Do summers kill your motivation to work? I feel ya. This entire season just feels like a vacation to me man. I want to go back to those days where I used to play Ludo with my friends throughout the day and “lagori” in the evening and wrap the day up by playing hide and seek at night. Did I hit that nostalgia factor yet? Oh, not yet? Okay, then remember when our mothers got super proactive and enrolled us in summer classes and courses like How to learn Bharatanatyam online? I hated them the most. I never liked leaving my friends and going to those classes. Well, they used to be fun, and I used to enjoy them a lot.
But now since everything is online, especially dance classes that you take up in summers or any other time of the year, what are the things that we must keep in mind? Now since we’re talking specifically about learning Bharatanatyam online, how do keep ourselves motivated enough to attend these classes online? I will help you out with these small obstacles you face below:
Appropriate attire
It is really important to wear clothes you are comfortable in when you dance. Wear comfortable clothes but not your tee shirt and pyjamas to class, wouldn’t want to disappoint your guru, right? Wear a light, cotton kurta, preferably white with some simple leggings so that you can stretch easily. Remember, tightly fitted clothes are a big no-no.
Warm-up
The most essential tip to keep in mind before a dance class is to warm up well. Even if your teacher has some specific routine exercises fixed for you, you must warm up a little to get into the mood to dance. It also helps a lot in the stretching of muscles and nerves which in turn relaxes your body and boosts flexibility. You should start with a simple arm stretch and then go on to stretching your torso, waist, ankles, knees, and finally your feet, squatting is one such exercise that will help build your thigh muscles.
Different space
Dedicate a little space in your house to dance. Don’t try dancing in your room unless you want to bang into the bedpost or the wardrobe. Or unless you plan on wasting the money you invested by switching the camera off and binge-watch later on. That’s just a waste of time, energy, and resources. A little dedicated space will keep you motivated for the class. One thing to keep in mind is that space is levelled and you can take the space to the next level by getting a small dance floor, you could even try building the dance floor at home if you’re DIY. A full-length mirror helps a lot too.
Tripod
Invest in a good tripod for your phone. You cannot keep propping your phone against the wall on the floor and only work on your footwork, right? Now if you want to learn the art form correctly it means you have to stop using these jugaads and come up with a permanent fix, that is a tripod. And you know it has so much utility. You could use it to video call your friends as you cook, for presentations on phone, in case you’re watching a movie and your hand got tired of holding the screen. If you’re on your laptop then maybe if you switch to a handset that is more portable than a laptop. Now always make sure you position the device at a two hands distance to avoid crashing into it and so that your body is visible to your guru.
Devices and internet connectivity
Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a backup in case if one phase out. The whole online class is basically dependant on this one main factor and the availability of a handset with good camera quality. A blurry or distorted image of your dance could hamper your learning process. Ensure that the device that you use has a good and functional camera and a mic so you can communicate well with your guru. And the most important thing to keep in mind is that your device is charged before the class or keep the power plugged in, wouldn’t want our device to die in the middle of the class, no, do we?
Some common etiquettes to keep in mind:
- First things first, make sure that during your class no one comes in interrupting you unless it is an emergency. Ask your family, roommates, or housemates for complete privacy for that hour to one and a half-hour. Also, keep a bottle of water or some freshly pressed fruit juice in your dancing space so that you wouldn’t have to make others wait as you run out to grab your things.
- Ensure that your video is on and your mic is muted at all times. Echoes, background noise, and other voices don’t disturb others and your guru. Try to make use of non-verbal communication as much as possible. In case if you have other doubts, raise your hand in the meeting and your instructor will be notified about the same.
- I know some of us love using these virtual backgrounds to make it look like we’re sitting in a park or with a favourite actress/actor but do not use virtual backgrounds for the dance class. Why? The laptop doesn’t catch you moving so quickly and the background cuts in and makes it difficult for your guru to give you accurate feedback. Plus sometimes they are very distracting to other dancers.
- Lastly, be patient. The pandemic is taking a toll on everyone’s health and we need to be compassionate and patient. There could be some technical difficulties and glitches, so be patient, be kind.
So many things to keep in mind, right? Don’t worry, you’ve got this. But don’t forget the reason why you enrolled in the class, to enjoy. Smile, enjoy the class and stay hydrated. The main purpose of enrolling in this class is not just to “learn Bharatanatyam” but also to have fun and break away from the monotony of our routines and burn away some extra calories.
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