well rounded

These days it is very important to be a well rounded dancer. You have to know how do DANCE almost every form of dance to make it in the "Dance World."  Every dancer needs to start with Ballet. It is the foundation of every other form of dance. It will give you a solid technique. Jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and ballroom are also important. To be great it is stressed that you have a little gymnastics tucked under your belt as well.  You can always add in a little Flamenco, Clogging, Irish Dance, Highland Fling, Sword Dancing, Belly Dancing, Crump, and many others styles of dance. Dancing is a very disciplined sport and is not for the weak.

Dance because you LOVE it!

Blood on the Dance Floor

Yes, that is a Michael Jackson song but it is also appropriate for today's post.  The floor you are dancing on is VITAL to your health. It is so important that you are not working on HARD surfaces such as cement, tile, etc. Dancing on a hard floor will take its toll on your body.

When I started Clogging (yes, similar to tap), I had my first set of classes in someone's garage. At the time it did not bother me but over the years I developed knee pain and injury from it. Everytime you jump on a floor that is not suitable for dancing you risk compressing joints, discs and other serious injuries.

I recommend dancing on any type of "sprung" floor, hard wood floor (they are not as hard as you think), or marley (a thick black mat that covers the surface of a stage or studio floor). This will prolong the life of any dancer's body.

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