Learning to dance

[ldsnodden]

Hi, Im new here so you will have to bare with me!

Okay, basically I have just turned 18, have a year left on the college course I am doing (Travel and Tourism/Hospitality) and really would like to do some dancing.

Without sounding daft, Michael Jackson dancing really does make me want to dance, espeically in the Smooth Criminal video... which I have tried to learn a bit but it is VERY hard! For a beginner anyway!

Well, what I wanted to know is at 18 and have never really danced before, is it too late to start? And also what kind of dancing would I have to get involved in, i.e. which classes if I was to be able to dance MJ style... if that makes sense.

Thanks anyway.

~ Liam

[cl5814]

Here is a thread that talks about MJ moonwalk.... it might be a starting point for you.

http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=9013

[Mitra]

Trust me, its never too late to start. I'm 19 and only started dancing this Feb., although I did a short ballroom dancing community ed course 2 years ago, but its never too late to start. As for Mj's style, beyond that other topic that discusses the moonwalk, I can't really of help there.

[DWise1]

I didn't start learning until 48 (salsa, swing, country, ballroom, etc), 5 years ago. I spoke last night with a woman from my Lindy classes. She's in her 60's and is one of the better dancers, but she didn't start until about 8 months ago.

So it's never too late to start. But think of all the years you will waste if you do wait until later.

[Joe]

Hi, Im new here so you will have to bare with me!
I prefer to remain clothed in the presence of strangers, thank you very much. :P

[dancersdreamland]

Welcome to the Forum Family, Liam!

You are never too old to start dancing. I didn't start taking any type of dance classes until I was 20 or 21. Now, only four or five years later, I am teaching some classes and enjoying dance in all my spare time!

To dance like MJ, you may want to start by taking a jazz or hip hop class. I encourage you to also try other forms of dancing as each type of dancing will enhance your dance skills. You can learn grace and poise in ballet, awesome body isolations and hip movement in belly dance, build stamina in Irish, learn to follow and dance as a team with ballroom, and sass it up with a little Latin.

Be sure to check out my website for more information on various dance styles, dance careers, dance movies, and anything else related to dance - www.dancersdreamland.com.

All the best!

[Spitfire]

I was 26 when I first started to learn dancing. The majority of the people I see taking lessons from the studios and going to classes are well over 18 so it isn't to late at all to start at that age.

[ldsnodden]

Thanks guys, Im toying with idea of staying an extra year after my college course to do dance in college, but if I did, and took dance classes, is it possible, or realistic that I could have a career in dance?

[leftfeetnyc]

There are actually a lot of ways to have a career in dance. So many people assume it only means performing or being an instructor of sorts.

I know a ballarina who isn't quite good enough to make a career out of performing...so she took journalism classes in addition to dance classes and now covers dance and theater for a newspaper.

Another dancer friend who was injured took up physical therapy, another became a dietition (sp?) and both work almost exclusivly with dancers.

Some people open studios others become promoters.

As none of us have seen you dance or in a class, we have no way of telling what your potential is to actually make a career out of performing or teaching, time will tell on those counts. But there are plenty of alternative options out there that can still keep you in close relation with dance.

I actually do freelance graphic design almost exclusively for dancers, some of the images I create for them are being put together for an art show I hope to do next year. (if I can figure out how, I'll post an image or two). An article I've written is waiting to be sent in hopes of publishing in 5-6-7-8 Magazine. One of the local instructors hosts a monthly dance and I do all his marketing for it. While lacking the skills to teach or be a professional dancer, I've found ways of using my stronger talents to keep me very invloved in the dance community.

[Ms_Sunlight]

and sass it up with a little Latin.


Aw, only sass it up a little??? But I have so much sultriness just waiting to come out! :D :D :D

Got to love the bellydancing. I got myself a DVD because I wanted to learn a few isolations. I find I can practice them anywhere, and now I'm wondering about taking lessons. The local council run weekly classes in Arabian dance...

[ldsnodden]

Thanks for the help folks, and Im sorry if this thread seems to be dragging on, only I am quite keen so please excuse the number of questions I am asking!

In relation to my potential or ability, Im not too sure I know myself yet... but if I was any good, would there still be time for me to become a dancer or performer (sorry not too sure about the terminology).

Thanks again, your help has been really appreciated so far!

~ Liam

[leftfeetnyc]

It depends on what kind of dance you're looking to go into and what exactly you're hoping to do with it...do you want to perform or teach?

In the partner dances (ballroom, tango, swing, salsa) then yes, if you are good it is more than possible to make make a career out of it. In fact you're at a perfect age. Many people, as prefaced by responders to this thread, didn't get a start until later in life. Many of the instructors I work with in swing didn't get a start until their 20s and are now top dancers and instructors. There are always people who got involved as children, but many did not.

I'm not sure about ballet, you might still be able to teach starting out this late, but probably never perform. Jazz you "might" be able to pull of with some serious dedication and work. Tap, i'm clueless on. But no matter what, these traditional forms of dance take years of dedication and practice. So while it's still possible to have a career related to them, it is often much much harder for people to become performers and instructors in them at an older age.

