How to become unstiff while dancing
How To Not Look AWKWARD When You Dance
Do you feel awkward when you dance??
It’s pretty normal to feel insecure about your dancing.
I mean, it’s your body. Your literal SELF that's being put out there!If you’re that person at the club swaying awkwardly or hanging out by the wall at a school dance…
We’re here to help make you feel more comfortable in your body.
Ready to stop being a wallflower?? Wanna get movin’ and groovin’??!?!
Let’s go!
1. Own your style
If you feel awkward when you dance, then you will look awkward when you dance. And if you keep telling yourself you're awkward, then you will stay awkward.
The first step to overcoming awkwardness is to stop that self-deprecating narrative.
You don’t have two left feet.
You do have rhythm.
You can be a good dancer.
Re-defining your view of yourself is the only way you allow yourself to grow.
And if you're truly convinced that you can't follow a beat or stop tripping over yourself... just take some time to practice those basic foundations!
STEEZY's online "Intro to Dance" program walks you through all of the fundamentals step-by-step, so it's the perfect place to start.
Click here to start the program for free!
2. Find your body’s natural groove
No two people in the world have the exact same bodies, music tastes, dance training, or life experiences. This means that no two people really dance the same.
Everyone dances like themselves. You, included! So find that groove that feels right to you.
When you take class, modify the choreography to fit your body. And when you freestyle, just start with a basic two-step.
That simple left-right, right-left skeleton leaves SO much room for you to build off of.
Feel the way your body reacts to the music...
Let yourself groove out...
3. And COMMIT to it
A lot of the time, dancers will look awkward because they PLAY THEMSELVES!!
That slight hesitation, that SMIDGEN of under-delivery, that look of “oh sh*t” on their faces…
Awkward.
Knowing and committing to yourself is the only way you won’t look awkward when you dance.
4. Loosen up!
Really, an instant fix. Most people look awkward when they dance because they are stiff. And they’re stiff because they aren’t moving.
Don’t lock your knees.
Free your neck to let your head bob.
Shake out your arms.
Relax your core.
You can even do some stretching or pilates to help your muscles get used to that relaxed, loose state!
This pilates class on STEEZY is perfect as it's literally designed to loosen the muscles you use when you dance.
So get LOOSE. No excuses.
5. LISTEN to the music
Maybe you look awkward when you dance because your body isn’t matching the tempo of the music.
Simply aligning the rhythm of your movements to the beat will make your dancing look a lot more put together.
Or, your vibe isn't matching the vibe of the song, making your dancing look off.
Follow Melvin Timtim's advice on this:
6. Have fun
I’ve never watched someone genuinely love what they’re doing and judged them.
Pure fun never looks or feels awkward.
So stop overthinking! Put on a soundtrack to a musical you love and lip sync it all the way through. Blast some dirty rap music in your car and go awff.
Play some sexy bedroom music and serenade your lover. At the end of the day, dance is something that lets you play.
You can be anyone you want, do anything you want, and escape from whatever stresses are plaguing your mind.
Dance is an escape, not another stressor.
So have fun with it :) and looking dope will happen on its own. Being a good dancer or a bad dancer, a dope one or an awkward one...
It depends on what you practice – both mentally and physically. Use these tips to make dancing look and feel like second nature.
You’ll be tearin’ it up on the dance floor in no time.
What are some things that helped you overcome looking awkward when you dance? Comment below and leave a tip!
Classes on STEEZY Studio help you loosen up to move more comfortably.
Take our beginner program to learn the essential grooves to start with!
Is Your Dancing Too Tense? 3 Ways To Loosen Up
When a dancer’s body has excess tension, their movement can lose its luster and flow.
“What we see when we watch a spectacular performer is the precise application of effort,” says Peggy Gould, an associate professor at Sarah Lawrence College who teaches dance conditioning and kinesiology. “Not too much, not too little, but just the right amount.”
Yet even a dancer in top condition with strong technique can’t disguise the tension that builds up from overworking and imbalances. The solution does not lie simply in trying to “relax,” but in getting a better idea of where where the tension comes from.
Why We Need Some Tension
Tension refers to the action of muscles contracting. Dancing would be impossible without a certain amount of it. “We would be a puddle on the floor,” says Tom Welch, a professor of dance kinesiology at Florida State University. Gould defines it further. “Tension is muscle work that does not produce motion, but rather helps to maintain a stable or static situation. There is no change in muscle length, no change in relationship between the bones the muscle attaches to, no joint motion, no movement.
