Choosing the Right Dance Style
Learn by watching videos online or looking at dance magazines to decide which dance suits you. Once settled on your favorite style, find an open space to practice in, choose music with a steady beat, and move your body to the beat at your own pace without worrying about technique at first. Next, learn basic positions and moves by watching online tutorials.
Why Every Dancer Should Take a Beginner Dance Class
If figuring out how to start dancing, any "beginner" class is a great starting point. If not sure which style, then try everything.
Tips for Beginners
Cool down for 10 minutes once finished dancing by gradually reducing speed and intensity to lower heart rate. Continue dancing more slowly or pick a slower song. Try basic steps at home to build confidence. Look up not down while dancing. Instead of staring at feet, try to remember how steps feel, with shifting weight and changes in direction registering in mind to remember patterns that make up a dance.
Resources for Learning
Free apps like iDance to learn both basic and advanced moves. Learn to Dance has plenty of styles to learn. Pocket Salsa is free to try. Dance studios offer a variety of lessons from private to group.
How to Teach Yourself to Dance
Learning how to dance from your own home is a great way to get some exercise and learn some cool moves all at once! Choose a style of dance that you want to focus on first and make sure that you warm up and cool down during every session. Learn dance moves and routines through watching videos and watching yourself in the mirror to see where you can make improvements.
Easiest Dance Forms to Learn for Beginners
Waltz: The Waltz is one of the easiest ballroom dances to learn because it is a slow, smooth dance and only uses four steps.
The Two-Step: Step side to side with the beat. Bring feet together between steps. This basic step works with most songs. Dance it fast or slow.
Popular Dance Moves
Watch videos online and recreate moves you see. Practice until you don’t think about it. Stomping and bunny hopping from side to side starts the Smeeze. The Running Man has you hop so one leg goes forward while the other goes back.