Have you been taking ballroom dance lessons and just can’t seem to remember the steps? The instructor shows you exactly what to do, you repeat it a few times, then she leaves for a minute to turn the music on, and by the time she returns – you’ve already forgotten the new dance move. How aggravating! Forgetting steps that you’ve just learned can create frustration and even hesitation to continue with the lessons. Dance instructor Sue Bourget playfully refers to this as CRS (Can’t Remember Sh**) syndrome, and it’s actually pretty common among many dance students. The advice that the pros will give you is this – first and foremost, DON’T GIVE UP, and find a way to help you remember. We’ve come up with a few ideas below:
Ways to Remember Your Dance Steps
1) Have Your Dance Instructor Create a Routine for You & Practice
The best way to learn and remember is through repetition. The more often you do the same movements – in the same order, your body will remember to do it automatically. So, by doing the same 5-10 dance steps- over and over again in sequence, your brain will remember the step, and then what comes next. The more you do it, the more you will imprint the move into your muscles and brain.
The key to remembering a dance routine is to convert the physical movements into muscle memory which means you don’t have to think about each step. Go over the steps in class with your instructor to be sure you’re doing it correctly, then make sure you practice as much as possible at home. Repetition is key to creating muscle memory.
Life gets busy and it’s hard to find time to practice everyday, so come to our Friday night group class and parties to practice what you’ve learned in your lessons.
It’s a great time to meet new people and practice your dance steps to a variety of music. Check out our monthly calendar to see what group classes are being taught on Friday nights.
2) Get Good Sleep
Did you know that not getting enough sleep has been linked to memory loss? Try to make getting enough healthy sleep a priority in your life. Adults should sleep a minimum of 7 hours a night on a regular basis. If you’ve had persistent insomnia, or bad snoring that is disrupting your sleep, make an appointment to see your doctor and try to get some help.
3) Eat a Healthy Diet
We know you’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth mentioning again – a healthy diet is good for your brain. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with low-fat protein sources, such as fish, beans and skinless poultry are known to help our bodies function on a higher level – including our memory! What you drink also counts. Too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss as well.
4) Dress Comfortably During Sessions
Being comfortable while dancing will help you focus on what’s important – the dance routine. You won’t be thinking about how uncomfortable you are while trying to learn at the same time. For example, if you have the wrong shoes on, and they’re hurting you with every move, it’s going to make remembering the dance steps much more difficult because your focus will be on the pain – not the dance.
5) Don’t Give Up & Have Fun
Dancing should be fun for you – don’t forget that! Remember, no one at the dance studio is judging you, and everyone there is in the same boat – trying to learn and just having fun! Keep practicing and keep enjoying the process.
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