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Written by triplethreat
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Dance 101: Dancing for Beginners
So you can sing, you can act........ but your dancing leaves a little to be desired. Well, actually, you have two left feet. What can you do? Lots. Come on in, everybody, don't stand against the wall. Take your shoes off at the door, you can't dance in loafers. Psst. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Anyone can dance, as long as they remember five simple rules.
Dancing Tip #1: Get help.
All is not lost just because you didn't start dancing when you were five. In most major cities, there are beginner classes for any age group. If you're not ready to commit the time and money for regular dance classes, try drop-in classes or learn on your own. There are many valuable resources available to teach yourself Jazz, Ballet, or Tap.
Dancing Tip #2: Learn to enjoy dancing, regardless of how talented you are.
Yes, you should try your hardest, but if you're not top notch, so what? You're getting excercise, you're burning calories! Feeling better about yourself will help be more confident, and confidence helps you look better than you really are.
Dancing Tip #3: Finish in the right place.
If you only get one step correctly in the whole dance, it should be the last. Finishing in the right position with a big smile on your face is a hundred times more effective than getting a few dance steps right in the middle somewhere that nobody saw. Finishing in the right place also shows that you don't give up when you make mistakes.
Dancing Tip #4: Don't look down.
Looking at your feet doesn't show the audience (or audition panel) that you have a lot of confidence in what you are doing. Look up! While you shouldn't stare auditioners right in the eye (this tends to make them nervous) it's perfectly great to smile in their general direction. Try not to stare straight ahead -- tilt your head back just a little and look up -- it gives the illusion that your posture is straighter, and it also makes you look more confident.
Dancing Tip #5: Sell it.
Dancing for an audience is all about personality. You can never be too "big." Kick big. Smile big. Be dynamic. People like to watch interesting people dance, not boring people with perfect turnout.
When dancing in most musicals, the most important thing to remember is smile, smile, smile. But a real smile. There is nothing that annoys me more than a performer who smiles and doesn't mean it. Enjoy what you're doing, and the smile will be sincere. An open-mouthed smile is fine too, because it makes breathing easier.
Dancing takes practice, and lots of it. But learning the steps is only half the battle. You have to sell yourself and the dance as being the most entertaining thing to ever hit Broadway.
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