"Never miss a chance to dance."
Introduction
One of the biggest challenges that adult dancers face is memorizing combinations and choreography. When you are learning a new language (the names of steps) and have to translate it into your body, it is already quite the feat, but when you need to quickly learn and memorize a combination without much time to think about it, it can even make dancers who know what they are doing feel very frustrated. It is important to not get discouraged if you feel this way; there are several things you can do to help sharpen your memorization abilities:
- Look for patterns
- Count the music
- Learn your teacher's style
- Say it and do it
Finding Patterns
A hallmark characteristic of ballet is that it is full of repetition and patterns, more than any other kind of dance. For class, many patterns are universal and standard, and most teachers fall back on their own patters, as far as the order that steps will take. If you can identify these patterns, you can figure out which one is being used for a particular combination, and then apply it. This way, you already have a sort of blueprint for the combination.
For the barre, here are some of the most common "orders" or "patterns" for steps:
In addition, pay attention to what your teacher tends to do. Almost all teachers have preferences for their step patterns. If you can figure out what they like, it will at least give you a "best guess" chance of getting the combination right!
For the barre, here are some of the most common "orders" or "patterns" for steps:
- En Croix (in a cross): front, side, back, side (all with outside leg)
- Front (outside leg), Back (inside leg), Side (outside, sometimes outside and then inside legs)
- Front, side, close; back, side, close; side (all with outside leg)
In addition, pay attention to what your teacher tends to do. Almost all teachers have preferences for their step patterns. If you can figure out what they like, it will at least give you a "best guess" chance of getting the combination right!
Using Your Music
Do not underestimate how much your music can help you. Not only does it tell you when to take your step (or when to hold, of course), but it can also help you to "divide" the steps of the combination into smaller sections. By splitting the combination into parts, you can more easily learn the sequences and then piece them together. Take the following combination as an example:
Section 1
Fondu devant, fondu à la seconde, fondu devant, plié (with leg devant), rond de jambe to à la seconde
1 and 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 7 8
Repeat to the back.
Section 2
Fondu à la seconde, fondu à la seconde, ronde de jambe en l'air, ronde de jambe en l'air
1 and 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 7 and 8
Section 3
Fondu, retiré, balance
1 2 3–8
Not only are the sections split up based on the pattern, but they are also divided based on the counts of the music. Here, the numbers below the steps indicate on what count you take each step. You will notice that each "section" takes up a full 8 counts. This is almost always true (the only exception to this would be in choreography, but it still rarely happens). So, if you can learn each 8-count sequence of the combination, you can then piece them all together.
The idea here is that splitting the combination up into smaller pieces makes it easier to learn. Use the music to help you make your divisions.
Section 1
Fondu devant, fondu à la seconde, fondu devant, plié (with leg devant), rond de jambe to à la seconde
1 and 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 7 8
Repeat to the back.
Section 2
Fondu à la seconde, fondu à la seconde, ronde de jambe en l'air, ronde de jambe en l'air
1 and 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 7 and 8
Section 3
Fondu, retiré, balance
1 2 3–8
Not only are the sections split up based on the pattern, but they are also divided based on the counts of the music. Here, the numbers below the steps indicate on what count you take each step. You will notice that each "section" takes up a full 8 counts. This is almost always true (the only exception to this would be in choreography, but it still rarely happens). So, if you can learn each 8-count sequence of the combination, you can then piece them all together.
The idea here is that splitting the combination up into smaller pieces makes it easier to learn. Use the music to help you make your divisions.
Say It,
I once had a teacher that told me, "If you can't say it, you can't do it." I have found this to be very true in dance, and I think it can be a great way to force yourself to really learn the combination if you are struggling. Depending on the combination and how quickly you already learn, this may be an option you use as a last resort, or when you are practicing on your own because it can be too time consuming for class, but it is certainly worth a try.
Before you try doing a combination, say the steps out loud. Try to say it with the rhythm of the music, instead of just listing out steps. This will help you find the "beat" of the combination and it will help you transition from one step to the next smoothly. If you are really struggling, try writing it down and then saying it. Finally, do the combination slowly (maybe marking it), while you say it. You will find that your body will catch up with your brain (at least eventually)!
Before you try doing a combination, say the steps out loud. Try to say it with the rhythm of the music, instead of just listing out steps. This will help you find the "beat" of the combination and it will help you transition from one step to the next smoothly. If you are really struggling, try writing it down and then saying it. Finally, do the combination slowly (maybe marking it), while you say it. You will find that your body will catch up with your brain (at least eventually)!
Do It
My last piece of advice might be my most important one. Never, ever, just listen to what the teacher says and then try to do it once the combination starts. Always DO the combination as you are learning it, or at least mark it. Never mark your arms (i.e., always do them full out). By mirroring your teacher as they demonstrate, you will start to put the steps into your body and establish some (short term) muscle memory while your brain does the grunt of the work. This alone is not a full-proof method, but it will make things significantly easier for you.