Being on a dance team is about more than how you place at a competition or learning new choreography. It’s about creating a sense of family in and out of the dance studio. Building better and stronger bonds with your teammates makes practice more fun. It is also an opportunity to form new friendships, and it allows you to perform better as a whole. Taking advantage of these practices will encourage new friendships and strengthen old ones.
Open Communication is the Best Communication
Open and understanding communication is the foundation of strong relationships. Let the dance studio be a safe space where everyone can share and express their thoughts and feelings. Whether the conversation is about dance or personal life, listen to anyone who might need it to show that you are there for them. Have a weekly “check-in” where everyone on the team can share one high and one low from their week. This way, if anyone needs to talk about anything, they get a chance to.
Spending Time Outside of the Studio
Bonding over your shared passion in dance class is important, but it is just as important to get to know each other outside of the dance studio. Take a team trip to go bowling, the movies, or for ice cream. Or you can never go wrong with doing fun TikTok challenges or dances. Hanging out with your team outside of practice will allow you to see another side of your teammates.
Cheering Each Other On
Being part of a team means celebrating accomplishments beyond your own. Cheer on your teammates to remind them you’re paying attention. Whether it is fixing a correction they have been struggling with, unlocking a new skill, or getting a solo, simple words of encouragement go a long way. Sometimes that is all somebody needs to have the motivation to keep going, so it never hurts to share a few words or give a hug.
Everyone is Welcome on the Dance Floor
Every teammate brings something to the team, so make sure that you are making an effort to include everybody in the conversation and letting them get a chance to show you who they are. Try to avoid having cliques by pairing new dancers together for warmups. That way they get a chance to interact with somebody they might not normally and everyone gets a chance to bond.
