Mother of Dragons vs. Mother of Dancers

In this final season of Game of Thrones (GOT), Daenerys Targaryen gets a lot of notoriety around the world for being the Mother of Dragons (MOD).  Are you a fan?  Whether it is House Stark, Wildlings, or House Lanister, Daenerys is the only one who commands dragons ( except for the one dragon the White Walkers snagged, Viserion, but I digress).  How can a kingdom compete against the Mother of Dragons? The MOD?  

I can relate to Daenerys Stormborn, for I too am a MOD (Mother of Dancer).  And while my daughter is a dancer, I am not 100% convinced that she might not also be part dragon.  And helping a young dancer achieve her her best dancing self requires all the "Stormborn" this mom can muster.

In an article by Melanie Doskocil called  15 Truths about Being a Professional Dancer, Ms. Doskocil discusses some of the less desirable realities of the dance profession.  While many of the points she raises are likely not new ideas to most of us MOD's, it seems to strike a different chord when my dancer hears these truths from a well respected and tenured professional as opposed to hearing them from me.  Feel free to share this read with your aspiring dancer.  If she is truly seeking this path, this could be the motivational stroke that she needs to help channel her focus for the art.

Did you know?

There are a plethora of videos, and blogs available by dancers, for dancers, that are geared toward dance improvement.  I will get to the three steps in a moment, but first I would like to share some of the information I found very useful:

1. 7 Quick Tips to Improve Your Dancing
2. Top 10 Tips For Becoming a Better Dancer
3. 5 Simple Daily Practices to Improve Your Dancing

Many of the lists contain similar activities geared at preparing your dancer to become physically better; stronger.  But when she gets to a certain point, she does not need to be reminded that she should stretch more or eat better.  How many times can you strike a match and still get a flame?  And after reviewing all of these and many more, I have determined that the best way to help a young dancer transcend her current level and to reach the stars, is NOT by doing more stretches (albeit necessary and very helpful).  The secret to her best dancer self can be summed up in three, easy to attain steps.

What are the three steps?

Are you ready for the big reveal?  Allow me to share.  But first, I should tell you that the three steps I will list are effective in any endeavor; be it pique turns or training for a 5k.  And you will be amazed at how simple it is.

1. Set a goal.  Set a goal and be sure that it is measurable.  And once you achieve your goal, set the next one.  Your dancer should always have a clear vision of what she is working toward.
2. Find the right instructor.  Your dancer will be spending a lot of hours trying to attain her goals.  You can help move that process along by insuring she is working with the right instructor.  And the right instructor will not only see the best in your dancer, he will also know the secret to helping her be all that he sees in her.  And if you already have the right instructor then GREAT!  You know what I am talking about.
3. Surround yourself with positive people.  Your dancer has enough on her plate to battle the doubts in her mind.  Be sure to reinforce her hard work by surrounding her with encouragement.  You will be amazed at the difference it makes.

Not noted in the three steps but certainly worth mentioning is the perfect reward!  If you seek the perfect gift to congratulate your dancer, try my newest gift box featuring a pair of homemade, organic, lavender, 6 ounce bath bombs.  They are, well, the bomb!

See how simple it is?  These three steps are a solid foundation to build out the rest of your dancer's efforts.  Are you already following this plan?  I hope you will share your experience here in the comments!  And if not, I hope you give it a try!  It is as easy as mothering dragons!