Dancers Practicing at Home

How much should my child practice at home? What types of things should he or she be doing to lead them to success? Should I worry if my child is not practicing every week? The answer to all of these questions vary. One of the largest factors that influences how much a child will practice is his or her age. In my experience, elementary and middle school aged dancers typically practice at home more than dancers in high school. There are dozens of reasons for why this could be, for example, dancers in high school have a larger workload from school and often more social events to attend than those who are younger. Elementary and middle school students are also often more in the beginning phases of mastering basic technique and are usually more apt to practice until they feel confident.

Many dance instructors will give out homework assignments to their students, whether it is asking them to practice their routine, repeat a technical sequence, or do conditioning exercises to strengthen the proper muscles. The key here is that the exercises are given out by the instructor. Practicing at home is proven to help a dancer perfect their skills, however one must proceed with caution. There are many difficult technical skills that require sufficient body strength to execute them, and if a dancer decides to go home and attempt one of these skills before he or she is ready, the result could be a severe injury. Dancers may also develop bad habits by teaching themselves things before they are ready. If you have a specific move you desire to learn, I recommend talking with your instructor; he or she will often either put it in the lesson plan (if the dancer is ready), or give the dancer safe strengthening exercises for the dancer to do at home to prepare for it.

Another thing to look out for in terms of practicing is the dancer "burning out". This happens most often to high school students due to an overwhelmingly busy schedule. If they need a break from practicing at home, encourage them to relax a bit! Especially if they are putting many hours each week into their dance classes, remind your child that everyone needs a break from time to time, and that taking a moment to recharge can be essential for success. Every dancer is different in their practicing habits. If they have a big audition, performance, or competition coming up, those may be great times to set aside some practice time. Otherwise, high school aged dancers will often know best when they are in need of at-home practice. They may also need to rest their muscles, especially if they have a day in the week that is packed with dance classes. 

All in all, don't stress if your dancer is not practicing all the time, or if the amount that your dancer practices has changed over time. Remember that your child's instructor will be happy to provide the proper guidance if you need it. Every dancer progresses at his or her own rate, so as always, remain supportive throughout the journey!