RETURNING TO DANCE
In the words of Atlanta icon LOUDMOUF… Is it “one day? Or day one?”
You used to dance. You used to dance until the day came when, for a myriad of reasons, you stopped. And now you’re remembering and asking: can I go back? Will my body respond and remember what to do? Will I feel foolish? Will I be frustrated? Can I still do it? And here’s the zinger: Am I too old at this point?
About half of dance 101 students used to dance and have returned to it later in life. Here’s what we know – factually – about returning dancers:
- Everything you used to know and everything you’ve learned (no matter how long ago) is still with you. It may be in the dusty back files in your brain, but it’s there. You’ll be amazed at how much you remember when you call upon that information. And when those files are re-opened, it’s a joyous thing.
- Your dance muscles have been dormant. They need to re-fire, to get strong again – to get to the point where your body can fulfill what your mind already knows how to do. This takes time, but not as much time as you might think. Your body will respond quickly to dance because it’s familiar and never forgotten. In fact, because it’s familiar, your body will feel great to move in a way that it has missed moving.
- Age is a non-issue. We see dancers return after decades of not dancing. Their bodies strengthen (at any age), they remember and when their bodies catch up to their knowledge, they continue the journey like they never stopped.
- You might be at risk for injury in the first few classes. This is because your mind doesn’t know your dance muscles aren’t up to the task. Plus the adrenaline and joy of being in class may cause you to push through. This should be your ONLY concern. Hold back a little. Let your body catch up. We know you’re going to get really excited when you realize what you still can do.
So, we ask you….
Is today your “day one”?
Dance 101 classes are not like kid’s classes, or the ones you used to take. In fact they are more like curated dance experiences. Ranging from instructional (read: learn while you’re exercising), to fitness focused (where did all that sweat come from?), to artistic expression (the pretty stuff), our classes might challenge you, but they definitely will delight you. They will draw you in, where all you can think about are the 8 counts of choreography you are learning. You’ll be immersed in a sound bath of really great music and for an hour you will disconnect with the stress of life and reconnect with some of it’s beauty. This is what we call: Exercising your Dreams.
—- What should I wear? —-
DO:
- Wear yoga pants, joggers or sweatpants to keep your leg muscles warm. This helps prevent injuries.
- Layers are your friend! Start with a tank top or Tshirt and throw on a light sweatshirt.
- Stretch and Ballet Barre classes can be done in socks.
- Hip Hop and Dance Fitness classes (Ready Set Dance, Madd-X & Reb3l Groove) can be done in sneakers with a light tread (not a running shoe that has a stiff, thick sole).
- Contemporary and Modern can be done barefoot.
- Jazz, Leaps & Turns, and Lyrical require Jazz sneakers (get them on Amazon, Bloch or Capezio).
- Tap classes require tap shoes and we rent them to you for $4 (until you get a new pair).
DON’T:
- Wear shorts, daisy dukes, tennis skirts, booty shorts or anything that exposes your leg muscles and/or your private parts!
- Wear street shoes, running shoes, flip flops or slides to class.
Alright, I’m all in! What are my options?
- Instructional classes: teach you technique, form and skills. Look for classes with Ballet, Jazz, Turns & Leaps in the title. If you see a little French in the class description, good chance it’s a technical class. Or learn how to do the Suzie Q or the Shirley Temple in Tap Basics!
- International classes like La Mezcla, Salsaholic and Fuego will immerse you in another culture. It’s also a lot cheaper than flying to another country and less sandy too!
- Fitness classes use dance to seriously work you out. There is no better workout than a sneaky one! Look out for Reb3l Groove, Madd-X Fitness, Ready! Set! Dance! etc but be wary as it may feel like you’ve joined a really fun dance cult.
- Stretch classes will increase your flexibility and strengthen all your dancer parts. Leave the mat at home and check out Dancer’s Stretch & Conditioning and Stretch & Align.
- Artistic classes invite your mind and body to become an expression of art. These are classes where getting “into your feelings” or channeling your inner Sasha Fierce is the objective. Look for Body Language, A Modern Twist, Contemporary, Stylized Jazz, Lyrical, Sexy Crazy Cool, King of Hearts, J-Roc etc.
- “Just Here for a Good Time” Classes are just that! Have a blast in classes like A-Town Funk, Latin Fiesta, Broadway Repertoire and of course Barry’s Amazing Tap Adventure! You’ll leave with a permanent smile on your face!
There is a great variety of dance experiences awaiting you at dance 101. Jump right in or enroll in either of our Semi-Private Dance Workshops if you want a refresher before jumping in. Or do both! Either way, the sooner you start dancing, the sooner you’ll be happy you did.
Exercise your dreams and stretch your imagination!
