October, 2022

  1. In The Mood

    October 30, 2022 by Joo-Lee

    • [Photo credit: Jazzy Lemon]

    I started Lindy Jazz classes back in 2007. A lot has changed since those early days, but when it comes to my teaching method, there’s one big difference.

    I no longer ask my class participants to practise. I simply help them to practise if they wish to. 

    Yes, you read that right. All I ask is that they arrive to class in a good mood. By that, I mean receptive and ready to try new ways of looking at their technique.

    That’s the secret to becoming a really good dancer, and it saves so much time!

    Why Being Receptive Helps Your Dancing

    So often, I see people coming to class feeling stressed from a hard day’s work or a stressful experience. They’ve been stuck in traffic. They’ve had an altercation with someone. Then they bring their bad mood to class and it makes it far harder for them to learn.

    It’s not easy when you’ve had a bad day, but a simple shift in mindset to a receptive frame of mind makes it more likely that you’ll take in what you’re being taught.

    Why Adult Beginners Don’t Learn as Fast as They Want To

    When adult learners learn new skills, whatever they are, there are a few reasons why they might not learn as fast as they want to;

    They Want to Run Before They Can Walk

    We all live such busy lives and we want results fast. Learning how to dance properly, with finesse and skill, takes time. It’s the time you invest in the learning that pays off. But if you don’t take the time to learn the foundation skills, you’ll have to spend more time unlearning bad habits that you’ve picked up.

    They Want to Be Perfect RIGHT NOW!

    You’ve probably heard the saying ‘enjoy the process.’ However, so many of us don’t. We should be taking the time to enjoy each stage of learning, but we get impatient because we want to dance and we want to be perfect right now.

    Get in the Mood and Be Receptive

    I honestly don’t mind whether someone has done their dance practice or not. What I often feel sad to see is when people who don’t have the time to practice expect their new skills to fall into place immediately. When they don’t, they spend time over thinking, over analysing, or getting stuck in self-doubt. What would be far better is if they were aware of their mood and shifted their mindset to ‘I will give this a go, I’m willing to be patient, and I’m not giving up.’

    Believe. Be Patient. Keep Going.

    In my 30 years of teaching, I have noticed that it’s the people who are able to relax and be in a receptive frame of mind that have transformed the way they learn. They have achieved skills beyond their wildest dreams by discovering the secret to learning well; relaxing, letting go of worries, and letting go of concerns about making mistakes. Try it, and you’ll be amazed at how it transforms your dance practice.

    Relax, Let go, and Learn to Swing Out with Lindy Jazz!

    Join our new Swing Dance course and learn to dance with style & confidence.

    Here’s What You Get:

    ✅ 6 weeks of live tuition with Joo-Lee & Andy;

    ✅ For all levels 19:30 -20:15 Lindy Hop Fundamentals;

    ✅ For Experienced Dancers 20:15 -21:00 Advanced Variations;

    ✅ Access to online videos to help you recap the moves in between classes;

    ✅ Access to private Facebook Messenger group so you can ask about anything!;

    ✅ Optional online feedback on your practice video.

    Ready for the step-by-step guidance you need to dance with style and confidence at social events?

    Yes, sign me up!

    Category Beginners, Courses & Classes, Lindy Hop | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Who’s The Boss?

    October 16, 2022 by Joo-Lee


    I don’t normally start watching Strictly Come Dancing right from the beginning when they introduce the celebrities and their professional partners. This is because I am more interested in the dancing then the gushing, screaming, and endless talking!
    Listening and Letting Go
    However, this year I have decided to listen to what the celebrities and professionals have to say about themselves. Of course, most of them said that they were going to work very hard and that they’re excited. None of them mentioned that they were prepared to do lots of listening!


    Last year’s winner, Rose, was a great listener and I believe that this is the foundation for any student who wants to make the most of the expertise that’s being given to them.


