The holidays are filled with the classics, such as putting up your Christmas tree, movie marathons, and hot chocolate. But why not make your own tradition this year? This is the perfect season to challenge yourself and try new things as a dancer. So, why not try The 12 Days of Dance? Think of it like an advent calendar, but for dancers. It’ll give you something to work on over holiday break, keep things exciting, and give you new skills at the end of it. You could even get friends or teammates to do it with you so you can hold each other accountable.
Day 1: Get a Clean Pirouette
Every dancer needs a clean single pirouette. It’s a basic! And even if you can do one, this is a great time to perfect it. Focus on pulling up tall, keeping your spot, and engaging your core. If you are finding yourself falling out of your turns, do some at-home core exercises so you can have a stronger core. If you can do a clean single, then aim for a clean double and so on.
Day 2: Learn a New TikTok Dance
Dance doesn’t always have to be serious; sometimes, just doing a fun TikTok dance is an easy and fun challenge. Pick a trending dance that interests you, then add your own unique style and flair to it. Focus on keeping it sharp, flowing, and clean transitions. Bonus points if you add in your signature tricks or improv in the beginning or end.
Day 3: Try a New Leap Variation
Leaps are essential when it comes to dance, and there are so many variations out there. So, pick one that you haven’t perfected yet and focus on height and angles. This could be a tilt jump, center leap, or split jump.
Day 4: Practice Body Isolations
This is the perfect opportunity to let your body express itself in a controlled way. Focus on hip circles, pops, and arm movements. See how you can get the different isolations to flow into each other.
Day 5: Try a New Turn Combo
After working on your pirouettes for day one, it is time to spice them up a little bit. Instead of just doing a regular pirouette, try a passé → pencil → a la seconde → finish. Focus on making it clean, but it doesn’t have to be perfect; you are trying something new!
Day 6: Find a New Style
If you are used to doing jazz, try hip hop. Or if you are used to contemporary, then try jazz funk. Trying new styles keeps you growing as a dancer.
Day 7: Get Flexible
Choose one flexibility skill that you can focus on improving. This could be one of your splits, a needle or scorpion, or a tilt.
Day 8: Learn a New Floorwork Skill
Not only do these skills look cool, but they will make you more versatile as a dancer, which helps you stand out. Try shoulder rolls, handstands, and fish flops.
Day 9: Work on Your Lines
Dancers need to know how to have sharp lines from their arms and legs. This is especially useful when performing or taking professional photos. Practice your arabesques, tilts, and extensions while focusing on having straight legs and pointed toes.
Day 10: Add a New Jump or Skill
Pick something that is going to be challenging but not dangerous to learn. This could be a firebird, front walkover, or a calypso.
Day 11: Freestyle for an Entire Song
This is your time to just let your body move however it wants to. No choreography, just let your body move and flow in the ways it wants to. Focus on the joy you get from dancing.
Day 12: Choreograph Something
Use all the moves you practiced this month and create a short combo to a holiday song. It’s the perfect way to wrap up your 12-day challenge!
