The Official Publication of the  Tucson Swing Dance Club	August 2002, Volume 16.0 www.tsdc.net

If I'm The Better Dancer, How Come I Don't Win Any Dance Contests?

The secret of any sport is practice, practice, practice, and it's no different with dancing. Practice should be focused and relate to your goals as a dancer. Agree with your practice partner on goals up front, so that each of you can work toward achieving them. Decide whether you want to work on a structured routine or on specific moves. Whether your practice partner is a permanent competition partner, significant other, or casual friend, you need to remember that they deserve special care and attention. The dance relationship is a special one and can be very trying at times. It will require all the relationship skills you can muster. If you have both a long term practice partner and a significant other then additional care is needed to keep both relationships on solid ground.

The best practice is done on a suitable (preferably wooden) floor in front of mirrors. Mirrors are invaluable for helping you see the effects changes have on the lines and look of your dancing. They are also valuable for assessing posture. Minimal outside interference from noise and other dancers would be preferred, as would a modern sound system. But having said all that, any open space can be pressed into service. Empty out that garage if it's all you can get.

If your living in a small town in Northern Idaho then your chances to do a lot of West Coast Swing dancing are probably pretty slim. If that's the case you are probably not all that interested in competition. On the other hand, if you're in a medium to large metropolitan area, then it is the likely that there is West Coast Swing dancing somewhere around. Maybe there's a blues band and a small dance floor nearby. Use your computer to find the closest dance venue. You need to go, and encourage others to go. Start a car pool.

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