”
Excess tension, which can make you look stiff, derives from the relationship between muscles and bones. “When we don’t make good use of our bony support structures, it’s often our muscles that wind up playing key roles in holding us up against gravity,” Gould says. “Treating a muscle like a bone generally leads to that muscle behaving more like bone, becoming stiffer and more resistant.”
Here’s the good news: There are numerous ways to relieve excess tension.
Work you do outside of technique class can help balance your body and build strength to help you dance with less tension. Photo via Unsplash
Start by Building Strong, Long Muscles
For Welch, the way you prepare your body for the job of dance can help release excess tension. “Muscles have to be strong and long,” he says. He teaches a special Pilates class devoted to reducing tension. “It’s a two-stage process involving activation and strengthening, then releasing and stretching,” he says.
Rub and Roll It Out
Jennifer Williams, of Chaddick Dance Company in Austin, Texas, has struggled with excess tension all her dancing life due to structural imbalances from scoliosis. “I’m a firm believer in rolling out muscles, whether it’s a tennis ball or a foam roller,” says Williams. These provide feedback to the neuromuscular system—a dancer can sense her body against it, and become more aware of where she is holding extra tension. Massage can also play a vital role in releasing tightness. “I see a massage therapist every other week,” Williams says. Heat and proper stretching can also help muscles relax.
Understand The Root of the Problem
Somatics training can help dancers get to the bottom of the tension cycle. “We must understand the origins of a tension pattern in order to let go of it,” says Gould. “I encourage students to think of this work as refinement in order to advance their technical capabilities.
”
Many somatic systems aim at freer movement. Methods like Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique and Ideokinesis allow students to slow down, make small changes and discover the differences in their posture without from the demands of dancing. Feldenkrais focuses on skeletal balance; Alexander, on the position of the skull; Ideokinesis enlists visualization and imagery to foster physical change.
The ease, length, balance and efficiency that these systems help dancers develop all lead to a reduction of unnecessary tension. Welch finds a multifaceted approach works best, one where a dancer can spend time exploring tension in a separate class. Then it can be useful to have the concepts reinforced in dance class through the verbal cues explored in somatic classes.
Ballroom dancing for weight loss and positive emotions
Movement is essential for health and a slim figure. But not everyone loves sports. What to do in this case? Pay attention to dancing! Dancing gives cheerfulness, positive emotions, and eliminates extra calories.
You can choose any direction, for example, ballroom dancing.
Health benefits of ballroom dancing
What are the benefits of ballroom dancing? First of all, these exercises help to strengthen the heart muscle. In addition, ballroom dancing helps improve blood circulation, strengthen muscles and blood vessels, and improve the functioning of the respiratory apparatus. During classes, all organs receive more oxygen, working capacity increases.
Ballroom dancing contributes to the formation of a beautiful posture, teaches you to control your body, develops the brain. Dancing classes train motor skills and improve coordination, relieve muscle clamps, energize and cheer up.
Unlike many sports, such dancing does not harm the joints. On the contrary, soft and smooth movements heal and strengthen them. And dancing trains the ear, rhythm, helps to become more disciplined and collected.
To whom is such a load contraindicated? Classes are not recommended for vertebral hernias, exacerbation of peptic ulcer, disorders in the work of the heart, varicose veins, hypertension, liver diseases.
But it is better to consult with a specialist first. After all, everything is individual and, perhaps, in some cases, a moderate load will be allowed.
For ballroom dancing, you will definitely need costumes and at least two pairs of shoes. Both clothes and shoes should be comfortable and light. The fabric from which the costume is sewn must be natural.
As for age, there are usually no restrictions. But the number of classes per week is better to adjust. The best effect can be obtained when attending three lessons a week, and each lesson should last 60-90 minutes. But if it is not possible to go to classes three times a week, you can reduce the number of visits to two.
Which ballroom dancing to choose for weight loss?
Ballroom dancing helps speed up metabolism, burn excess fat faster, tighten muscles, develop flexibility, strengthen arms and back. Of course, some dances for weight loss will not be enough. In addition to regular training, you will have to eat right (eat more vegetables, cereals, and less sweets and muffins), have a good rest (full sleep and at least half an hour of rest are necessary not only for health, but also for the figure).
But since weight loss is effective only in the presence of physical activity, dancing is great for this purpose.
There are many variations of ballroom dancing. The most common: waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango, Viennese waltz.
Anyone can learn to dance a normal waltz. It is based on very measured and smooth movements.
