2 LEFT FEET~ THERE’S NO SUCH THING

MaryLee Lykes ~ Lykes To Dance

 

In this article the reference to a “follow” and “lead” is used instead of “men” and “women” because women can be lead or follow as well as men can lead or follow-- so those labels no longer are relevant.

 

So you think you have “2 left feet”. That could mean 2 things -- that you believe you really can’t learn to dance (because you have 2 left feet) or perhaps it’s an easy way to avoid the dance floor because you’re ”just not into it”.

 

It is my guess that the majority of the “2 left feet” people tried to dance or learn to dance and were not successful and therefore concluded they had “2 left feet” and could not be taught to dance.

 

If you have a desire to learn to dance you can learn to dance!

 

In 18 years as a dance teacher I have never met anyone who could not be taught to dance.

 

If you have taken a dance class and it was a frustrating experience that reinforced you opinion about “2 left feet” then I may be able to help you understand why that might have happened.  When teaching a dance class a teacher usually presumes a certain level of music and dance experience, and will teach to the average level of that experience. There is an expectation that students have previous dance experience or have a moderate understanding of music--- can hear the beat, hear the 8 counts (or 6) in the music.

 

Most teachers then, take it as a given that most students have dance experience or can come up to speed rapidly. If the class has mostly “new” students the class will move slower to accommodate that lever of experience but that doesn’t help  those who are struggling to hear the music and find the beat.

 

Being able to hear the music and find the beat is a critical step in learning how to dance.

 

What does it mean to “hear the beat” and find the beginning of the 8 or 6 counts or “1”. “1” is the place where you begin the dance in almost all dances and if you’re a follow that is not a problem because you’re being lead. But if you are a lead and you are unable to hear the beat or find “1” in the music you either can’t begin or perhaps begin at the wrong time.

 

When I see a student struggling and feel like they’re falling behind I suggest a private lesson or perhaps meeting after class to work with them briefly to show them how to find the beat.

 

It’s an easy process and works every time!

 

You can learn what everyone else seems to know already. You can learn how to hear and feel the beat and discover where that “1” is in the 8 or 6 count beat.

 

Everyone intuitively knows where “1” is in the music and can feel the beat.

An interesting observation I’ve discovered is that everyone innately has this ability within them to know where that first beat of the 8 or 6 count is located. The mind would love to convince you that you don’t know but the body somehow knows, and if you trust that, you’ll find the “1”.

 

So if you would like to learn to dance but you fell like you have “2 left feet” ----take heart—there is help and hope for you.

 

I love working with students to assist them in discovering this ability. This is even true for people who have had no musician experience throughout their lives! Trust your body, don’t listen to the mind. You can easily & quickly learn to hear the beat and be able to count it. And when you can hear the beat and figure out where to begin you’re ready to start the dance.

 

There also might be another reason why you struggling to learn to dance—perhaps you are tone deaf. And although I know there are people out there who are tone deaf I haven’t actually met one. I would love to work with someone who is tone deaf to see if they could learn to dance.

 

For questions or your observations contact MaryLee at Marylee@lykestodance.com.