Advice for New Beginners
- Sarah Cleaver
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Hello dancers! My name is Sarah and I've been teaching Line Dancing since 2007 - and I love it just as much now as I did then.
I thought I would write a weekly blog for you, with some thoughts about line dance classes - answering some questions I'm sometimes asked, or just giving you some information about what goes on behind the scenes.
First up: Five thoughts to help new beginners.
Congratulations! You've done the hard part already - you've found the class, booked in, found the hall, and walked through the door. Well done! You are very welcome.
Don't stand right at the back. (I know; all your instincts are to hide at the back, but it's much harder back there, trust me!) Try to stand somewhere in the middle, and not at the end of a row. Ideally, somewhere you can see my feet.
When the dancers turn, and you can no longer see my feet, find someone who looks like they know what they are doing, and watch their feet. I don't know why this makes it so much easier, but it definitely does.
Relax! You're here to have fun. There's no exam! If you mess it up, have a laugh and keep going. None of us is perfect - including me. So as far as I'm concerned, if you leave with a smile, thinking, "That was a blast!" then that's great. So please don't beat yourself up, if you don't get all the steps first time. Next week will be easier.
And finally - please persevere! To start with it might feel like there's lots of different steps, different music, and a lot to remember. But come back next time and it will feel a bit easier, and soon you will have mastered some steps. Stick with it and soon you'll have a weekly hobby that you love, that will give you a lift, and put joy in your heart. Honestly! Don't give up after just one class! Stick with it!
Comments very welcome - what would you add?
Sarah and the folks at the classes are great , they are always happy to help newbies . At first you feel a bit lost teetering around like R2D2 on speed, always facing the opposite direction to everyone else. However stick with it, Sarah’s teaching and the help of the other folk will soon see you progress. Before you know it you’ll be grapevining, jazz boxing and even sailor stepping about as if it was second nature . You know you’ve cracked it when you’re lock stepping up the aisle in Waitrose ( other supermarkets available ) with the latest earworm that Sarah has thoughtfully planted playing throughout your being . I defy anyone to leave without a smile …
I’ve not been for a long time but have had the Friday morning booked for forever and cannot wait!
Line dancing is good for the soul! It’s also great exercise without you knowing it.
It doesn’t matter if it takes weeks to master one move, just enjoy the music, the movement and the company.
You never regret a line dance class
Patience is key. It’s easy to think everyone is better than you and that you will never get it. But everyone was the same when they started and look at them now. Embrace the mistakes. The best way to learn apart from class is to look on YouTube and try and learn a few basic steps like the grapevine, a chassis, a lockstep and a shuffle. Once you have mastered them things start to fit together. Line dancing is a community full of people who like to have fun. It opens many doors to weekends away, social evenings and new friends. Walking into Sarah’s class the first time was one of the best decisions I ever made.