More Hours in the Studio Doesn’t always equal More Development
How to know whether your dancer needs more hours or more intentional development.
By Allie Hopper, Founder of D1Vision Dance Academy & Former University of Kansas Dance Team Coach
What Is Your Dancer Actually Developing?
Not because more training is a bad thing. In fact, I believe the right additional training can completely change a dancer's development. But I don't think adding more to a schedule simply because you think your dancer should be doing more should ever be the goal in itself.
There is a big difference between giving a dancer more hours in the studio and giving a dancer more opportunities to actually develop.
Especially in competitive dance, so much of a dancer's time can naturally become focused on learning and rehearsing choreography - and that is important. Dancers need to know how to pick up choreography, remember formations, work with a team, perform under pressure and execute what they've been given.
But there also needs to be time when the focus isn't on getting through the routine. There needs to be time to actually work on the dancer.
Rehearsing the Routine vs. Developing the Dancer
Rehearsal teaches a dancer how to put everything together. Technique training gives them the tools to do it better.
A dancer can learn a routine and become really good at performing that specific choreography. But if we want them to continue growing, they also need time to work on the skills underneath it. That's where dedicated technique training matters.
It's the opportunity to slow down and really look at how a dancer is moving. Are they using her weight correctly? Does they have the strength and control to execute the movement? Does they understand her alignment? Can they take a correction and apply it? Can they reproduce that skill when the choreography, music or teacher changes?
Those things don't always get the attention they deserve when the primary goal is simply getting a routine ready. They serve different purposes, and dancers need both.
A competition routine gives a dancer the opportunity to apply what they are learning. Technique, strength, flexibility and style training give them more tools to bring into that routine.
The same is true outside of competition. A dancer who eventually wants to audition for a high school or college team may need a completely different combination of skills than a dancer whose goal is simply to become a stronger competition dancer. A dancer who wants to explore contemporary may need different development than one who wants to pursue pom or musical theatre.
That's why I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to training.
The question isn't simply, “How much dance are they doing?” It's “What is all of this training helping them become?”
So What Does that Actually Mean?
A dancer may reach a point where they are ready for more technique, another style, more strength training or more opportunities to perform. Their goals may change, and their training should be able to change with them.
What I don't believe in is adding classes simply because it feels like they should be doing more.
If a dancer is struggling with turns, they may need more time working on technique and understanding what is actually keeping them from progressing. If they're technically strong but struggle to perform, they may need more opportunities to work on that. If they're interested in pom or dance team, their training may need to expand in a completely different direction.
More isn't automatically better. But the right kind of “more” is incredibly valuable.
That's why I think it's important to look at the individual dancer, their current skill level and where they want to end up. Two dancers can take the same number of classes and have completely different needs. One may be ready for another challenge while the other may need more time building their foundation. Neither is behind. They're just in different places.
And honestly, I think that's one of the biggest responsibilities we have as dance educators: to know the difference.
Our job isn't to fill a dancer's schedule, it's to understand where they are, where they're trying to go and what we can give them that will actually help them get there.
What Progress Actually Looks Like
I think we can get so focused on the big milestones in dance that we miss a lot of the progress happening in between them.
The new trick. The higher score. The solo. The placement. The trophy. Those things are exciting, and they should be. But they aren't the only ways to know a dancer is getting better.
Sometimes progress looks like the dancer finally understanding a correction that they've been working on for months. Or, their preparation is stronger and their balance is more controlled. And even things like, they aren't rushing through the choreography anymore, they're starting to recognize when something doesn't feel right and know how to fix it, they're picking up choreography faster and they're more comfortable trying something they aren't immediately good at.
Those things may not show up on a competition results sheet, but they're still development. And honestly, some of the most important progress happens when nobody is watching.
The dancer who used to get frustrated when they couldn't get something and now stays with it a little longer. The dancer who used to need constant reassurance and is starting to trust themselves. The dancer who gets a correction and doesn't take it personally - they listen, try it again and keep going.
Those are the things I pay attention to.
Because we're not just trying to create dancers who can do more. We're trying to create dancers who can keep learning.
And, that's a much more valuable skill to take with them wherever they want to go after the studio.
So, what does my dancer actually need?
The next time you look at your dancer's schedule, I would encourage you to look beyond the number of classes they're taking and really think about what they're getting from that time. Are they developing their technique, getting stronger, learning how to take corrections, being challenged in ways that are appropriate for them and gaining experience in different styles and environments? Are they becoming more confident and independent, or simply learning more choreography?
And then look at whether the training they're getting makes sense for where they want to go. Maybe they're focused on competition right now. Maybe they're interested in dance team, college dance or another style they've just discovered. Maybe they don't know yet, and that's completely okay!
Their goals will change as they grow, and their training should be able to change with them.
You don't need to know exactly what your dancer needs at every stage, and you certainly don't need to compare their schedule to anyone else's. But, you should be able to look at their training and understand what they're developing and why.
Because every parent should be asking is, “Are they getting what they need?”
Because when you know why you're adding to their schedule, you're intentionally developing your dancer.
THE D1VISION TAKE
Your dancer's training should have a purpose: Training for where they are, where they want to go and to give them the foundation to be ready for what comes next.
Built with Intention.
At D1Vision, that's what we're building our programs around: intentional training that meets dancers where they are and gives them room to grow - whether they're dancing for fun, looking to become a stronger technician, interested in competition, or wondering where dance might take them next.