Tango is a more passionate and active dance. Combines fast and slow movements. The originality of the dance lies in the sweeping step.
Foxtrot is considered a weightless dance. Its feature is the ease of steps. But in general, fast and slow rhythms alternate in the dance.
Quickstep is a dance with jumps and quick turns. Quite sharp movements are combined with smooth turns. Dance combines many elements. Quite difficult, but losing weight with such a dance will be fast.
Viennese waltz - characterized by an abundance of rotations at high speed. They dance it to a fast tune.
This is all a European program, but there is also a Latin American one.
It includes: samba, rumba, cha-cha-cha, jive, paso doble. These dances are more active, so they burn more calories.
Samba - requires a lot of strength to perform some movements. There are different directions.
Rumba is an emotional ballroom dance. Pretty hard option.
Cha-cha-cha is an incendiary Cuban dance. During the dance, you will have to make many movements, but all of them will be limited to a small area. You don't have to dance all over the place.
Jive - very fast, with springy movements. The legs remain straight during the dance.
Paso doble is a dance that has a marching nature. It is characterized by dramatic poses and a straight back.
What dances are better to choose for weight loss? Of course, the most effective will be tango, jive, cha-cha-cha, samba, quickstep and Viennese waltz. These dances contain more complex elements, require more effort and, of course, help to get rid of excess fat faster. However, if there is a desire to practice the usual waltz or foxtrot, it is worth giving preference to them.
After all, it is very important that classes bring only positive emotions.
Positive emotions through dancing
In addition to being good for your health, ballroom dancing is also good for your mental state. Active movement helps to produce hormones of happiness, therefore, during classes, mood improves, new forces appear (even with severe fatigue).
Ballroom dancing helps to energize, relax, become more relaxed and calm. Regular exercise helps to get rid of depression and apathy, to become more stress-resistant. Such classes increase self-esteem, teach you to set goals and achieve them. Ballroom dancing helps to get rid of self-doubt, complexes and fears. They are perfect for reserved and shy, anxious people.
Dancing is a wonderful world that gives communication with interesting people, joy, beauty. In general, during classes you can get only positive emotions. In addition, such activities reveal creative abilities, develop curiosity.
Dancers become more friendly, sociable, friendly and sensitive not only to their partners, but also to the people around them.
Positive emotions not only improve your mental state, but also have a significant impact on your overall health. Therefore, if you like ballroom dancing, you should sign up. As for the direction, you should try different options and choose the one that will give only joy and a smile.
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Dance classes for adults | Club "Fitness Trud", South Administrative District, near metro stations Nagatinskaya, Tulskaya, Verkhnie Kotly
On November 4 and 5, the club will work from 9.00 to 22.00.
Pool hours: 10.00-13.00, 18.45-21.00
On November 6, the club and swimming pool will operate according to the usual Sunday schedule.
Every week we have group dance classes for adults. You can sign up for them both for those who continue to master the art of dancing and for those who are just starting to get acquainted with this direction.
The beginner dance program takes into account the level of training and helps students to achieve success and desired results step by step. In our club, located next to the Tulskaya metro station, classes are held in several main areas. It should also be noted that we have presented fitness programs with elements of choreography.
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Training has a comprehensive effect on the body and helps to become healthier, more confident and happier. Advantages of group dance lessons in Moscow:
- increases the mobility of the joints and, in addition, during dancing they are better lubricated, which serves as a good prevention of diseases;
- improves coordination of movements and plasticity;
- improves psycho-emotional state, relieves accumulated stress;
- those who constantly dance become more self-confident and relaxed;
- reduces the risk of developing diseases associated with an unhealthy lifestyle or constant stress;
- it is noted that dancing also helps fight the signs of aging and even strengthens memory.
Dancing has a low risk of injury. Each dance class for beginners includes a warm-up, the main part with working out the chords and a hitch. If you follow all the instructions and perform the movements correctly, then the risks are minimal. This determines the popularity of this direction among children and the elderly.
Regular exercise can improve your well-being and mood. This reduces the level of stress, and work tasks are no longer tedious. It is noted that sleep and appetite become much better, which also affects the state during the day.
Those who experience shyness or stiffness while exercising can overcome their fears and become more self-confident. This is achieved due to the fact that a new perception of yourself and your body is being formed. In some areas, work in pairs is necessary, which also stimulates the release of fears and makes it easier to contact people.
In order to start studying choreography, no special training or skills are required.
