Dancing In Heels: Day 18

Today you'll do a few REPS to practice heel slides before working on the first 30 seconds, or more, of the Beginner level 2 heels routine, you don't have to learn everything at once.

Pro tip: Learning a routine can be frustrating so here are some tips to help you navigate the process:

Before you work on the routine:

• Familiarize yourself with the music: Understand the rhythm and find contextual clues in the music that can serve as cues for certain movements.
• Watch: Watch the choreographer or a video of the routine to get a clear idea of the steps.
• Take notes: Jot down the steps, corrections, and personal cues in a notebook to review later.

During the practice session:

• Break up the routine into multiple sections: Instead of learning the entire dance at once, break it into smaller, manageable sections.
• Repeat and repeat: Practice each section multiple times until you build muscle memory. Drill it, or even practice the motions in slow-motion or “marked” with partial movements.
• Connect the sections: Once you’ve mastered a section, practice connecting it to the next one by focusing on the transition.
• Practice consistently: A little practice every other day is more effective than cramming it all in at once.
• Practice with the music: After you have the basic movements down, start practicing with the music to get the timing and rhythm correct.
• Slow it down: Practice the routine at a slower tempo until you are comfortable, then gradually increase the speed to the normal pace. You can slow down or speed up the videos here by clicking on the little setting gear icon at the bottom of the video player.

Reinforce your mind:

Review before bed: Reviewing the steps right before sleep can help improve retention.

Visualize: Mentally run through the routine when you are not dancing.

Film yourself: Record yourself dancing and watch it back to spot mistakes and see what needs work.

Use cues: Create your own personal cues, such as snapping your fingers or saying a word, to help you remember the next step.

Say it aloud: As you practice, say the names of the steps or count the beats out loud to reinforce the connection between the verbal command and the physical movement.

Turn off your eyes: Once you’ve learned a sequence, try practicing it without looking at the teacher or a video to rely on your internal cues.

Allow the videos to play in order and follow along. Feel free to pause anytime you need to.

Below is a list of direct links to each full length tutorial you worked on in today's session. Remember you only need to click on these if you'd like more help or information.

Heels routine

Beginner no pole workout

Finger and hand stretch

Foot and toe stretches