When you are in dance class, watch the teacher. This may seem simple advice but when applied properly, it is good advice.
Usually there is a lot you can learn a really good dance teacher. You can learn by copying their technique, you can learn a lot about how to do a dance style look good, you can learn a certain style of movement.
In fact, if your dance teacher is any good at all, you'll learn a lot from them, far more than just choreography. But in some cases, a dance teacher may not explicitly teach you how to do the dance moves, they'll just learn the choreography. And it will be up to you to see and copy so you can do the same.
Different teachers have different styles of dance and dance if you can learn to dance like your teachers different dance, you will learn many different dance styles, which of course makes you a better and more versatile dancer.
It can be very tempting just to learn dance routines, after all, it requires concentration and routines are great fun. But if you have not spent enough time watching the teacher and close enough to work on what they do to make their movements look so good, you only get half the benefit of the dance lesson.
When you are not sure how the dance teacher makes a particular dance move, just ask! Almost all dance teachers are more than happy to respond and help. Sometimes certain movements do not explain, because it can be assumed that the class already know how to do their dance. This is particularly true for dance lessons on the beginner level.
Keep track of all the information about the choreography. Things such as levels (how high or low they are), the types of movements, if the move is an extension or intended to be small, the speed of the various movements, which is the technique used, the accents are line, if the movements are fluid or staccato, etc. There are so many different aspects to look out for, and you are able to copy, the more you imitate the master.
May also be helpful to talk with the dance teacher at the end of the dance class and ask directly what they think should be working and what needs improvement. Your answer will be the most important thing to work and the most important things you should focus on better and better.
Not all dance teachers to correct the errors of their students do so at times the only thing you can do is ask the teacher directly. If you have a dance teacher who likes to call the errors so it seems to be clear, you have to do a job.
Even if you can record and watch yourself back, you can come up with a lot of things you can do to improve your dancing. Video offers a much better and accurate representation of dancing that even dance studio mirrors. Sometimes it can be a big shock, as you might think you're doing something right, and only when you look at yourself in the video back to you to understand that it can be much better!
