1. If It Looks Easy, It's Probably Hard
Talented dancers make the easy steps look hard and perform the hard steps with ease and grace. Most performers know that the audience frequently applauds for the easy steps. If you're new to dance, don't be surprised if you make your stage debut and the audience claps for a very easy step while it appears to ignore the difficult steps that took weeks to master.
2. Technique First
Most forms of dancing, particularly ballet, involve every part of the body. Dancers have a high degree of kinesthetic intelligence. They're able to manage every subtle detail of their bodies simultaneously while often performing complicated footwork at the same time. If you're new to dancing, it's easy to get overwhelmed with footwork. Focus on technique first. In ballet, make sure your feet are arched properly and your hips and legs are aligned correctly for each step before you focus on increasing your speed during turns or your height during leg lifts or jumps. Once you've mastered the legwork, you can pay more attention to proper arm placement. The most difficult aspect of ballet is that the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and glutes are usually tensed and engaged, but you'll still need to maintain soft and graceful arm movements.
3. Ballet is the Basis for All Dance Forms
Ballet is the foundation for all dance, and some dance studios require students to take ballet classes in addition to other classes that they're interested in. Ballet is more difficult than it looks. Ballet dancers are required to be very light on their feet. It certainly is possible to learn tap dance or hip hop without having any ballet training, though, but the more dance forms you study, the more you'll develop as a dancer.
4. Tip, Top, Tap
Tap dancing is an enjoyable form of dance for both performers and spectators. Many tap steps, just like ballet, require no weight to be placed on the heels. Clarity is important. All tap sounds should sound clear. The only exception would be for tap steps that deliberately include the heels. So stay on your toes most of the time.
5. Keep it Even
In order to be a phenomenal ballet dancer, daily practice is required. Daily bar work is extremely important. Most dancers usually have one side of their bodies that is stronger or more flexible. Perhaps they can perform a grande jete higher when they lead with their right leg. Resist the tendency to overtrain the side of your body that is stronger. Train each side at least equally and devote additional time to your weaker side.
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