You're going to get a lot of different advice from everyone, cause we all approach it differently but here's my personal advice:

1) Stretching and flexibility is really important. I'm naturally very flexible so I'm lucky that I don't have to stretch much. I know Flinch stretches an insane amount and it helps him a lot with all the bonebreaking and creepy moves. Personally I like to get a massage or have a stretch/yoga session the day of a dance comp at cons

2) Dance to the songs you've always loved jamming to. If there's a song that you love wiggling to or dancing in your seat, those will be the easiest to dance to cause you already can groove to them. Personally I just dance to my favorite songs whenever I can.

3) Personally I think it's best to dancing to a whole song and recording it, then working on improving it from their step by step. You want to have fun with it, it shouldn't be a chore. Just make sure you're hydrated and feeling like exerting yourself for a little bit beforehand.

4) Strobes can help you out with gym routine and body workout stuff if you want, hit him up

1) Had I known that, I would have opened a slot during the con to give you a massage amiga.

2) This is true. The songs you like to jam to are the ones you can get into an easy rhythm and practice new dance moves, because you already know the beat.

Ahhh, Yoga. Why didn't I think of that? I loved my yoga class at UVM. Time to break out the old mat again. I'll also admit, I've found that I can't really get into most of the J-Squad and Buckmouth that goes along with the dancing I want to do. Time to break out the Renard-V. I don't have any kind of recording equipment unfortunately, so I'll have to find some other way. I feel like watching myself this early on would end up being discouraging, but I'll get there. Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply!

A camera phone is good enough :P

You assume I have one. Apo Fox = A Po' Fox

You could borrow one from Rally.

I might be able to help with the documentation aspect, maybe even on short notice, though I'll admit it's not something I've ever done before, and I admit I'd be operating a little out of my depth.

Anyway, give me a poke if you're interested in giving that a try.

So you've caught the dance bug too? Good news, because dancerfurs are gonna help the **** out of you!

As far as the working out is concerned, Gale is right - talk to Strobes. I'm still working on getting myself into a workout regimen, but Strobes has been going at it for a while.

As for dance practice and finding your own style? Gale hit the nail on the head - everyone has their own take on training, practice and dance methodology in general. However, everyone seems to agree that simply dancing to music you like is a perfect way get your feet wet. Don't worry about focusing on particular moves and styles just yet. Just put on some music you think you could dance to and start moving to it! I would recommend focusing on the beat of the song, and attempting to sync very simple moves, like foot stomps or clapping, to the beat. Try this with many different types of music and you'll find that it's possible to sync yourself to pretty much anything.

Once you have tapping along to the main beat down, try adding stuff inbetween the main beats. For example, if a song has a 4/4 timing with a beat every two seconds - bum, (1 2), Bum, (1 2), bum (1 2), bum, add extra stomps, claps, or body movements into those two seconds while staying on the main beat.

Once you have the general feel of moving to the general rhythm of a song, try to translate that rhythm into your movements so that your feet hit the ground or your arms swing out and stop on those beats that you were stomping or clapping to. You can do this with just a metronome, no music, if you really want to get a feel for timing.

At this point you can branch out into all sorts of stuff. Some people make it a point never to watch tutorial videos, and instead develop their own loose freestyle. Others (like me) pick a few moves that catch their eye, but mostly focus on freestyling because they're too lazy to do proper choreo. And yet others focus on learning as many moves as they can within their dance style, and try to flawlessly chain them together in an impressive dusplay of musicality. Whichever you prefer, make sure to have fun doing it! Gonna go uh eat a bag of potato chips or something BYE

Just enjoy it. Do not think about how you dance or how to dance more. Free the head of thought, including your favorite music and dance to pull the body itself. It helps, believe me. ;)

First and foremost is to have fun. I love so many songs its hard to narrow one down but when I go I roll with it. I listen to it in the car, and any given moment. I study all the beats so if it came down to it I could dance to the song blind folded.
I stretch alot but I'm not a flexable person and I know what my bodys limits are. Drink lots of water. I practice dancing mostly in my foot paws. Its nots until I really get it down that I add the head and a camera. From the video I see where I can improve and make adjustments. I will sometimes show a select few what I am working on to get their imput.

I have a small living room to practice in so you def have an advantage in your basement. Ahzlon has to remind me that handstands in the house are a no no. :P

Some other people have given some great insights! I'd really like to talk to you more over skype and whatnot. I'll note you my sn.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is that you should try to dance every day. COmpile a playlist of songs you like, hit random, and just... dance. Have fun. Don't worry about making mistakes, because you're already on the next move. You can try again next count. Just do this as often as possible. Every day, preferably, even if it's just 1-2 songs. If you record yourself and make some conscious adjustments, you WILL get better... and this is all BEFORE you practice new concepts and styles, like bboying, housing, locking, popping, animation, etc. :D

I know nothing of dance and working on building up muscle and strength. *chubby kitty* I am sure you will do great with this though! You always seem to be so happy and full of energy.

I wish i could give some good advice, I'm like the WORST. I had a job where i had a lot of downtime so i would just go into the hallway and dance with earbuds on, that was the entire basis of my being able to dance. It was embarrassing, I would get caught all the time! But i eventually got complimented and stuff. I also use to go to the open gymnastic "classes" at a local college, and basically just run around like an idiot while all these younger kids flopped circles around me.

I should probably take some of this advice and stretch more and stuff!

My advice i guess would be to not worry about the dance competition itself so much and try to concentrate on just the dancing itself for the sake of dancing. It's a great way to interact with music! Just let yourself go, and try to interact with all elements of the music you're using.

And also just do it a lot and you'll get better at it.


You're going to be a star, kid!