Reading Dance Moves?

Question:

Reading Dance Moves?

I'm interested in knowing how a dancer gets dance moves so quickly. I'm guessing they've grown up with dancing so much that every movement seems like the same thing only with a little twist. Am I right? Is there something else? How could a beginner catch up?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The title of your question is actually right on the mark and then RustSKIPper totally misses it. The reason why well-trained dancers are able to pick up new dance moves so quickly is because they've learned the VOCABULARY of dance. This is why imitating a video over and over will get you nowhere, as it won't help you pick up NEW choreography very quickly.

Good dance training is actually based on drilling TECHNIQUE, not "routines." This means that dancers practice individual steps in order to make a "muscle memory" of the particular move and connect that move with its name. Later, teachers can verbally rattle off a series of moves, called a "combination," and dancers can jump right in and start dancing it. Refinements are then added on top of the basic moves.

Beginners are able to catch up by making sure they receive high-quality training that is technique-based as opposed to programs that focus on things like competitions or team routines. It also helps to have a high level of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, which is the talent that deals with muscle memory. Not all dancers who are graceful and flexible are equally adept at muscle memory, so you can still have dancers with many years of training who struggle in picking up new choreography quickly. However, this is where a talented beginner can make excellent progress with catching up.

The key is to make sure you teach your muscles the CORRECT way to do something early on, as it is very difficult to re-teach your muscles if you've learned a move incorrectly. This is why you MUST have an excellent teacher right from the start. If you do, then you can actually shoot way ahead of other dancers who have had poor training for many years.