Dance is a medium through which other skills, traits, lessons and behaviour is learnt. Through dance I teach people how to strive. They learn how to aim at goals and how to work hard at something that is a skill or a gift. Your talents get you into certain rooms but your diligence, communication, behaviour and will power keeps you there.
Dancers who I have taught decades ago have moved on with their lives but they always come back to me: They come back to me asking for advice, suggestions or to be a sounding board for where they want to go or who they want to be. I have developed and cultivated relationships with them that are so deep and have made such an impact that they remember me years down the line.
One thing that affects people tremendously is outside influence. People are often affected by the macro and disregard the micro. They worry about what others think of them or of what other things are important to the world around them instead of creating and nurturing their own world - what they want and desire.
There is also often a disconnect between what people really want and what they think they want. They have a desire for more but are not willing to put in the work or to make the sacrifices required to get what they most yearn for. One thing about dance (and this is applicable to many other things too - such as working out): is that you cannot delegate it. You cannot ask someone else to go to the gym or to exercise on your behalf. The same in dance. You cannot dance for someone else and they cannot do it for you. You can’t fake it. Yes, you can move to the music and do amazing physical and acrobatic things with your body. But that’s just great movement. That is not dancing. Dancing is a fusion between the skill and discipline trained in the dancing body over a sustained period of time. But even if you don’t have the training or the skills, the defining factor for me, that makes dancing what it is - is the feeling and emotional connection with your body and, often, the music. The music makes you feel something and you are inclined to move to it.
Some people want the accolades and the achievements that they have the potential to attain but lack the discipline and devotion required to actually reach their dreams. Therefore, they remain just that: dreams.
Luciano Pavarotti — 'People think I'm disciplined. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference.'
Lessons I’ve learnt by being a dance teacher for more than two decades is that parents often project onto their children their own goals - or, sadly, their fears. They never got the opportunity to reach their potential in dancing and therefore push their children to do it. The children might not have the talent, desire or inclination for what the parent wants, but they get pushed any way. What’s worse is when parents project their fears on to their children. They are afraid of their children’s success and then sabotage it…
How can that be? Despite numerous opportunities to perform and to succeed and, most importantly, grow into better human beings, they self-sabotage. Parents fear around important things like rejection or money and don’t want to put their children into situations that could potentially be detrimental to their egos. But they negate the fact that children need to fail. They need to learn how to pick themselves up and make the necessary changes so that they can grow and change and develop into the fulness of their being.
We are human beings. Beings. There is a reason we are human beings and not human doings. Dance is a place and space where children should be encouraged. They should be advised to try new things, fall, get back up, experiment, play, and connect; not only with others but with themselves too. That is vital.
There are many things that sports or activities teach such as discipline, devotion, hard work, etc but there are unique ways that dancing teaches other important elements in creating a well-rounded human being. Dance teaches quality of movement and understanding of the importance of attention to detail. They teach that a centimetre is a big difference in certain instances - just like a second is a huge factor in Formula 1 racing or Sprinting; just ask Lewis Hamilton or Usain Bolt. Dancers learn to set artistic and creative goals and work towards those. When last did you work on being more artistic, expressive or creative?
An important, and for me, one of the anchoring pillars is the element in Hip Hop dance is “Knowledge of Self”. You have to learn and develop and inquire of yourself in order to know yourself better. It’s a never-ending practice. Only when you know yourself can you accept yourself. Then, others - the right people - will accept you for who you are.
This lesson includes body language and learning how to physically express emotions, feelings, messages and to tell stories. You are the protagonist and the main character in your own story. You need to have a good grasp on non-verbal communication. In any scenario this is important: think of in social settings or business meetings. Being able to adapt your body language to different situations and cultures is sometimes just as or even more important than using the right words and saying the right things. Dance teaches you that. They also learn proper posture and alignment is key to prevent injury and improve technique. This aligns with body language and if you’ve able to adapt to various circumstances then you come across in the way intended: this could be humble, confident, friendly, or even dominant. Posture and alignment not only makes an impression outwardly, but inwardly positively affects balance and health. Wins all around.
Through dance we learn how to celebrate. We celebrate the small things such as getting a step right. We celebrate the big things such as winning a competition. Often times we applaud dancers just for trying. When they’ve built up enough courage to openly express themselves and to put their bodies on the line by learning a new skill or by moving into a new environment or in a new way, we encourage them. How important is this not? We recognise the growth, development and acceptance. You are not only accepted for being different, but you are encouraged to be so. Wonderful.
