Introduction to Practice Points

Throughout this journey of life, I’ve had the chance to meet, mentor and teach many people from all walks of life alongside dance. I’ve often been asked for feedback on the way people have performed, battled, freestyled, or even just how they can improve a specific aspect of their art. Originally, I just cited specific exercises or drills to guide each individual dancer. But as I have grown over time, I’ve come to learn that the further you go into the dance, it necessitates a higher level of soul searching, experimentation and quality control. As a result, the feedback that I provide now is often at a higher level, and left open to interpretation, allowing for individual development and growth. I wanted to share some of the things I’ve said to people, and some things I’ve experienced or had said to me. You may or may not have considered these things, but it might help you to progress further as well. I’ll leave it up to you whether you wish to take it on board or not.

Practice Point #1 - Keep A Journal

American entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn noted to many: “Take things out of your head and onto paper.” — Collect your good ideas into a central location. Journalling or taking notes is often seen as a way to provide clarity, mental calmness and personal accountability for this loud, attention-demanding world that we live in today. How you want to go about this is, is purely up to you. You could opt to have a written journal in your Moleskine, use a Google spreadsheet, or jot things into your Evernote.
Why is this important as a dancer/artist?
Treat these notes as your memories, milestones, and references on your creative journey. You can lodge your feelings about battles and showcases, make notes about things you like about your movements/sets, list areas that you could develop further (e.g. flexibility, stamina, strength), and so forth. I’ve seen some bboys keep names of their signature moves and sets for reference, and jot down new ideas. Other people use their journal to log what they use in their practice, or some just simply mark down that they practiced today. Everyone will have their own grounds for making notes. Discover your own paradigm through experimentation, or by sharing ideas with others.
Key Point: As creatures of habit, we often might find change a little difficult. Find a system that is easy for you to follow and stay compliant with. Whatever your focus may be, allow yourself to take small baby steps towards that goal and document the journey.
From my own experience, I often keep insights and quotes from books that I’ve come across, to continue my learning as a student of personal development. It is refreshing to connect with these authors through publications and take on new knowledge and implement them into daily life. In addition, I’ve recorded mantras, set goals, used the journal as a to-do list, and recorded feelings about events.

Over time, you will note that the more you scribe down and reflect over, the more that common themes and needs for your journey will emerge. Allow for them to enter your life, and then decide if they are important to you to keep or to discard. Keep repeating and taking action, and you’ll build up a library of notes and stories that can be shared with close friends and loved ones.
Whatever your goal is, take mindful steps, and remember that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Success comes to everyone willing to walk the miles required, but you have to leave your house first.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.
— Aristotle, Greek Philosopher.