How much could you learn in 15 minutes? You might be surprised. I started experimenting with the power of 15 minutes recently.
In 15 minutes, I can get in 3 rounds of HIIT exercise. Or take a bike ride around the neighborhood with my kids. Or wash the dishes and start a load of laundry. (Although I’d rather spend my 15 minutes doing something else 🙂
You can get a lot done in 15 minutes.
The 15 Minute Lesson
You know what one of the biggest complaints teachers hear from their students is:
I wish I could take more lessons.
A normal private lesson is 45 minutes.
So, if you could add just three 15 minute lessons a week to your schedule, you’ve just gained another lesson.
Here are 4 ways to become a better ballroom dancer in just 15 minutes:
1. Watch your favorite couple(s) on YouTube |2-15 min.
The greatest education in the world is watching the masters work. –Michael Jackson
If you want to be good, you have to observe what is good. As you become a more sophisticated “watcher”, you will able to assess your own skills better. You’ll also be able to choose a path for your own personal style. By watching couples you like, not only will you be inspired, you’ll also become more educated about what kind of dancer you want to be.
Method:
Choose a few performance videos of your favorite couples. As you watch them, think about what it is you specifically like about them.
Is it their technique? If so, which part?
Maybe the way the man chooses to shape a certain figure. Or maybe it’s the lady’s snappy foot work on the New Yorker. Is it their artistic styling?
Take note, again, of SPECIFICS.
Do you like how she lifts her chin as she’s looking at him, face to face in the rumba? Maybe you like how he brings in the sense of boldness when he takes position for tango.
Whatever it is that piques your interest, identify it. This will help you recreate these points in your own dancing. We dancers are all a combination of what we’ve gleaned from our teachers and idols, couples with our own skills and unique approach. Don’t be afraid to try nuances you’ve seen from others!
2. Visualize a round with music | 10 min.
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. –Napoleon Hill
Did you know visualization or mental imagery is a well-established practice for competitive athletes? It works because it stimulates the same neuro triggers as actual physical practice.
Pretty cool, right?! This means you can practice literally ANYWHERE and get tangible results, even when you’re nowhere near a dance floor.
Method:
Create a round of music for your dance style. Cut each song at about 1.5 minutes with a 30 second bummer in between. This simulates the same timing as if you were doing a round at a competition.
Play the round, visualizing yourself dancing the rounds, just as if you were at the competition. It’s important to visualize your optimal performance. As you practice this mental training, you’ll find yourself less likely to imagine yourself making mistakes.
You can also combine this with endurance training. Modifying your pace with each song on the round, while doing the cardio exercise of your choice.
3. Review notes from your last lesson | 5 min.
Paper is to write things down that we need to remember. Our brains are used to think. –-Albert Einstein
You may think that dancing is learned only through the body. For the most part, that’s true, but your body (just like you mind), can easily forget things, until they are truly ingrained.
Even just a few words or phrase can be help you remember key points you learned on your last lesson. It’s quite amazing how even a quick glance at your notes can mentally refresh you.
Method:
Take a few simple notes (more detailed, if you prefer), during or at the end of your lesson. Glance over your notes every day, even if when you aren’t at the dance studio. Mentally recalling what you’ve learned will help you retain the information and give you concrete points to practice when you do get to the studio.
4. Watch a high-quality instructional video | 10-15 min.
Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. –Benjamin Franklin
Of course, nothing beats more lessons! You might want to refresh a concept you already learned on a lesson, or hear it from a different perspective (another coach). Or you might want to start learning something you haven’t touched on yet in your lessons, to start gaining understanding. These are some of the benefits of video instruction.
It’s important to make sure you’re watching only high quality coaches! Like here at DanceSport Place! 🙂
We feature only World & National Champs/Finalists in our videos, so you know what you are learning is accurate and proven to bring success.
Method:
If your video is online (like DanceSport Place), you can use your laptop or tablet as a tool right on the dance floor. Simply watch the video, try out what you’ve learned, and you can review and re-watch as needed in during your practice.
The beauty of video learning, is you can always return to the video to hear the instruction again and again. Repetition in doing and learning is the key to success!
15 Minutes to Mastery!
Fifteen minutes or less is all it takes to boost your learning! When you do these little exercises daily, you’ll find yourself more prepared for your next private lesson. And on your way to becoming a better ballroom dancer in no time–well, in 15 minutes.
With her husband Erik, they are the founders of DanceSport Place and have a passion to help dancesport competitors reach their dancing goals.
- Write your Dance: Improve your dancing through journaling - November 12, 2019
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- Principles of Movement: Ballroom Basics Video - September 21, 2016
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I just thoroughly read this email and I love that you take the time to write all of this. It is SO TRUE!
I teach Physical Education and I also teach “social dance” to my high school PE students. It has taken me 30 years to get my program where it is today, and “selling” it is a constant challenge. I especially appreciate Gene Kelly’s words. My boys will like that quote, ….after I tell them who Gene Kelly IS!!
So glad you liked it, Barbara! Thanks for your great work in promoting ballroom dance to the youth. They will benefit from it in so many ways. The Gene Kelly quote I think you’re referring to is “I think dancing is a man’s game, and if he does it well he does it better than a woman.” Remind your boys that ballroom dancing takes stamina, strength and balance like other sports, but goes a step further and requires personality and manners, too! 🙂
Hello I was hop ing to see a demonstration on Rumba Technique But perhaps I am searcing in the wrong area
Hello again DancingLady7. Yes, this is the blog area of the site. As a member, you can access all of our member-only videos, by logging into your account and clicking the “Videos” tab towards the top middle of this page. I recognize your name and that you are already a member, so I will directly email you further details of how to find the rumba videos.
Hello Melissa,
I have been really enjoying and learning from the videos I have been watching. For several years, I have “trolled” various websites, watching instructional videos from various sources. All have been helpful to some degree. However, I love the fact that you pinpoint specific problem points for the pro-am dancer. I appreciate also that you extended the time of the trial due to the glitches in setting up the site. During this trial,
I was convinced to become a subscriber! Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for this comment, Sharron! You put a smile on our face(s) and we’re thrilled to hear our coaches and videos get your “thumbs up”. Thanks for being a valuable member 🙂
hae while i am reading this , i figure out what am i really going to do because i am really interested in latin danceport. I did not do your suggestions or instryction of what to do yet but I am confident that i can achieve my goalsm to know more.
I am hoping for more learnings
thank you so much
It becomes easier to know what path to take with your dancing, the more you do it, Christine. Keep learning and most importantly, keep practicing! As you do more, you will get a clearer idea of the kind of dancer you want to become. Good luck!