Thread: Tips for getting the most out of class

It's the start of term for me and I wanted to include some tips in my newsletter to guide new students on how to get the most out of their bellydance class. What are your top tips? They could be about how you participate in the actual class, or about broadening one's horizons outside of it. Do you have any hints specifically for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers? Here's my start:

Beginners
- Bellydancing is a skill like any other - it takes time to master and some moves are harder than they look. So don't give up after just one class. Expect that you won't get everything straight away and allow yourself time to get comfortable with the moves.

Ongoing
- Try to watch lots of bellydance performances, whether online or live. See how many different variations of the dance there are and start to think about how you can interpret what you're learning to suit your own dance style.

Fire away!


(Once I've collated this I'll put a link to the finished product here)

The one thing I always try to tell beginners is that learning to dance is a journey. It's not going to happen in three weeks. I also tell them not to judge themselves based on what others are doing. Some moves will come easily and some will be struggled with, but which moves fall into which category is personal. What's easy for you might be difficult for someone else and vice versa.

I don't know if this counts but I like to hear that no matter what your body type, your body has something to give to the dance so let it.

Oh, I like these. I especially like the idea that learning to bellydance is a journey. Perfect wording!

• Take time to practice out of class - but make sure you are practising the correct technique otherwise time will be spent unlearning the bad first.
  
• A good cv warmup before dancing not only prepares your body your brain works better and retains more.

- Bellydancing is a skill like any other - it takes time to master and some moves are harder than they look. So don't give up after just one class. Expect that you won't get everything straight away and allow yourself time to get comfortable with the moves.

To build on this--If you're nervous or frustrated, remember that all dancers walked into their first classes once, too.

Originally Posted by kashmir

• Take time to practice out of class - but make sure you are practising the correct technique otherwise time will be spent unlearning the bad first.

This one's it for me. I don't teach yet, but I've been asked what I do. And the main this is, practice at home. Everyday, even if just for 10 minutes, helps

Beginners:

Don't be shy about asking questions! As a teacher I LOVE it when students give me an idea of what they're curious about or need help with, either during class, after class, or by e-mail.

Be curious. There is a lot to this dance form -- the music, the culture, the costuming -- and in class we can only cover the tip of the iceberg. Start with the links on your teachers' website, or at Shira.net

Be patient with yourself. When you ask your body to create a totally new movement, it takes time for your brain to figure out which muscles need to be firing together to make it happen. There will be wrong moves, twitchiness, etc. Be patient, laugh it off, keep trying until it feels right.

Ongoing

There's a lot to be gained from taking from more than one instructor. Workshops, video learning, etc. are all really valuable.

Most classes are great for learning group dances and basic moves. But becoming a good soloist, if that's your goal, generally requires independent work and study outside of classes. Watching dance, reading about it, learning from videos, etc.

-Don't take corrections personally. Your teacher wants you to be safe
-Don't take on too much at once. I've seen a lot of people try to rush learning everything and getting ready to go pro, and then they burn out
-Eat before class. This one should be obvious, but I occasionally am not well-fed enough and feel it during and after. Of course, leave an hour or so between. Ab work on a full stomach is also really no fun!
-Bring water. You may need it.
-Spend your money wisely. Think practically about what you need (zills, perhaps) vs. what you want (designer costume). Once you establish that, make sure you get the best you can afford of what you need.
-Regularly attend class. Missing class means you miss info.

Keep quiet and listen to your teacher. You have paid for his or her expertise--get your money's worth! If you must chat, be brief and whisper--your classmates will thank you.

Listen to ALL the feedback/corrections your teacher gives, even if it's not directed specifically toward you. You may need that information next month, next week, or next exercise!

Bring a note book or journal to write down songs/artists whose music you enjoyed, drills, combinations, and thoughts, ideas, and feelings you may experience--keeping notes helps with at home practice & journaling can help guide your creative process

And I know others in this post have said this but be patient. It takes time to learn this dance form!

Get your teacher's advice about how to shop wisely before you start making purchases (DVD's, costumes, zills, music, make-up) because it is very easy to be overwhelmed at first and make purchases that you don't need/are of poor quality/that you'll regret.

When it seems like what you're doing isn't what your teacher is doing, look at your feet, then your knees, then your hips, most mistakes start at the feet or in the footing, weightedness, travel pattern or transition of the feet. Match your teacher's feet, then knees, etc. Don't slog through it, either cut it back to just the foot work or ask your teacher for help.

