Jul 10
28
Journaling is a great way to understand yourself and the situations around you. It is a great idea to get your child interested in keeping a journal because of the opportunity to gain self reflection and advanced knowledge. Keeping a dance journal is beneficial for both the advanced and beginner dancer. Not only will it help your child document their personal progression as a dancer but it will help them remember and quickly learn techniques and corrections from class.
Below are a few tips to get them started with a dance journal. Remember, in the end, the journal is really about them. There is no wrong way of keeping a journal.
How to Keep a Dance Journal
1. Start out by purchasing a good quality journal that is big enough to write in but small enough to fit in a dance bag. They will want to have access to it immediately after class so they can write things down that they need to remember. Make sure they also bring a pen.
2. Have them start the entry with the date, class, studio and teachers name. It’s funny how these things can evade the memory and especially if they are taking several classes, it can be confusing trying to remember specific instructions for different yet similar classes.
3. They should record any corrections the teacher is giving them as well as any that the teacher has given to the class as a whole. A lot of the time instructors will correct the whole class as opposed to an individual. They should review these items often especially prior to their next class. To advance and learn quickly they will need to always be thinking about what they need to work on. Writing notes will help them remember and keep their focus.
4. When learning a new routine, it can be difficult to remember all the new combinations. So have them write down the combinations and choreography that they are learning so they can go back to it frequently. A good practice for remembering choreography is to record the combination’s after class, then go home and practice the routine on your own using your notes as a guide to help you remember.
5. They can write down the proper childrens dancewear and dance costumes required for the class or performance.
6. Have them listen to the music and make notes about the music and how the choreography feels. They can record the timing and beat sequence to help with their musicality.
7. After a class or performance, take a moment to reflect on performance. How do they feel it went? What can they do to improve or work on? What worked well for them? Is there something they did particularly well?
These are some ideas to get your child started with a dance journal but ultimately their dance journal is about them and how they are progressing in dance. It is a tool of reflection to grow and learn from.
