Joy in Motion

Highly Effective Instructors Series, Habit 3: Dance Skill & Style

For the true lover of dance, exploring all aspects of their art form brings great joy and exhilaration. For the true lover of teaching, the same satisfaction is found in bringing their passion for dance into the lives of others. It is often the case that dancers who reach a certain level in their dancing move on to teaching. However, teaching is not a higher level of the art of dance, but its own art altogether. Dance instructors must therefore find themselves navigating and uniting two unique sets of skills. This can be both challenging and rewarding to the instructor who is willing to spend the same time and energy on the art of teaching as they do on the art of dancing.

The seven habits of dance instructors who are highly effective at making a meaningful and lasting impact on their students’ dancing, as outlined in Seven Habits of Highly Effective Dance Instructors, are…

1) Professionalism and Respect
2) From Stepping Stones to Beyond
3) Dance Skill and Style
4) The Art of Adjustment
5) Real Community
6) A Student of Teaching
7) Pure Motivation

Read on to learn more about dance skill and style. Please also check out the other six habits on the Joy in Motion website.

Habit #3: Dance Skill and Style

Skill: First Things First

The most obvious requirement of the effective dance instructor is dance skill. What is readily apparent to students, especially beginners, is that the instructor has mastered a set of skills that they want to master as well. Mastery implies that the skills and techniques have become automatic, that they do not require conscious thought or deliberation to execute but rather have become second nature. This level comes only through dynamic practice and repetition, which means that the instructor has spent a significant amount of time dancing with different partners to different types of music in venues appropriate to the style they teach (social, competitive, etc.)

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Unstoppable: A Dose of Inspiration

A fellow dancer recently recommended to me Cynthia Kersey’s book, Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You. I’m not usually big on motivational books; I tend to be pretty self-motivated and independent. But I found this book at my local library and just couldn’t put it down. The book is comprised of seven sections, each devoted to a principle that contributes to a person reaching their goals and being successful and fulfilled. Along with Kersey’s own writing on these principles are success stories that illustrate the seven principles. Among them are stories behind the success of well-known names like Columbia Sportswear, Habitat for Humanity International, Kinko’s, and The Body Shop. The stories are enjoyable and inspirational to read. Many of the principles are consistent with how I have achieved success in areas of my life, and Kersey’s chapter on building a team motivated me to improve more in this area when it comes to my own writing and dancing goals.

In case you’re interested, you can find Cynthia Kersey’s book in the Joy in Motion Dance & Music Resources Store.

Message From Mars: A New Article on Communication in Dancesport

Chindu Sreedharan, a dance friend of mine who works as a journalist and lecturer in England, recently wrote a great article on communication and partnership in ballroom dance. Be sure to read it and post your comments. This article is part of a project on communication in dancesport at Bournemouth University, so stay tuned for more articles on this topic in the future. Chindu and his research partner, sports psychologist Amanda Wilding, are also looking for “dancesport athletes, trainers, and enthusiasts” to interview and/or share ideas with for the project. So if you have a unique take or interesting experiences related to communcation in ballroom dance, contact Chindu via his website. Enjoy!

Message From Mars, by Chindu Sreedharan