“Dance is a universal language, and whether you know how to dance or grew up training in dance, you have a respect for people who love to dance, and it's also visually very entertaining to watch a great dancer.”
- Jenna Dewan
Do you love dancing but want to get better at it?
The best solution is probably to head to a dance academy or to get private dance lessons. However, these methods can end up quite expensive, and before you make a commitment to long-term classes that you may or may not be able to afford, you should probably try out a few sample classes for free.
So how can you learn how to dance for free?
Where can you find advice, tips, or dance routines on the internet?
In this article, we are going to look at some of the best options for getting a sample of your learning how to dance for free! Yes, that's right completely free you can learn a few moves to impress your friends at a party or a nightclub, learn some routines to help keep your social media on-trend or even just a few dance moves to help you stay fit and healthy rather than going to the gym and lifting weights.
Teaching Yourself to Dance
Whatever style of dance you want to learn and however you want to learn, it’s important that you practice regularly if you want to improve. You’ll also need to set some goals for yourself you should consider the following:
- Is this just for fun do you mind if you learn something or not?
- Do you need a routine for something specific like your wedding or a surprise dance at a friends party?
- Are you trying to learn the basics so you can take up classes more confident?
- Are you learning for fitness?
- What style of dance do you want to learn?
You should also think about what time you have, start by asking yourself:
- When will you have the time to practice dancing? (Evenings, weekends, during the day, etc.)
- How often will you be able to practice dancing? (How many sessions by week and for how long)
You’re going to have to work with what you’ve got if you’re going to teach yourself to dance and you’re also going to have to make sure that you have enough space to freely move around when you’re dancing.
- What about your living room?
- Your bedroom?
- Do you have a spare bedroom or study?
Don’t forget to think about the equipment you’ll need:
- Audiovisual equipment, are you going to be using a TV, a tablet or your phone so that you can hear the music and watch video tutorials, you may want to make sure you have somewhere to stand up your phone or tablet if they're your chosen method.
- A mirror so you can see yourself dancing, being able to see your reflection let you know if you're doing the moves properly
- Your footwear, certain dances need specific shoes, it's going to be pretty hard to Irish dance in a pair of boots, but a pair of runners might be more suitable.
- Do you have a place with a hard floor? Most dance routines are not suitable for carpets.
Finally, as previously mentioned you're really going to have to consider what type of dancing would you like to learn? A lot of the time if you just type in dance tutorial it will be whatever is most popular right now. But if you know what you want to learn it's easier to find a video by being specific.
Do you like upbeat music?
- Rock, Zumba,
- African dance,
- Line dancing,
- Hip-hop,
- Dance fitness, etc...
Would you prefer something more sensual?
- Oriental dance,
- Argentine tango,
- Belly dancing,
- Salsa
- Pole dancing
- Latin dancing, etc...
Or do you want to learn the classics?
- Ballroom dancing
- Jazz
- Irish dancing
- Tap
- Waltz
- Jive
- Fox Trot
- Swing etc...
There are so many to choose from. You’re spoilt for choice! Ask yourself what kind of music you like. Some dances can be difficult for beginners to grasp.
If you want to learn how to dance quickly, you’re going to have to pick a style suitable for all levels.
If you want to learn to dance for the first dance at your wedding or just do something for couples, you’re also going to have to make sure your partner’s on board with the idea, too.
Dance Games for Consoles
Before we go into the completely free options, it's worth mentioning that you can buy dance games for different consoles, and although you have to make a one-time payment for them, you can use them as much as you want to practice and learn dancing.
Let's talk about what is probably the most famous of all these games, it's simply called "Just Dance" and with a name like that you know what you're getting. The dance game is available on almost every console. While it isn’t completely free, once you’ve paid for the game, it’s the only investment you’ll have to make (as long as you already have the games console). The idea is simple: follow the dance moves of both current hits and timeless classics.
The 2021 version of the dance game, has 40 hot new tracks from chart-topping hits like "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa, and "Señorita" by Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello! It also includes a setting called "Sweat Mode" which makes exercising fun! With the Sweat Mode, you can keep yourself motivated by tracking the calories burnt and the time spent dancing, as part of your fitness routine!
