DanceAbility Tips: When Gradients Are Applied, Dancing is Fun!

So many times I’ve heard:  “I can’t dance…I have no rhythm…I have two left feet…I’m not coordinated…I can’t get the dance combination…I can’t remember the dance combination…It’s too fast, I can’t pick it up!” The solution is simple. One of the biggest road blocks I’ve experienced myself, and with teaching others to dance, is skipping gradients.

What is a gradient? A gradient is step-by-step approach to learning something; the breaking down of something that seems difficult when first approached, into simple, doable steps. When each step is learned and applied, it leads directly to the next step or level.

By approaching learning a subject this way, the thing that seemed so difficult and daunting at first can be achieved with great ease, competence and fun!

When learning how to dance, don’t try to climb to the top of the mountain the first day, or even the first month or year. That can be too stressful and leaves people feeling like they simply can’t do it no matter how hard they try!

When you apply a gradient learning process to it, you can actually relax and enjoy the process of learning how to dance.

If a step, exercise or dance seems too difficult, break it down to its simplest part or step that you understand. Once you have that down, go to the next part or step and get that and then go to the next and so forth—never going past a level or step you don’t fully understand.

Drilling dance steps on gradient levels makes them second nature and will lead to great confidence in applying them.

It’s so important to find a dance class that teaches appropriate gradients and levels to its students. And make sure to ask questions when you don’t understand something.

Because of time restraints, distance and availability, there are now lots of open level classes due to necessity. The old school way consisted of levels of classes. You couldn’t go on to the next class until you learned that level. I knew if people really wanted to learn the art of dance they would have to master gradients. That’s why I created the Dance Basics Boot Camp.  I find this gradient approach effective, and people are coming and winning!