I'm used to large classes where you can't stop and ask everything you want to, so this was helpful advice.

Look at the teacher or at yourself in the mirror, you cannot make corrections and mold a movement by looking at the floor.

When things get overwhelming, take a mini break, laugh at yourself a little, take a deep breath, shake it out, then start again. Your mind will work better if you do this.

Find a thing that you do each day and work your practice into that. For new people it may be standing on demi for short periods of time like while brushing teeth...or working your undulations while driving in to work...or practicing hand florets in the shower. Etc.

Ditto on the shopping advice! I'm trying to get that across to my students too! It's so difficult, but I figure if they want to spend thier money on things, after I've talked to them about it, then it's thier money. Just because they buy it, doesn't mean it's going on stage.

That's all the little gems I can think of right now...this is a great thread though.

xoxo,

KS

Originally Posted by nayastrance

Bring a note book or journal to write down songs/artists whose music you enjoyed, drills, combinations, and thoughts, ideas, and feelings you may experience--keeping notes helps with at home practice & journaling can help guide your creative process

And I know others in this post have said this but be patient. It takes time to learn this dance form!

My advice relates to this:

...don't do this in the middle of class.

Absorb everything from your instructor with all of your senses during class and then afterwards take the time to write everything down, ask the instructor questions if you need.

If you are taking notes during class you are missing information that could be received in other ways (your eyes, ears, body, the energy of the instructor, etc.).

Practice at the microwave, the copier, in the car, during commercials. 10 minutes of practice a day is more effective than than two hours once a week.

Originally Posted by Azhia

My advice relates to this:

...don't do this in the middle of class.

Absorb everything from your instructor with all of your senses during class and then afterwards take the time to write everything down, ask the instructor questions if you need.

If you are taking notes during class you are missing information that could be received in other ways (your eyes, ears, body, the energy of the instructor, etc.).

I agree with you concerning movement, but one of my teachers frequently speaks on topics while we're standing still. Her phrasing is so important to what she's trying to convey to us that I take notes like it's a uni lecture. Those phrases mean a lot to the movements.

Also, if she's breaking down a move, I have to take notes. I'm a kinesthetic idiot, so I need to process that information in a way that works for me. If we're moving, I don't do this.

I'm curious, how much of this advice would relate to private instruction? How do we get the most out of private lessons?

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

Practice at the microwave, the copier, in the car, during commercials. 10 minutes of practice a day is more effective than than two hours once a week.

Absolutely!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Beginners:

Don't be shy about asking questions! As a teacher I LOVE it when students give me an idea of what they're curious about or need help with, either during class, after class, or by e-mail.

But be sure to ask your questions of your instructor -- not of the students standing next to you!

Thanks guys! Excellent tips, including many I hadn't thought about. Sometimes it's hard to think back and see the class experience through beginner's eyes.

And I just have to share...it is currently heading up to 43 degrees outside (which is 110 farheinheit!) for the 2nd day in a row. I was at the beach at midnight last night and it was still about 37/100 degrees. Far out! Two more days of heatwave to go...

Ohhh, to switch hemispheres with you, Jewellbellydance! We had 6 inches of snow and 20degree (F) here!

Originally Posted by indigostars

-Don't take corrections personally. Your teacher wants you to be safe
-Don't take on too much at once. I've seen a lot of people try to rush learning everything and getting ready to go pro, and then they burn out
-Eat before class. This one should be obvious, but I occasionally am not well-fed enough and feel it during and after. Of course, leave an hour or so between. Ab work on a full stomach is also really no fun!
-Bring water. You may need it.
-Spend your money wisely. Think practically about what you need (zills, perhaps) vs. what you want (designer costume). Once you establish that, make sure you get the best you can afford of what you need.
-Regularly attend class. Missing class means you miss info.

Here's my personal favorite: "Be on time for class - the warmups are for YOUR benefit, not the instructor's, and not only prepare you for learning the dance moves but prevent injury from dancing with "cold" muscles.

Oh, do not get me started on students who arrive 20 minutes late and then complain they "can't" do this or that move because their "body doesn't move that way." And I'm not talking backbends, folks, I'm talking very basic hip drops. And all the talks from instructor does no good - somehow there are students who have convinced themselves that "belly dance is natural and ergonomic" so they don't have to warm up. AAAAAAARRRRRGH! Well, see I did get started but this is sure a good start for a spinoff on "pet peeves with students" thread..........w.: