways-increase-productivity-beginners/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:24:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Practice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Dancing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=1754</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; &#160; Who wants to be better yesterday? Raise your hand&#8230; We all do!  It&#8217;s in our nature.  Goal setting and expectation management is important in your dancing.  It&#8217;s rare to enter anything without expectations, but it&#8217;s important to evaluate whether the belief systems of where you should be at are hurting or helping you accelerate towards that big goal.  Here <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-ways-increase-productivity-beginners/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-ways-increase-productivity-beginners/">3 Ways to Increase Productivity for Beginners</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1756 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/dance-couple1.jpg" alt="" width="260" height="194" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/dance-couple1.jpg 260w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/dance-couple1-100x75.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Who wants to be better yesterday</em>?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Raise your hand&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We all do!  It&#8217;s in our nature.  Goal setting and expectation management is important in your dancing.  It&#8217;s rare to enter anything without expectations, but it&#8217;s important to evaluate whether the belief systems of where you should be at are hurting or helping you accelerate towards that big goal.  Here are three tips to help newer dancers, and remind veteran dancers as well, how to enjoy and build on your dancing programs.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">1. <strong>Position Yourself for the Win</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2<strong>.Give Credit Where Credits Due</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">3.<strong>Go Big, Go Active</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Let&#8217;s take a deeper look&#8230;</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">1)<strong> Position Yourself for the Win</strong>: In my first hot yoga class, I positioned myself at the back left corner of the room to be safe. I was new, nervous and hoped no one would see me.  At the time I didn’t realize that yoga turns in every direction, and for ½ the class I could see no one.  I was leading the group!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Dancing uses rotation. It may feel safe to position yourself in the back corners of the room, but the actual “safe zone” is in the middle closer to the front.  Plus, you&#8217;ll be able to see what the teacher is doing!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">2) <strong>Give Credit Where Credits Due</strong>: We all want to feel confident and natural when we dance, and a lot of us when we’re learning something new only define success as when we obtain this “natural” stage. You’re correct in understanding that this is the<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> ultimate goal,</span> but keep in mind that this is only the final stage of your learning curve (stage 4). The problem with this expectation is that during the first three stages &#8211; initial, awkward, conscious &#8211; you still won’t feel natural! However, those stages leading up to that natural feeling are a big deal, have micro successes of their own, and should be celebrated!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Let&#8217;s imagine your friend started going to the gym with a goal of lifting 50 pounds. When they first came in they could lift 10 pounds, and now they’ve worked their way up to 25; their form is improving, muscles are building, but they still can’t lift the 50 pounds.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>An utter failure, right</em>?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Of course not!   We would never reason that way as an observer.  We would congratulate them on the 15 pounds they&#8217;ve built up to, and encourage them to keep working towards that &#8220;magic 50&#8221;.  The same goes for your dancing &#8211; natural is the goal, but all the steps leading up to it should be celebrated and acknowledged.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">3) <strong>Go Big, Go Active</strong>: Initially, as you’re building up confidence in your dancing, it can be easy to shrink your body language and hesitate to take a step. However, this is going to make your life more difficult! Dancing requires continuous active movement. So by hesitating in order to be safe and make “<em>the right move</em>”, you’re actually losing the opportunity to do so.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">You may be thinking – “<em>Well, what if I</em> do it wrong?”.  Of course, you will, sometimes! Mistakes are an essential part of learning. So relax in the fact that you will make errors (<em>who doesn’t?</em>), but you will learn faster if you take your space on the floor, and just go for it!  This is a double whammy because you will instill confidence and create a more natural feeling sooner! (Point #2)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
I hope you&#8217;ve walked away with some fresh ideas on how to increase your productivity in dancing.  I&#8217;d love to know which problem you identify with the most, and which idea you&#8217;re most excited to try out!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Flirting with the idea of dance lessons?  Try our free <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/freebie-dancing-kitchen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dancing in the Kitchen tutorial</a> from the comfort of your own home!</h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/3-ways-increase-productivity-beginners/">3 Ways to Increase Productivity for Beginners</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Conversation</title>
