Coming Home To Basics
11.02.06

There is a saying about dance students that goes something like this:

1. Beginner Dancers always want to learn intermediate patterns.
2. Intermediate Dancers always want to go after the advanced stuff.
3. Advanced Dancers go back to the basics...

It is so true in most cases. It is human nature to want to look good at an activity and we tend to look to material that is just out of our reach as a result.

 
The reason that more advanced material is "out of reach" is simple. Those movements and variations are generated out of sound fundamentals and basics. Without that strong background, a dancer attempting higher level material can become frustrated or injure themselves or their partners in attempting the execution of such patterns and ideas.

 
It is no accident that advanced dancers focus on fundamentals to enhance their dancing. At a high level of performance, bad habits stand out to a discerning eye and can make a huge difference in competitive results. Even social dancing is enhanced by an instinctive understanding of your basics. If you can just perform good basics without concentrating on them, other simple embellishments can make you stand out in a crowd and make you a popular dancer at any event.

 
It is always great to challenge yourself in any endeavor, but avoid handicapping your efforts. Trying to drive a high performance car with deisel fuel will not get you where you want to go. Fuel your dancing growth with the best basics and you will be traveling far in the dance world!