Make Dance a Habit at Home

Posted on August 15, 2023September 15, 2023

When class has finished for the day or once school is out it is easy to slip into lazy habits. However, this is the time when we need to make sure that we are making a habit out of dancing at home!

Every budding dancer out there needs to make sure to keep practicing!

Get into a routine

Motivation can be lower during evenings, weekends, or the school holidays. Your usual routine can go out the window, and it can be very easy to stay in bed longer, eat unhealthy foods, and laze around on the sofa. Those are the times when you need to rely on self-discipline!

Make yourself a new routine! At weekends make sure to get up at the same time you would for school. Set times for exercise, stretching, dance practice, and making healthy foods.

Stretch

When we are not dancing as much, our muscles can lose strength and flexibility and feel quite stiff.

It is important to keep them moving and one of the best ways to do this is to stretch every day. You can join a Yoga class or Pilates class. Or, if you prefer to stretch at home then we have some great stretches to get you started!

Some stretches to include are:

Calf stretches

Stand facing a wall, and place both hands on the wall at shoulder height.
Step one foot back while keeping it straight and press the heel into the floor.
Keep the back leg straight, and the back foot turned slightly inward.
Hold for about 30 seconds and then switch legs.

Inner thigh stretch

Sit on the floor with your legs extended to the sides as far as is comfortable.
Slowly bend forward at the hips, reaching your hands towards one foot.
Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, then switch to the other foot.

Hip flexor stretch

Kneel on the floor with one leg in front and the other behind, creating a 90-degree
angle with both knees.
Push your hips forward slightly, keeping your back straight.
You should feel a stretch in the front hip of the leg that is behind.
Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs.

Shoulder and chest opener

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and interlace your fingers behind your back.
Straighten your arms and lift them slightly while squeezing your shoulder blades
together.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.

Hamstring stretch

Sit on the floor with one leg extended straight out.
Bend the other leg and place the sole of your foot against the inner thigh of your
extended leg.
Reach forward with your arms and try to touch your toes.
Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs.

Make sure you warm up before attempting any stretches. A 5-10 minute light cardio exercise will warm up the muscles. Never push your body into a stretch that is causing you any pain.

Done properly, incorporating stretching into your everyday routine will improve flexibility and strength, whilst decreasing the risk of injury.

Grab your friends and family and head to the theatre

Whether your friends are dancers or not, a trip to the theatre is such an enjoyable and exciting experience for all! Watching the professionals can be so inspiring and shows what discipline and determination it takes you to make those dreams come true!

There are some great musical theatre shows out there like:

Mamma Mia! – A good sing-a-long

Wicked! – A story about friendship and being true to yourself

Annie– A classic

Beauty and the Beast – Because who doesn’t like a bit of Disney

Go to summer school or join a dance workshop

During the holidays, join in on our Danceforce holiday productions and workshops. There are also lots of theatres out there local and further afield that run workshops throughout school holidays.

It’s the best way to make new friends and gain more experience in performing to an audience. The more you practice the better you will be!

Make sure you take time to rest, recuperate, and spend time with your nearest and dearest. Even better, get them up dancing too!