Creation Dance believes that everyone should be able to enjoy dance, whatever your age or ability, but we also understand that as new dancer, especially if you’re a bit older than the average teenager (!) can be daunting, so here’s our easy guide to getting started:


1.       Don’t be afraid to visit the studio (if you can) and take a look around, meet the staff and check out the facilities.  One thing to remember, dance studios are rarely glamorous.  It’s an arts thing… whilst we love to dance, most of the money a studio makes goes on getting the best teachers in, so changing rooms are often small, few studios  have showers and you might need to be willing to travel to find one you like. If the class is in a gym, then you know what to expect, more facilities, but smaller dance studios.

2.       Not sure how Hip Hop is different from Jazz Funk? Doesn’t matter.  I recommend you just try the classes and see how you like them. The name is just the name. Each dance teacher has a different style, which means one person’s Hip Hop class is completely different to another person’s hip hop class. Just dive in and keep going until you find a teacher you like.


3.       Ok, so you really want to know the difference between Hip Hop and Jazz Funk?  Mainly, it’s technique. Jazz Funk is more girly, and uses some kicks and turns that are based on ballet, so it’s sexier, but also sharper. Pussycat Dolls style dancing is a good example of Jazz Funk. It’s also called Commercial Jazz, Jazz or Street Jazz depending on where you’re from.

Hip Hop  traditionally uses moves including breaking, locking and popping, but at Creation Dance we don’t really teach beginners these moves because they’re quite technical and we want you to learn to love dance before we throw the harder stuff at you! So think Urban music and high energy sounds that are great for working up a sweat. All our teachers have their  own style, so why not try a few classes and see who you like best.

4.       Afraid that everyone in the class will be too young, or a great dancer? At our studio, the average age of our dancers is 28 – 32, because we specialise in adult beginners classes. Most people have never danced before, or just started when we opened, so you won’t be alone.  It is important you feel comfortable, and dancing with other like minded people helps. But remember, everyone in the room feels just like you do, and they are all too busy worrying about what they are doing to be looking at you in the mirror – if you still need moral support, enlist a friend to come with you. 

5.       Not sure what to wear?  For most classes gym or yoga clothes and trainers are fine, for ballet class you can do it in socks or ballet slippers, just call us and ask and we’ll tell you what to bring.


6.       Worried you won’t be any good?  If dancing was that easy, we’d all be out of a job because it takes more than 1 class to pick up the basics. Here’s some handy tips to get  you started though:

-          You need to train your brain to talk to your body – through motor fitness exercises

Even gym bunnies rarely do this, so coordination is often a bit slow, and it takes time to get the grey cells working at speed. The good news is that if you stick with it, you’ll see improvement within 4 – 8 weeks  and once it clicks, it stays.  However, it’s like a muscle, so use it or lose it!!!

-          Getting great muscle tone through dance means doing technical dance like ballet or jazz. It’s the effort of standing in the correct posture that tones you up and gives you buns of steel.  So Hip Hop to burn calories, and ballet to tighten and tone….great!

-          Don’t think that missing a class is the end of the world.  We all have commitments ,so book onto classes, but if you miss one, don’t drop out, book the following week and keep coming. Set yourself a goal and you can reach it!

 

-          Don’t hide at the back of the room. The brain uses your reflection in the mirror to help you learn, so watch yourself not the teacher as soon as you can, and you’ll find you remember routine quicker, and improve your dancing too!

So want to try a class? Why not come and try us.  START WITH A BEGINNERS CLASS – it’s always best to start easy then move upwards , than the other way around . See our timetable here and book yourself in – we hope you love dancing just as much as we love teaching you.