Four Ways to Make the Most Out of Online Dance Classes Blog

At Center Stage Dance Studio, we offered virtual dance classes to our clients during the quarantine. Now that we’re open again, some of our clients wanted to continue their dance lessons virtually. Having dance classes online is very different from dance classes in person. Some of our clients found it more difficult to learn because they were so used to dancing in our studio rooms. For those who still want to take dance classes online, we’ve found lots of ways to help you make the most out of your online dance classes.

Make a Home Studio

Preparing a place for you to practice at home will make your dance classes much more effective and enjoyable. Making a “Home Studio” is actually a very easy task to do. Most rooms in your house or apartment could become a great personal dance studio. To make a home studio, the room should have enough space for you to dance, and the floor should obviously be clean so you don’t step on anything. If possible, the walls shouldn’t be displaying too much either so it’s less likely that something falls off the walls. 

Another important step to making a home studio is to be able to see and hear your instructor clearly. Ideally, if you have a room with a SmartTV, that would be a great room to set up your dance studio. That way you will see the instructor better and have the better sound quality of the TV speakers as opposed to your computer speakers. You should also be able to place your camera at an angle where your teacher can see your whole body as you dance so they can give you better instruction. If you don’t have a SmartTV, just put your computer in a spot that you can see clearly, and it can see you clearly. Make sure it’s stable so the computer doesn’t fall over.

Last but not least... DECORATE! It’s your studio, make it your own. Want to have your favorite color around your studio, decorate! Want to have your favorite dancer on the wall, do it! Want your good luck charm in the studio? Put it all over! Dancing is about having fun and expressing yourself, so have fun and express yourself in your studio!

Prepare for Class

When you do everything remotely, it is far too easy to cut corners. (I’m sure most of us have dressed for a meeting from the waist up at least once.) If you want to get the most out of your classes, don’t cut corners! This will make your classes so much more enjoyable and productive. Before every class, you should still stretch as if you were in the studio. Stretching helps prevent injuries, promotes blood flow, and helps you be more flexible. Stretch before class even if your teacher doesn’t include stretches in your lesson. You should wear appropriate clothing to dance in. Wear what you would wear in the studio because your dance clothes are meant for dancing. Another important way to prepare for class is to hydrate. Staying hydrated will help you dance better because you will feel better while you’re dancing and be able to dance longer. So don’t skip your water breaks!

Invite a Friend

If you’re comfortable doing so, reach out to one of your friends from your dance class who is also doing virtual classes and invite them over! You can help each other dance as well as share the time together. If not, keep in touch with your friends from the dance class anyway! While you practice, record yourself dancing and send it to your friends from class. Show your progress and let them see what you’ve been up to. It’s a great way to stay connected.

Practice!!!

The most important thing you can do whether you’re taking virtual or online classes is to practice! If you want to get better at your routines, or at anything in life, you need to practice. Just like staying in your pajamas for a zoom meeting, you can fall into the bad habit of taking your online course and not practicing your routines after the class, this is a terrible habit to have. Practicing is what is going to take you from an ok dancer to a good dancer, and what turns a good dancer into a great dancer. If you feel like you need to be in the studio to make progress, you won’t know for sure unless you’ve given it your all at home. Take your time. Practice makes perfect.

Here at Center Stage Dance Studios, we offer both virtual and in-person dance classes. Whichever is more convenient for you, we are here to accommodate. Contact us at 330-467-1414 or at www.danceatcenterstage.com to learn more about us, what we can offer you, and see if our dance classes are right for you.

Phone: 330-467-1414

Website: www.danceatcenterstage.com

Instagram: @danceatcsds