		<link>https://vsdanceclub.com/ultimate-guide-holiday-conversation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[sarah]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Nov 2017 19:40:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Etiquette]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://vsdanceclub.com/?p=1746</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; This is the season for mingling and celebration! The holidays are usually bursting with an assortment of social interactions and events. These gatherings can range from time spent with your close friends, to seeing relatives you may only see once a year; even to meeting new faces you’ll be sharing a conversation with at a fun holiday party. If <span style="display:inline-block;">. . .</span> <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/ultimate-guide-holiday-conversation/" class="more-link">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/ultimate-guide-holiday-conversation/">The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Conversation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-1747 aligncenter" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-300x209.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="209" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-300x209.jpg 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-600x417.jpg 600w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-768x534.jpg 768w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-100x70.jpg 100w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas-944x656.jpg 944w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/christmas.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>This is the season for mingling and celebration!</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The holidays are usually bursting with an assortment of social interactions and events. These gatherings can range from time spent with your close friends, to seeing relatives you may only see once a year; even to meeting new faces you’ll be sharing a conversation with at a fun holiday party.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">If the thought of a full social calendar excites or maybe overwhelms you, having a list of conversation topics in your back pocket can come in handy!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">From opening a conversation to connecting deeper with friends, I hope you walk away knowing some tips to create more enjoyable interactions that leave your talking companion excited for your next chat!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Let’s do this…</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">5 Skillful Conversation Openers</h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">1) How do you know the host?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">2) What a beautiful venue! Have you been here before?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">3) How does your family celebrate the holidays?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">4) (To a couple) How did you two meet?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">5) What is the best part of your day?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">5 Compelling Questions to Dig Deeper</h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">1) Has anything happened to you this year that you’re so grateful for?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">2) What’s on your bucket list for 2018?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">3) What’s the most exciting that has happened to you this year?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">4) What’s the best travel experience you’ve ever had?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">5) What’s been a gigantic lesson for you this year?</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">The Conversation Playbook:</h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>• Take a genuine interest in whom you are talking to, and engage in topics they are enthusiastic to converse about. If they love reading, a great question could be, <em>“What book has been a game-changer for you this year?&#8221;</em></p>
<p>• Try to implement the 50/50 rule. The conversation should be similar to a dance. Lots of interactions with a back and forth dynamic. If you recognize you’ve been dominating the conversation, ask a question to engage the other person to contribute.</p>
<p>• Keep positive! Focusing your topics on areas that build-up rather than tear down, will keep people excited to continue speaking with you. Replace complaints with solutions, and try to find the silver lining in those touchy moments.</p>
<p>• Be respectful of different opinions. Having great conversation doesn’t mean you need to agree on every topic. Keep the conversation as an enjoyable exchange, and if you find it becoming a battleground of one opinion vs another shift to lighter topics.</p>
<p>• Keep body language open and facial expressions warm and inviting.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Developing sparkling conversations takes practice, it is a skill that can constantly be built upon and spiced up. During the Holiday Season, they’ll be plenty of opportunities to up your conversation game and create deeper connections.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Well, you’re waiting for coffee in the morning, why not strike up a chat with the barista, and start practicing conversation as part of your routine? Or, while doing some holiday shopping, try to find common ground with someone while waiting in line.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So there you have it! I’d love to hear from you on what topped your list for a favorite tip, or your best conversation go-to’s. Please leave a comment below, and cheers to a season full of joyful socializing.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Until next time,</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png" alt="" width="300" height="48" size-full wp-image-1445" srcset="https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature.png 400w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-300x48.png 300w, https://vsdanceclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sarah-signature-100x16.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<p>The post <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com/ultimate-guide-holiday-conversation/">The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Conversation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://vsdanceclub.com">VS Dance Club</a>.</p>
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