Competitions are an important facet in dance. Some don’t like it but the benefits thereof cannot be denied or understated. Our mindsets expand by being exposed to different or better. Competition pushes us to be better; to learn and improve more. Dancers learn to fail or lose with dignity and then to assess and analyse their performances - no matter how difficult or uncomfortable - and then to dissect it so that they know where to improve. Beyond the knowing what to do, they have to then put in the practice to train themselves to implement those changes so that they get better and improve. We often hear about having a growth mindset but how do we train ourselves to do this? Dance is a good way.
"The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Artistry and Creativity is understated as skills. You learn to be creative and to make beautiful things. You take responsibility for what you create. The body doesn’t lie. You can’t fake technique. In a world fast moving towards one where artificial intelligence is symbiotic in our everyday lives, one thing that will make us as humans stand out is our creativity. Did you know that you can learn to be creative? Or, as I like to think of it: We can learn to tap into our own creativity. Children paint and make things and draw (sometimes on walls) and express themselves through their art. As grownups we neglect this important developmental outlet and then wonder why we can’t come up with that amazing campaign or business idea. It’s because we don’t value creativity as we once used to! Dance fixes that. Kids learn to create and disregard. Sometimes we create and then iterate. We work on what has been created and make small, incremental improvements so that they final product is one of quality and value. That’s the aim.
There is a practice that is prevalent in many developed cultures and communities. Incremental improvement. There is a great Japanese word for it: Kaizen
Kaizen is a compound of two Japanese words that together translate as "good change" or "improvement." However, Kaizen has come to mean "continuous improvement" through its association with lean methodology and principles.
Understanding the fundamentals of dance and mastering them is crucial before moving on to more advanced movements. This is relevant to so many - if not all - fields. Marketers often come back to the basic principles. Accountants, Scientists and Engineers too. We have to remind ourselves to continuously come back to the basics so that we can build on them. Ballet dancers in companies often do 2 hours of ‘class’ everyday before starting rehearsals so that their bodies attune to the basic ways of movement before releasing that and trusting that their bodies will carry them through much more rigorous movements.
Other important lessons in dance:
Musicality and rhythm are important aspects of dance and should be incorporated into training. Finding your flow. If you’re a singer, writer, computer programmer… you know the importance of getting in the zone undisturbed so that you can do your best deep work.
Proper warm-up and cool-down techniques are essential for injury prevention. Performers, speakers, leaders, need to get their voices, remind themselves of what and why BEFORE they make those big decisions or step onto those platforms. Then there is the ‘come down’ where they have to return to their usual selves - because the energy that they require for those big moments cannot be sustained forever.
Stretching and flexibility training can improve range of motion and prevent injury. Proper nutrition and hydration are important for a dancer's overall health and performance.
Cross-training can improve overall physical fitness and prevent injury. Cross training. Can I get a witness?
Dancers should listen to their bodies and avoid pushing themselves too far, which can lead to injury. Know your limits and boundaries. Then exceed them.
Stage presence and performance skills are important for dancers to convey emotion and connect with their audience. William Shakespeare said it best:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."
This quote is from the play "As You Like It"
Collaboration and teamwork are important skills for dancers to develop, as many forms of dance require coordination and synchronization with others. Hello? Anybody still out there? Are you hearing this?
Understanding the history and cultural context of different styles of dance can enhance appreciation and understanding of the art form. Do. Your. Research. Also, Know. Your. History.
Proper footwear and attire are important for dancers to perform at their best and prevent injury. As the saying goes: “When in Rome…” Dress for the role. We all have different facets that we have to tap into and varying circumstances that we need to adapt to. It’s imperative for success.
Another vital skill which many people struggle with is criticism. If you want your relationships to improve, heed this advice. Receiving constructive criticism is important for improvement, and dancers should learn to take feedback graciously. Time management skills are essential for dancers, as they must balance school, work, and dance training. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re early, you’re on time.
In conclusion: I’ve learnt many things through dance over decades of being immersed in the world and very few people can confidently say that they didn’t learn things that stood them in good stead that they’ve learnt through dance.
Written by Quintus Jansen