Lots of us will have shared the same problem in these current circumstances in that it’s been a little more difficult to stay motivated with being active at times. As someone who’s danced for most of my life, studies dance in college and does it as an outside hobby, at the start of lockdown it felt a bit strange that I wouldn’t be dancing in a wide-open space everyday like I was used to for a long time and knew this meant that I needed to adjust (as many of us have with a lot of things in daily life) and find other ways of exploring dance. So now that I’m a little more into a routine and have explored what’s available I’d love to share some easy ways to start dancing at home and also how you can continue after lockdown. Whether dancing’s your hobby, you just love having a dance in the comfort of your home, at a party, or even if you’re completely new to it and not sure it’s your thing, no matter what age or ability, we can all give it a go. 

As well as being great for mobility, fitness, posture and flexibility, dancing also has amazing benefits on your mental health and wellbeing, which is why now is a particularly good time to give it a try. Also, if you’re not a fan of the typical at home workout routine then this could be something more enjoyable and feel less of a chore, yet still keeps you extremely fit, active and most of all positive and happy. 

Where To Start 

First of all, think about a style you might like to try or if it’s more about the fitness for you then keep reading for an idea of where to start. If you’re unsure about a style then I recommend doing a little research and look at some videos and see if there’s something that takes your fancy, after all the more you like the look of something and want to learn it, the easier it is to get the motivation to actually get up and do it. No need to worry if you don’t have all the uniform and equipment for a specific style, remember to dance all you need is yourself, so you can always invest in these things later on if you decide to continue. If you’re still unsure then don’t give up, give some of these ideas a go and have some fun with just letting go, exploring dance and boosting your positivity:

Fun Dance-Fitness

If you’re looking for something light-hearted, fun and great for all ages then I recommend trying out an online dance-fitness or ‘Zumba’ class as it’s perfect for an introduction to staying active using dance without knowing specific technique and using a mix of high-intensity and low-intensity moves. There’s lots of free online class options that are a range of levels and durations, so simply type in dance workouts or Zumba, find some videos and try out a few to see what suits you. 

Ballet

Ballet is a great place to start to build a base of dance technique, although it differs between styles, ballet technique appears commonly and strengthens areas of a lot of other styles. This is also a great option if you’d like to take things a little more slowly but still strengthen muscles, improve posture, balance and range of mobility. Ballet is also very inclusive, and you’ll find many options for chair-based ballet, other adapted classes suited to all needs and classes for all ages. If you don’t know where to start, I recommend trying some beginner’s barre work and increasing the level if you feel as though it’s too simple. There’s lots of resources online for ballet which makes it easy to access from home, I recommend finding some videos online but also follow some ballet company’s on social media platforms, like English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, Royal Ballet School and any others, to see what they’re currently offering online and also to become familiar and feel more aware of what’s happening in the world of ballet. 

Set On A Style

If you already dance and have a favourite style or you’ve done some research and want to try something specific then I’d recommend exploring some dancers and choreographers that specialise in that style and look out for live classes on their social media or check out any resources that are readily available. Online videos of step-by-step guides and tutorials are also a great option and videos at the level you feel you’re at. If you have some experience in the style or just feel like getting creative then why not try and create your own routine, perhaps try videoing yourself improvising and pick out movements you like to put something together. Also, remember to keep checking out updates for when face-to-face classes in your local area start again, if you really want to start getting involved in dance as a hobby and you haven’t joined a class already. 

And… Freestyle!

Finally, if none of these ideas sound like your kind of thing then I’d still love for you to take something away from this blog and have a go, so if in doubt, put on your favourite tunes, maybe even video call some friends, and dance like nobody’s watching. Let’s all get dancing and feeling good. 

If you’d like any more help or information on anything mentioned in this blog then feel free to drop me a message through the Make Me A Plan social media accounts.