What’s the best thing about the game?
It’s a really fun way to learn to dance. Even if you don’t execute the moves perfectly, it’s great for your timing. For those who struggle keeping time, it’s a really fun way to make a lot of progress.
Perfectionists will probably master the moves like a pro quite quickly and learn them off by heart. After all, Just Dance is just a game. However, whether you’re on your own, with your family, or with your friends, it’s can be a whole lot of fun.
- Image by Sam riz from Pixabay
Learn to Dance Online for Free
There’s plenty of advice to help you learn to dance at your own pace.
There are a number of advantages to learning how to dance online:
- The freedom to try out several styles before settling on the one you prefer
- Practising when it suits you
- Free resources
- Learning to dance from the comfort of your own home
It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the basics of dancing before you start.
Free Dance Lessons Youtube
To find online dance tutorials, you should check out YouTube.
You should start by looking for videos on the style of dance you’d like to learn that is also suited to your level.
Are you a beginner?
Would you like to brush up on your dancing or are you looking for a dance lesson to learn some more complex dance steps or a new routine?
This type of research can take some time, but it’s essential. You’re your own dance instructor, after all. This is why you need to find educational resources that are suited to your needs.
Start taking online belly dance classes today.
A quick search will come up with tonnes of videos to help you learn techniques for the style of dance you want to learn and online videos are great for trying out the different styles of dance available and seeing which ones you like.
You can also learn the dance to your favourite singers like Shakira or Beyoncé.
Below we are going to take a quick look at a couple of the best free dance lessons on YouTube:
- Living the Dream - The first Channel we are going to look at for free dance lessons with are called "Living the Dream Performing Arts". Living the Dream Performing Arts was set up by award-winning entrepreneur Zoe Jackson MBE in 2006 at the age of 16. Living the Dream now has a School of Performing Arts and Professional Dance Company and inspires people to live their dreams through dance. Zoe will go live on this Facebook page and also Living the Dream's Instagram at the same time so you can choose which platform to view. You can start dancing with Zoe today by following along with this fun and simple dance routine.
- OCD - Next up let's look at Online Dance Classes, which are a Dutch dance company. OCD focuses heavily on online dance trends and popular celebrity dance routines. You can try out an online dance class for free! At. the moment all lessons are in dutch, but according to the YouTube channel if there is enough interest OCD night make some English versions.
- Diddlyi Irish Dance - Finally, let's take a look at where to get some free online Irish dance lessons. At Diddlyi Irish Dance, Shane McAvinchey (Riverdance and TCRG) guides you through your Irish Dancing steps. The videos on the Diddlyi Irish Dance Channel may not be as current as the other two channels are however, they are perfect for beginners as they start everything from the very beginning with the basic 1-2-3 steps, it's an ideal place to start especially if you're not sure you want to pay for lessons yet.
Free Dance Websites Online
If you want another way to learn how to dance, you can also check out some specialised dance websites.
Learntodance.com
This site has plenty of videos for beginners, intermediate and expert dancers to watch before they get on the dance floor. Whether you want to learn about Latin dance, swing dance, hip hop dance, or belly dancing, you should give this site a visit. They include styles like:
- Salsa
- Cha cha
- Merengue
- Bachata
- Salsa
- Rumba
- Reggaeton
There are also articles and advice for those attending dance parties who don't feel confident about their dancing.
- Danceclass.com This website hosts online dance classes for adult beginners. There are also useful sections just for dance teachers, wedding dance tips, and information on improving your dance posture and preparing for dance auditions.
- Danceplug.com Dance plug has lots of online dance classes and choreography video tutorials. While the resources aren't free, there are trials available
This isn’t an exhaustive list, of course. If there are any particular dance styles you want to learn, you can find specialised websites, too. Thanks to the power of the internet, with just a quick search, you’ll find plenty of great websites.
