This week we talk about a new partnership we started with a dance consultant - someone who works specifically with dancers my son’s age to take their dancing to the next level. The decision to engage with a consultant came as a few different pieces were falling into place:
My son stepped away from studio dance earlier this year and was essentially a “free agent”
He started working with a dancer/choreographer on a new solo piece (discussed in episode #6)
He had just wrapped up a high school dance production (discussed in episode #4)
We were wanting to find a way for him to work on his skills on a more regular cadence (i.e. weekly)
His first meeting with the dance consultant to work on his solo was awesome. Here are some things we learned:
It’s important to have a stretch routine that is tailored to your body and dance goals.
The judges are judging from the millisecond you become visible on stage. So even when you’re just walking to the stage and waiting for the music to drop, you need to present yourself with strength and intentionality.
When in the middle of a bunch of turns (or any move), you need to stay present until the absolute last millisecond, and only then do you transition into something else. Our consultant could tell by my son’s face and body language that while he was in the middle of move A, his mind/body were already thinking about and preparing for move B.
Deciding whether or not to partner with a dance consultant is a big decision, and a big investment. But is it worth it? (Spoiler: in our opinion the answer is yes, but please listen to today’s episode :-)
