DANCE FOREVER
Qualities long time dancers have:
- They practice consistently: A serious dancer practices every day. It may be yoga, dance classes or personal workout and rehearsal but no matter which, consistency of time in your schedule is important to the body. If you take classes, once a week is not enough if you want to gain proficiency. Develop your own routine. Don't rely just on classes.
- They learn from their mistakes: If injured, they determine why they got injured and take steps to correct the situation.
- They study with people who have solid technique: They do not take classes with teachers who are unsafe, regardless of how much they love the dance style or the beauty of the teacher.
- They take care of their feet with plenty of practice devoted to increasing the strength and proper alignment of the feet and ankles.
- They keep their knees strong and use them safely: They refuse to take chances with their knees. For example, if a teacher or director requires that you do deep knee bends without adequate training and warmup, either get prepared to do the work safely or find another group.
- They protect their lower spine with techniques beneficial to it. They reject hyperextension of the lower back, a terrible habit the effects of which do not show up for years, perhaps as long as 20 years. At that point spinal fusion and/or other serious spine procedures may be necessary due to the stress introduced by hyperextension.
- They don't take unnecessary chances: Turkish Drops are not worth the risk. Nor are deep knee bends.
Published March 17, 2021
Updated February 1, 2026
Updated February 1, 2026