[leftfeetnyc]

And btw....ask questions..don't stop, thats how you learn...it's wonderful that you're so passionate and interested....so go get yourself enrolled in some part time classes to get yourself started!

[ldsnodden]

Hey thanks!

From what people have told me Michael Jackson combines jazz and hip hip... so ideally it would be that kind of dancing, but obviously I'm not going to be dancing for michael jackson, but it is that sort of dancing I am interested in, and would like to hopefully one day perform... who knows!

Thanks again.

~ Liam

[leftfeetnyc]

Definitly enroll yourself in some parttime classes now and start looking into videos where you can learn and practice at home.

It will take a lot of work, but anything is possible. If you're good, then yes, you can make a career out of it.

[dancersdreamland]

Got to love the bellydancing. I got myself a DVD because I wanted to learn a few isolations. I find I can practice them anywhere, and now I'm wondering about taking lessons. The local council run weekly classes in Arabian dance...

Bellydancing is the best! If you're enjoying a self-taught DVD, you will LOVE an actual class. There is such a joy and energy in dancing with other women...you form a real connection with the music, the dance, your equality. I high encourage you to take a class...you won't regret it!

[dancersdreamland]

With regard to performing...it really depends on the style of dance for whether or not you'd be able to make a career out of performing.

Belly dance - I used to perform with a troupe of dancers and most of the women did not begin taking lessons until their early thirties. A lot of them began performing within the first two years of lessons and still perform into their forties, fifities and beyond. The locations may vary as they become older in age, but they do perform at a lot of festivals, special workshops, fares, etc.

Ballroom/Latin/Swing - Like leftfeetnyc said, you're really at a perfect age to begin a professional career for these types of dance. With training, hard work, and dedication you could begin performing and/or even competing in various dance events.

Irish - Similar to training for ballet, many Irish dancers began training at a very young age. The likelyhood of someone in their late teens or early twenties beginning to learn this art form and then perform with Riverdance or another professional troup is highly unlikely. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't perform, though. You can certainly learn and perform at fairs, festivals, schools, etc.

Tap - In doing some tap research, many of the tap greats began learning tap at an early age...but not all of them. If you hone or skills, there may be various performing opportunities for you. It's going to take a lot of research on your part to find somewhere to perform or it will call for a stroke of being in the right place at the right time.

Ballet - In most everything I have read about ballet, you need to have begun this artform at an early age to become a professional ballerina with a dance company. By the time they have reached their early teen years, most ballerinas have perfected ballet movements and have become fluent on pointe shoes, which takes years of training and muscle building. Depening on where to end of taking classes, you may be able to perform with the dance group at local events.

Hip Hop - Similar to tap, this is an artform you can probably begin working on now and still become a professional dancer...possibly for music videos, being a backup dancer on tours, etc. You may want to do some online (google) research on other backup dancers. What they trained in, how long they've been training, and how old they are.


A few other thoughts... Another way to find out about the possiblity of performing would be to talk to various dance instructors in your area or at your college. They are going to know what the market is like in your area, what your dance skills are, and what you can do to better prepare for the lifestyle of being a professional dancer.

Addionally, if it happens that you cannot become a professional dancer on tour or with a performance company, don't rule out other dance opportunities like teaching, performing with a local dance group, or being involved with dance at your local schools.

You may also want to consider other jobs related to dance that don't necessarily involve performing. Check out this link for a plethora of dance careers - http://www.dancersdreamland.com/career_main.htm.

Feel free to continue asking questions...that's why we're here and it's what we love to do. Wishing you all the best!

[ldsnodden]

Thanks for that! So how do people who dance in pop videos (i.e. Michael Jackson) get into things like that?

[dancersdreamland]

I don't have an exact answer for how people actually get into those types of dance situations, but here are my thoughts and a recommendation of where to obtain an answer...

I believe the individuals start by taking classes in hip hop and multiple other styles. Many of their dance resumes include ballet, tap, jazz, etc.

Once they've developed their skills and done some local performances (festivals, fairs, talent shows, benefit events, studio performances, etc.) they probably obtain a talent agent, which usually requires some sort of fee. The talent agent will then help the dancer develop a dance resume and let him/her know about upcoming dance auditions.

It is then the responsibilty of the dancer to attend the auditions. From there, its the video director and/or choreographers choice on whom to pick.

Additionally, many dancers end up coming to a large city (New York, LA, Vegas) to increase their chances of finding work.

Dance Spirit Magazine (DSM) hosts a regular feature where they follow the lives of three dancers at various points in their dance career. The feature follows the dancers for one full year as they go to school, work to earn a living, audition, and perform. I believe DSM could provide you with additional information on how to break into the dance performance scene and whether or not your age will be a factor in the process. Use this link and then submit your question to the editors: http://www.dancespirit.com/forms/feedback.shtml.

Wishing you all the best!