Cheat Sheet

I always say you most definitely can teach an old dog new tricks but I didn't say he would always remember them. There can be all kinds of reasons your memory sometimes becomes less reliable as you age but even younger people can be forgetful. I don't think of it so much as an age thing-more of a busy person thing.

When it comes to dancing the added stress of working with the music and a partner in a roomful of people can add to that feeling that you aren't really dancing what you know. Does this sound familiar? You've taken lots of classes and learned lots of new skills and yet it seems that every time you hit the dance floor you keep doing the same old moves and styling you always do. You are getting bored with yourself and your dancing and it just doesn't feel like fun anymore.

When you took those classes (or private lessons) did you take notes? Yes, I know it seems like a nuisance to scribble something down right after a class but if you find you aren't retaining what you've learned, writing it down could help. Eventually you will have your very own dance move/technique library to reference. Write it down in your own words-it's for your eyes only anyway right? Draw pictures or diagrams or put it down any way that will make sense to you when you look at it later. Once you've compiled a fair amount of dance information you are ready to make a cheat sheet.

Before you go out for the evening, choose a couple of moves or styling choices that you haven't been practicing and write them down on a small piece of paper that you will take to the dance with you. You can practice a little bit at home by yourself before you go too. When you are at the dance, try to include those moves in as many dances as you can when appropriate. The moves you are so bored with right now are the ones you've done the most often and practice makes perfect. The more you include the new or forgotten moves the faster they will become automatic when the pressure is on.

Both Leaders and Followers can do this. It's true that Leaders initiate the movement but Followers have plenty to "say" both stylistically and through subtle suggestion and writing those ideas down for yourself can be a great reminder to explore your own "voice" more.