Make sure you avoid searching vague terms like “dance classes” and instead search for specific styles of dancing classes and introductory classes if you're an absolute beginner.
Free Dance Apps
When you want to learn to dance, you could always download an application onto your smartphone or tablet. There are literally thousands of them...
Here are a few apps you could try out for learning to dance on your own:
- iDance: An app to learn both basic and advanced dance moves. It’s easy to use, in just a few clicks, you’ll be learning how to dance.
- Learn to Dance: this app has plenty of different styles of dance to learn. You can watch a professional dancer or choreographer perform the moves and then copy them.
- Pocket Salsa: This app is free to try. The video lessons are interesting and entertaining. You’ll end up wanting to watch more than just one.
Lovers of augmented reality will be happy to know Apple’s augmented reality platform, Arkit, has an app called dance reality.
Learning to dance salsa in virtual reality is also an interesting possibility for those wanting to learn how to dance salsa.
Tips for Learning to Dance on Your Own
If you can’t take private lessons, you can learn to dance on your own as long as you do it regularly and stay motivated.
Don’t forget that dancing is a physical activity and you need to stay in shape. If you want to work safely on your physique, you need to take a few precautions. Don’t forget to warm up and make sure you do your stretches before and after each session. It’s also important to do exercises that work on your flexibility.
When it’s just you in front of the mirror, it can be difficult to evaluate your own progress.
How can you evaluate your progress and which moves you need to work on?
Make sure you dance in front of a mirror so you can see yourself moving. It’s also useful to evaluate how you did after each session. You could also film yourself so you can analyse yourself afterward.
Don’t forget to watch dance videos to find inspiration and new dance moves to learn. Listening to music regularly will help you get familiar with the rhythm of the song and the moves to make. Thanks to your work, you’ll soon be able to give your new dance moves a go the next time you’re out dancing or at a club.
If you finally decide to take regular dance classes because you need intermediate or advanced instruction, you should check out a dance school. A lot of schools will offer a free taster session.
Once you’ve had the free session, you can decide whether or not you’d like to learn to dance alongside other students. You'll have the option of signing up to dance classes London, an intensive dance course, or calling a private dance teacher or tutor to get lessons. On Superprof, the first tutorial is often free (even for more prestigious dance styles like ballet).
To learn more about prices for dance tuition, take a look at our article.
Why is Dancing Good For Me?
Source:Unsplash.com
Learning to dance is very popular because of how fun it is and how creative it allows you to be, but what are the mental and physical benefits of learning to dance? Below are just a few great reasons to either join a dance class or teach yourself how to dance:
Dance is Great Cardio - Dance is basically a lot of hopping and jumping to music. It strengthens your core, warms you up, makes you sweat, and releases that sweet serotonin we all crave. Dancing provides physical benefits such as increased stamina, core strength, and general overall fitness. It will also improve balance, posture and coordination, as well as promote flexibility and increased muscle strength.
Meet New People by Dancing - Dance is a highly social activity. In a dance class, you must learn how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation, and make new friends.
Reduce Stress with Dancing - Like all physical activity, dancing lessons are a great way to get rid of stress! It encourages the release of endorphins, the hormones of happiness.
Get Fit with Dancing - Dancing is both an art form and a sport, you can tone your muscles and increase your endurance, dance lessons can be as rigorous as going for a run! A lot of professional footballers and fighters use Dance Classes to improve their agility and speed as part of their fitness routines. You’ll also do stretches to warm up your muscles, which will help you improve your flexibility. While you won’t be able to do the splits or be an expert breakdancer after just one lesson, you’ll become more limber over time.
Gain Self-Confidence with Dancing - The more you improve, the more confidence you’ll get. There’s nothing better than achieving your goals and then feeling capable of climbing mountains! Once you’ve learned dance and got a bit of confidence, you’ll see it start to positively impact other aspects of your daily life.
Mental Benefits of Dancing - Learning to Dance allocates you some time out for yourself, this time can allow you to gain mental clarity and focus. Dancing helps when it comes to learning to listen, following directions and memory building, it also promotes self-confidence and self-esteem.
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