Learning A Routine: Persevere & Supercharge

My first routine

My last blog recommended learning a Zouk routine to survive the post congress blues, so I thought I’d share some of my experiences with it. I remember my first routine almost like it was yesterday. It was two years ago – almost exactly – that I started learning the 2015 International Zouk Day Flash Mob routine (check it out here on YouTube). I think I had ten (maybe twenty) or so weeks of beginner lessons behind me and I thought that I would be woefully inadequate to do the routine. With the safety-net of the performance not being compulsory, I rocked up for the first choreography lesson.

I was new to Zouk, new to dance, and new to learning a routine. Completely overwhelmed by the trying to remember all the steps I even asked my partner to whisper the moves to me the moment before I needed them… which was equally futile as I didn’t know the names for most of them. I tripped up over my own feet. Stepped on my own toes. I wore my ‘concentration face’ – definitely NOT suitable for performances (or the public, actually) when dancing. I kept telling myself that I couldn’t remember the steps; and so I wasn’t able to remember the steps.

But I kept going.

And about a week before the actual performance, everything seemed to click. There was a long time there where nothing made sense and the moves were a jumble of mess in my head. But seemingly over night, it happened. The hours of lessons and learning was somehow converted into muscle memory and I was able to do the routine. It wasn’t perfect; but it was the best I could do with the experience I had behind me.

Just keep learning

I am not saying that everyone will have this experience. But what I am saying is that if you are learning a routine – maybe the 2017 International Zouk Day routine for next month – don’t give up. Trust yourself and your ability to learn. You are always your own worst critic, so take a step back and don’t be so hard on yourself. You are not the first person to go through this. And you won’t be the last.

Learning that routine two years ago supercharged my Zouk. I was able to learn some more advanced moves and drill down into the techniques of the ones I had learned in Beginner class. Since that routine I have done about six more – most recently I learned two routines simultaneously for Casa do Zouk.

I promise you; each time you learn a new routine you get better at learning. You get better at remembering. You get more confident, and improve your performance. And you train yourself to listen closer to the beats and tones in the music to ensure your timing is correct. Different routines can take you out of your style comfort zone and teach you some tricks and cool moves that you might be able to bring out onto the social floor one day. You might even learn a lift or a flip for a rainy day and an empty dance floor! So what have you got to lose? (If being a ‘beginner’ as an excuse, this blog might help) Will I see you dancing away in the 2017 International Zouk Flash Mob routine compilation that is put together from performances all over the world??

What is your experience with learning routines? Do you have learning blocks too? Please comment below on some of the routine learning challenges you have encountered and how you have moved through them!

Share the Zouk love!