FIVE TIPS FOR STUDYING MULTIPLE DANCE STYLES AT ONCE

Photo by Saksham Gangwar on Unsplash

Studying multiple types of dance can be very tempting when you’ve fallen in love with more than one. It is also quite possible to do! It can be challenging, especially when the styles are vastly different from each other. However, after doing just that for 17 years, I have a few tips to share.


I can only think of a few months in the last 17 years during which I was studying only one style of dance. At one time, I was studying three! If you’re not sure how to go about it, it can get complicated and stressful. I have been through that, so I’ll share my tips on doing it successfully. For this post, I will focus on a time at which I was studying Bollywood dance (Indian dance based on the dancing seen in Bollywood movies) alongside raqs sharqi (belly dance). Based on the styles of my teachers at the time, the key differences I noticed between Bollywood dance and belly dance are the following: Bollywood dance often entails bigger, wider, more flamboyant movements; while belly dance typically requires an emphasis on tightly-controlled, subtle, and often internally-focused movements to draw in your audience. Switching between these two vastly different types of energy was, at first, a big challenge for me. It took me a few years to figure out how to seamlessly switch back and forth. Here’s what I figured out! Please keep in mind this is what worked for me—some of these may work for you, and some may not, but I hope you find something useful here!
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1. Have a clear mind before beginning to practice.
   This helps to eliminate a lot of confusion. If you’re thinking of one thing while doing another, you may get mixed up (especially when you’re just starting out as a dancer).
2. Take breaks in between practices.
   If possible, try to have at least a day of rest in between practicing each style. This is especially important when you first embark on this multifaceted journey. It allows you to reset your mind and body and eliminate confusion between the two styles.
3. Drill, drill, drill!
   When you do practice, drill movements many times. Make sure you have a solid understanding of what you’re supposed to be doing. You should start to build muscle memory.
4. Wear appropriate practice clothing.
   It may not be exactly the case for most Bollywood dance classes, but in classical Indian dance classes, you are typically required to wear certain clothing. In many cases it would be what’s called salwar kameez. This clothing is similar to what you would wear during a performance, yet comfortable enough to be worn during your 1-hour class. It helps you better understand how to move in your dance style. Similarly, for belly dance, it may help to wear a hip scarf so you can see just how much (or how little) you need to move to produce a satisfying hip shimmy, drop, or lock. It can also show if you’re moving too much elsewhere in the body—one goal is not to disturb the hip scarf when you’re doing an upper body movement such as a shoulder shimmy.
5. Practice in full costume in front of a mirror.
   One reason for the need for big movements in Bollywood dance, as I was told by my teacher, has to do with some of the clothing worn during performances. For example, if you are wearing a sari, it can be difficult for the audience to see any subtle chest or hip movements (depending on how it’s wrapped). If you practice every now-and-then in full costume, you’ll be able to see whether your movements are coming through clearly. Again, muscle memory should kick in and help you dance correctly whenever you practice with plain practice attire. Practicing in costume works similarly for belly dance. You may see proof that less is more when you wear a beaded costume. This is not something you’ll want to do every day, as you want to keep your costumes beautiful for as long as possible!

One last note: It is very important to remember to be respectful of each style of dance. When presenting a culture that isn’t yours, this becomes especially important. For many people, a dance is not just a dance. It can serve as a tribute to their culture, their home, and even their ancestors. You wouldn’t want to do anything offensive, which is one reason why proper energy and technique are important to practice. Your teacher should be able to help you with that, but do keep it in mind when practicing and performing.

These techniques can be applied to any style of dance. Once you get the hang of dancing in each style, it will become a lot easier for you study them at the same time. Ideally, you’ll eventually be able to switch your mindset to match the style you’re about to dance at any given point. It may take a long time, but just know that it can be done and done well, as long as you remember to stay true to each style!

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To practitioners of multiple dance styles: have you applied these techniques to your dance practice? Do you have other tips that I missed? Let me know what styles of dance you study or want to study!

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