Some of my students often express frustration about not having regular partners to practice with. I’ve been there, too! And yet, I have always been able to progress in my dances.
Perhaps having a practice partner is not the most important thing – or even a requirement – to progress one’s dance. It can be a benefit, certainly. But it can also detract from other kinds of practice that well need.
If No Partner, Then What?
I thought I would share a few of the things that have helped me improve in various dances even without a partner:
- I create a “vision” for the style of dance that I want for myself, in each genre. Then, I watch videos — of others and of myself — and make adjustments to get closer to my vision.
- I do specific training in areas where I see that I need to make adjustments.
- I play the music and visualize myself dancing to it. I play the music and solo-dance to it.
- I get my social-dance fix whenever I can. During these opportunities, I play the virtual videos of myself in my head (the ones I have created by doing steps 1-3 above) and try to “be” the picture I have in my head. Sometimes, I ask a friend to record me dancing.
- I watch video of myself from social dances and from competitions, evaluate how close to “the vision” I am getting, and then make the necessary adjustments – first mentally/visually, then in action.
Are You Mental?
Even when a person thinks they are “practicing” they may not be. My definition of practice includes intentionality, goal setting, mental engagement, and repetition.
For elite athletes, the mental aspect of sport, performance, and excellence is often – perhaps always – what sets the Champions apart from the rest of the pack. So if you find yourself dance-partner-less, I hope this will inspire you to stick with it. Make it your own!