Have you ever gone to a dance weekend that offers workshops galore, social dancing, and private lessons? With MadJam this month and the Millers coming up in April, we have those jam packed, learning experiences on the brain. If you haven’t tried something like this before, you should. BUT, you should go in knowing what to expect and how to survive! These weekends will inspire you to better dancing, get you connected with other dancers, and fill up your “dancing gas tank”, but they can also be overwhelming if you are not careful. Once you know what you are in for you can relax and have fun.
 Bring supplies.
You don’t want to be distracted from your learning by the lack of necessities.
Most venues have water, but it’s handy to have a water bottle so you can easily stay hydrated.
Protein-heavy snacks nuts help keep your energy up, even after you've been going for hours.
Bring a notebook. Even if you are not a notetaker, you may want to write down contact information or websites to check out.
A change of shoes is a must! When you are on your feet for hours, a fresh pair of shoes can provide welcome relief.
You may want an extra shirt if you “glow” after dancing for a couple of hours.
Having gum or mints on hand is nice and considerate. : )
 Plan to do as much as you can.
You won’t remember everything. Maybe not even half of everything. But when you have the opportunity to take classes from top instructors or opportunities to social dance with a variety of dancers, you want to try to get as much exposure as you can. Sure, you may need an extra day of recovery when it is all said and done, but you don’t want to come away regretting that you missed an opportunity!
 Take private lessons.
This could be included in the previous tip, but bears repeating. Private lessons are invaluable for taking your dancing to the next level. Even if you are dedicated student at your local studio, having that same experience with another professional can shed light on new areas in your dancing.
No one person has the key to improving your dance! Unless you frequent big cities your opportunities to work with different people may be slim, so don’t pass on the chance to to really polish those skills. This is also a great place to take your questions from the workshops or what's happening on the social floor.
If the idea of private lessons makes you uncomfortable, enlist a friend to take the lesson with you, sharing the cost and providing friendly support at the same time.
Schedule private lessons in advance if you can, otherwise they will likely be booked or only have odd time slots left.
 Make a point to connect with others.
If you are an introvert, you may have to work on this one, but try to meet other dancers. Even if you came with a group, there are so many benefits to fanning out and getting to know other people. This is a social activity, right?
Talking to other people, you may find they picked up something in the class you didn’t or struggled just as hard - in the vary same spot. They may have advice on where to get a good cup of coffee, or directions to the bathroom. It’s also nice to see familiar faces on the social floor.
 Be ready to ask people to dance.
In a sea of people you don’t know, it can be intimidating. And if you do it often enough you will likely get turned down a time or two, but that is the only sure way to get out there! Once you actually make out on the dance floor, the likelihood of getting asked to dance yourself increases drastically. But don’t sit around waiting!
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Dates to remember:
Just coming away from all the hype around the Academy awards, it’s a perfect time for our Silver Screen Soiree. Join us for an “award winning” good time on this Saturday, March 14, starting at 7:30 with a “show stopping” American Tango lesson by Lane. 
March 9th is the start of Spring Break so we will be breaking as well. After that we will continue with some more Argentine Tango and Hustle fun. 
Dance is spreading!