Beat the Coronavirus Blues: Solo Dance Party

This Coronavirus sucks. And I mean, really sucks. Besides making people sick and claiming lives, it's altering daily life as we know it - shutting down businesses and events, forcing people out of work and into isolation. It's hard to grasp the reality of what's going on and to think that many of our main staple spots for entertainment & gathering are shutting down over the next two weeks - or possibly for quite a bit longer if things don't improve quickly. But, every coin has two sides. What about the positives? What is GREAT about this pandemic? While we worry about low income kids getting enough food to eat during school closures or how this will impact our economy in the long run, we also must remember that TIME is valuable. And being given more of it - more free time, that is, is actual something pretty special. How about having the opportunity to spend more time with family? How about being so bored that you finally learn how to play the guitar like you always hoped to or read that book that's been on the shelf for the last 2 years? There are good things to be found in the midst of all this chaos...

And while you're at home, checking "to dos" off your list and working through your options to pass the time, why not incorporate a little dancing into your activities? DANCE is a great healer of all things, and research shows that it's many advantages should not be underestimated. It is a fun way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes and has a wide range of physical and mental benefits, including but not limited to:

• improved condition of your heart and lungs
• increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness
• increased aerobic fitness
• improved muscle tone and strength
• weight management
• stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
• better coordination, agility and flexibility
• improved balance and spatial awareness
• increased physical confidence
• improved mental functioning
• improved general and psychological well being
• greater self-confidence and self-esteem

A lot of people choose to dance in public - whether that be through studio classes, at a community center or simply at a dance club during a night out on the town. But many people also have fears and anxiety when it comes to dancing - especially if they've never had any experience with dance before. I've taught countless adults one on one private dance lessons just to help them feel comfortable and less stressed in social dance situations and one thing I always come back to and recommend is solo dancing at home. Like anything else in life, the more you practice, the more confident you'll feel with your craft and free styling at home can give you just the boost you need to feel more empowered when you dance in public.

Here are some tools and tips to help set you up for your own solo dance party at home:

1. Find a private, open space: This could be your bedroom, the living room...maybe even the basement? You want to be able to move freely and not feel like someone could walk in on you and embarrass you. You should feel FREE in your space to explore your movement and experience fully whatever comes to you.
2. Get your music right: Put on whatever music MOVES you. This could be heavy metal, acoustic rock or electronica. Fast, slow, abstract, mainstream - it DOESN'T matter...as long as you love it. In order to connect your movement to the music you have to be "into it". Creating your own dance party playlist on Spotify is a great idea too. If you don't know where to start, here's a list of the 100 best party songs to throw a killer dance party: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/best-party-songs
3. Get comfy: Wear something you can move in easily and footwear that helps you - not hinders you - with your dancing. If you like being barefoot, that works too!
4. Adjust your lighting: Set the tone by dimming the lights if you're grooving to something mellow or add some strobes and a disco ball if Saturday Night Fever is your jam! Lighting will greatly effect the mood of your space.
5.  Consider a mirror: I don't recommend using a mirror during your entire dance session, but consider having a mirror available that you can look at once you're 2-3 songs in - especially if you're a first time dancer. First tune into your body and let it do whatever it feels for the first couple of songs, then check out your movement in the mirror for the following song. Does the movement you feel match what you're portraying visually? This can be a great tool for honing in on your dance style and finding movement you feel both comfortable with and that looks great.
6. Stretching: Either pre or post dancing (or both) consider stretching. It will help you limber up, increase your flexibility over time and just feel good in general.
7. Hydration: Keep some water nearby to quench your thirst between songs. Dancing is fun but also hard work! 

Now go ahead and give it a try.  And if you do please leave us a comment below to let us know how your session went. We hope it leaves you feeling more relaxed and excited about your dance skills and that it gives you a much needed break from thinking about all this sickness stuff. Remember, we're all in this together and we are resilient. Keep the faith and don't stop learning and growing. It's what will get us through this.