Succeeding as a Beginner
© 1999 written by Gail Arias

Are you eager to try a new type of dance class or hobby? Such as East Coast Swing, Lindy, West Coast Swing, Hustle or Salsa? Learning new dances helps cross train your body, provides variety to keep you interested in dance and physical activity, lets you take reasonable risks that are good for your body and mind. Despite these benefits, many people shy away from beginning something new because they are afraid of failing. With the proper mind-set, however, you can enjoy being a beginner.

Fear Of Failing
You can learn a lot about being a beginner by watching children try new activities. Kids have no preconceived thoughts about failing. When children learn to walk, they instinctively accept that falling doesn't mean they're uncoordinated or failures. It simply means they have to get up and try again.

Taking a reasonable risk, like walking through the doors of a dance studio for the first time trying Hustle, Swing or Ballroom dancing, is about being willing to change. Change is positive, but it often causes anxiety. Unfortunately, we worry about failure and the way we appear to others, we are fearful of starting something new. Relax. It's acceptable not to do an activity 'right" the first time. For example, you might feel uncomfortable your first time in a dance class, but most everyone does. The objective is not to pass judgment on your abilities. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Give yourself enough time and practice to adapt.

Learning Stages
Whether you learn slowly or quickly, you'll go through the following stages when starting a new dance :

Stage 1: Starting Out.
Your body will take note of the demands of the new activity, including energy expenditure, speed, timing and direction of movements. For example, when taking dance classes the first few times, your body will learn kinesthetically how long the step is and where to plant your foot without looking.

For effective learning, a positive perception of your efforts is crucial. If you make mistakes or don't pick up movements as quickly as you'd like, it's important not to just say, "Forget it. I'm not good enough at this." Congratulate yourself on taking a risk to move past your comfort level!

Stage 2: Practicing the Activity.
You'll spend lots of time in this stage. Your focus will shift from learning movements to refining and perfecting them, and you'll start to notice consistency in your movements. You're no longer a beginner! You might even feel confident enough to branch out and try a different level or dance.

Stage 3: Achieving Proficiency.
With proper instruction and lots of practice, you'll develop a mental and physical blueprint of skills that your body will eventually remember. Your technique will be efficient, reliable and consistent. You'll be able to stop thinking and let movements happen. You'll feel confident in class , on the dance floor or nightclub. Although you might still make small mistakes, you'll accept them as part of the learning process.

Ready, Set, Go!
Ready to try a new dance or activity? Follow these steps and have fun!
• Choose a dance or activity you've always wanted to try, perhaps a Swing, Salsa, Cha Cha class or maybe a lifts class.
• Find an instructor who will help you learn the dance in a supportive Ambiance not demeaning or degrading .
The instructor should teach in logical, safe movement progressions; be personable and patient; provide lots of positive reinforcement; and help you set realistic goals for a successful experience.
• Start with no expectations about the new Dance except that you'll have fun trying it.
• Realize you'll need practice and instructor feedback to become proficient. If it's in your budget take a private lesson or purchase one of our video's to clarify details that you're not able to grasp in class .
• Accept your initial blunders. Don't get mad at yourself, move on and practice until you achieve the desired outcome.
• Enjoy the process of acquiring the technical and athletic ability for the new dance!

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Contact Information
Gail Arias
gailarias@pobox.com
(805) 494-6418
P.O. Box 7596
Thousand Oaks, California 91359