    Another important thing you need to do when you want to learn something is to let go of the need to be in charge. This helps you be more open to receiving the learning. I listened to one of the new contestants this year who mentioned that he was used to being in charge and that he’d find it really hard to let go of being in control.


    In the past, the celebrities I’ve seen struggle have been the ones who are usually in charge in their family or professional lives. Having to let go and allowing someone else to take charge was just too much of a huge shift.

    The Secret Sauce to Incredible Progress
    I have found parallels in our Swing dance classes. People often worry that they will struggle in class because have no dance experience. In fact, it’s often the people with no experience, an open mind, and a readiness to receive the tuition who are the most likely to make incredible progress.
    People who may have some dance experience, particularly experience of a different dance style they are used to being successful in, can often struggle in a beginner’s Swing dance class. This might be because they don’t think of themselves as being ‘new’ even though they are complete beginners in this dance style.


    Let Your Teacher Be the Boss!
    Whether you are new to dancing, new to Swing dance, or you’ve danced before and want to learn some new moves, letting go is the key to success. Releasing the need to be in charge or trying to figure things out for yourself means the pieces of the puzzle will slot into place a lot quicker. Let your teachers be in charge of the process, allow them to guide you, and you’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make!
     

    Category Beginners, Courses & Classes, Improvers, Lindy Hop | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Have You Got 5 Minutes?

    October 7, 2022 by Joo-Lee

    It’s that time of year again, the nights are drawing in and Strictly Come Dancing is back on Saturday nights. Of course, I love watching it for entertainment, but it’s very interesting to watch it from a dance teacher’s point of view too.

    In Week 1, head judge Shirley Ballas had this to say to every contestant / celebrity:

    “The work is about to start! Work ethic is key. Pay attention to your teacher. And when you’ve done a long day, do some more. And the more practice you do, the better you will become.”

    Is Learning to Dance All About Hard Work?

    Learning to social dance is not the same as learning intensively in a short space of time for a reality TV contest or competition. Anyone watching Strictly might worry about how hard learning to dance might be. Or it might have the opposite effect. People who learn to dance for social reasons might think ‘well I’m not aiming to be on a show, so I don’t need to practise.’

    Well yes you can take small steps towards learning the moves by just turning up. But if you want to get a real buzz and a huge amount of joy from your dancing, it’s about more than just turning up.

    Bring an Attitude of Fun

    Shirley Ballas is right when she talks about hard work being the key to becoming a great dancer. But I think that getting the most from your swing dance classes is about prioritising fun.

    Is it fun learning to swing dance at Lindy Jazz? Yes! However, hard work is optional. It depends on how far you want to take your dancing. That’s the beauty of it, you choose your own journey!

    Always start with an attitude of fun, that is very important. The next layer of the foundation is PRACTICE. This does not mean you have to practice for hours on end every single day with a view to performing in front of millions every Saturday night like the contestants on Strictly. Though If you can set aside five minutes a day to practice, this will make a huge difference to your dancing progress.

    Have You Got 5 Minutes?

    Class members often tell me that they can’t remember what they’ve learnt in class. After a busy week of work and family commitments, and not a single minute of dance practice included in their busy schedule, that is no surprise.

    If you can find just 5 minutes per day to practice, the improvement in your confidence will be significant. That means you’ll arrive for week 2 ready to move your feet then when you learn about moving your arms in week 3, it will all feel so much easier!

    So an attitude of fun is desirable and hard work is optional, but practice is THE must do to get the most out of your Lindy Hop Classes.

    Why not take a small step to fitting more practice in to your schedule? Look at your diary, schedule in a 5-minute slot each day, and login to our online videos which are specially recorded to help you enjoy your practice.

    And as they say on Strictly, ‘Keep Dancing!’

    Want to join the next Lindy Hop course which includes practice videos and lesson recaps? Read more.

    Category Courses & Classes, Dance, Lindy Hop | Tags: | No Comments