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How To Balance School and Dance

05/16/2018

If you're a young dancer, the two most important aspects of your life are dance class and school. When you're not busy rehearsing, performing, and checking out the latest dance clothes and dance leggings, you've got to get to class and hit the books. But sometimes, when you're pulled in both directions, it can be tough to balance the two. How can you stay sane, stay on top of all your school work and still get to dance class at time? Start with these tips:

Embrace the craziness.

If you love to dance and are in the studio several nights a week, life is going to be hectic. Rather than stressing out too much about it, instead embrace the craziness. If you'd rather have a lot of time to yourself and to spend with friends, then something's got to give -- and you can't quit school. So accept the fact that if you're going to be a dancer, and a student too, life will be busy.

Get organized.

That said, just because your life is jam packed, doesn't mean you have to go through it totally disorganized. In fact, balancing school life with dance life is a great opportunity to learn the fine art of organization. This is a skill that will serve you well in school, dance, your career and life in general. So go ahead and get a planner, or get a scheduling app on your phone. Whichever approach you choose, just make sure you take the time to fill your schedule in with all your important dates and responsibilities. That way, you'll know when an upcoming performance is going to coincide with a big test at school and you can plan ahead accordingly.

Also, if you haven't gotten one, ask your dance teacher for a calendar of events. This will help you to find out what you have coming up next week, next month and through the rest of the year. As a result, you can better plan out your dance and school schedules so that they're better aligned and you're not constantly pulled in too many directions at once.

School should come first.

You might enjoy dance more and have a passion for it. But there are going to be times when you have to choose between completing an important assignment and practicing for a big performance. When this happens, school should always come first. If you're failing in class, it can have a big impact not only on your academic performance, but your future too. So while it might not be as fun as dance class, it's vital that you make it your priority. Even better, if your fellow dancers are struggling to balance their school schedules too, then study together. For instance, create a study group and get to rehearsal an hour early to hit the books.

Focus on dance when you're in class.

While your school work should always be a priority, it's also important that you focus fully on dance when you're in the studio. So even if you have a test you're worried about, or you're in the middle of a stressful class project, stay in the moment and strive to get the most out of each and every dance class. If, however, your thoughts are elsewhere, then you're going to be distracted and unable to remember what you learned in class.

Prioritize your life.

You want to do it all, but if you have dance class four nights a week, plus a busy school schedule, then you need to prioritize. While you might really want to take classes at the local gym, or participate in weekly social activities with friends, that might not be plausible with busy dance and school schedules. Something has to be cut out and it's up to you to determine what that is. But if you say "yes" to everything, you're going to wind up burned out and frustrated. That's going to have a big impact on your school career, as well as your dance performances.

Go easy on yourself.

Many dancers are perfectionists. That's a great quality to have on the stage. However, in life, it can cause you a lot of anxiety. When you feel stretched too thin or when you forget an important homework assignment, you might be tempted to be hard on yourself. But no one's perfect and if you want to lead a healthy life, it has to be a well-balanced one. So go easy on yourself. If you have one bad day or a few of them, it's not the end of the world. Keep in mind, a few weeks from now you won't even remember it.

Do something fun, like shopping for dance clothes.

dance clothes

When you're a serious student in school and in the studio, it can be hard to find the time to have fun. So pick a day and do something outside of rehearsing and studying that you really enjoy, whether it's shopping for dance clothes or spending time with your family.

Consider alternative options for school.

If you're serious about being a dancer and are considering it for a career, then home school might be a better option for you to meet your academic requirements and still have time for dance. Before you make a move, though, it's important to talk to your dance teachers, school teachers and parents so they can all weigh in on your options, and what's right for you and your family.