Have trouble figuring out your style after months of training?

Each dancer goes through a different journey to find out what suits them best. This is a very tricky and confusing path, but here are a few ways to guide you through your dance journey.

Let’s take two different scenarios within the same concern. These two scenarios are a common dilemma most people face while training. 

1. Scenario 1

For an individual who is training in multiple styles, but is struggling to find their style: 

There exists moments where you find interest in multiple styles at the same time. In such a situation, it’s completely normal for anyone to feel disheartened when their process and progress are not at the same pace. That’s okay. 

“Your Interest is the primary factor that will encourage you to pursue any style, find out what moves you.”

Arunn Rathinam, Director ARDS

But after a certain point you may end up struggling to find progress if you’re training in multiple styles. At this point ultimately you will have to narrow it down to 1-2 styles and spend a little more extra time into the styles that you choose rather than juggling with 4-5 styles at the same time. Pick a style, invest time to study the process, the history, the music, the culture, the movement language and start effectively implementing it into your body. Experience the style completely and understand how your body reacts to it.

“Learn the style through its roots, educate yourself, stick to it for 6 months and see what works best through practice.”

Shiva, Instructor Hip-Hop

Now you have a basic structure of how to train and understand a style. So once you've finished training in one particular style, you have a simplified process of how to train for the next style. While it is not the same across all styles, this basic structure helps you to tackle confusion regarding how to move forward and make progress in terms of training.

We should allow ourselves to acknowledge that it's absolutely fine to be in a space of confusion. It just means that your body is able to do more, it's just not able to make a decision. So take a break, find out what inspires you, filter out what style you want to focus on and train your movement in that style.

“Follow what inspires you and learn its foundations. With practice, the same will become your style.”

Sushan, Instructor Hip-hop

2. Scenario 2

For an individual who is new to dancing and is struggling to find a dance style to start  with :

First thing is to not get into the pressure of having to train in a certain style just because everybody else is doing it. Rather than that, work with curiosity. Explore the style, give it 3-4 months, attend classes and understand what you personally prefer. Whatever you choose, be consistent and committed to the process. Just physically investing in the style is not going to give you the result that you want. Make space to mentally invest in learning  and acquire knowledge about the style.

“Explore new things, start activating yourself on the styles that you like and see if your body reacts to the style.”

Likith, Breaking Instructor

These are the two common dilemmas that most individuals face when it comes to style based training.  Here’s another tiny but effective hacks to easily realise/understand what your style is:- 1. Try to figure out which music makes you happy instantly. Find out what genre of music makes your body react positively. 

2. Observe your body and try to understand what movement feels most natural to it. Your body is the portal to your dance journey.  

“Music precedes dance. Connect to the music, make sense of what you’re doing and be comfortable.”

Pawan, Instructor House

Special thanks to our instructors at ARDS and Divya Easwaran for her wonderful insights. We hope these tips made things easier for you !

Thanks for your time and patience - let us know your thoughts !

Keep dancing, keep shining!

Team ARDS

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