No matter what we do in life we are constantly at a learning stage and with belly dance there is no exception to this rule! It does not matter if you have been dancing for 1 month or 10 years there is always something new to learn. There are certain levels with learning and as we gain more confidence we climb up to the next level. My motto is: never stop growing and never stop learning. I have always felt this way with everything I have done and it is even more true with dancing.
The first stage in the learning process is unconscious incompetence. This stage is when a dancer may be just learning or has not started yet but is thinking about learning. They do not fully understand the dance yet or they do not know about it. Each dancer or student will vary at this stage it really all depends on their own desire to learn.
The second stage is conscience incompetence. In this stage the dancer is still at the point where they do not understand the dance yet, but what is realized in this stage is that they realize their shortfalls and understanding the value of learning. This is done when a dancer starts processing the steps and or moves and is a big part of the learning process.
The third stage is conscience competence. This is when the light goes on. The dancer or student starts to understand the dance and the moves start feeling natural in her own body. Even though the dancer knows what she is doing it still takes alot of concentration to execute the moves. I see this all the time in class where I will tease my girls and tell them I see smoke coming up out of their heads! This though is a fun and exciting time for me as a teacher when I can see my students go through each phase and step.
Unconscious competence is the fourth stage and this is where the moves become part of the dancer inside and out. This is when the moves are second nature and happens after much practice. Each dancer will arrive at this stage and different times and there is no exact timeframe. It depends on you as the student and dancer how far are you willing to go and how much practice your willing to do. At this stage the dancer is able to layer easily and ad props to her dance such as zills. This involves doing two tasks at a time.
So I ask you where are you? It does not matter where you are going it is what is at the end and the final result. Being able to recognize these stages and knowing where you are will help you as a dancer and to keep you going in whatever you decide to learn.
Copy right June, 2011
i like this article.i think im in the middle of the 2nd stage.im not sure if im getting close the 3rd stage yet.i say this because my class is only 1 day a week,at a gym.ive been dancing for 2 years.im taking classical egyptian.their are times when it doesnt feel right.our class had a showcase in may 2011,i did well. we saw the taping recently.ive been prepping myself by studying other dancers and trying to find my niche. so i could say the light is on for the 3rd stage?(HMMMMM) i like drums, im earthy and slinky, and im getting very good with my zills!!! im ready to get into it more, but with some zest.i keep myself contained so i wont show off my practice skills at home when i get to class. alot of the girls come for fun. i do too.my teacher is great!!!!! and i dont want to fuse things in thats shes not teaching.shes called me being to slinky(LOL) thanks for this article, im gonna pass this on to the class, i finally have an explanation as to why i have 2 left feet at times!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love to you……..felecia
Hi Felecia!
Thanks for commenting on my article! I am really glad that you enjoyed it and I am very glad that it benefited you in realizing what stage you are in! Feel free to pass it on to your class! We all have 2 left feet at times when we are learning something new! Thank you for sharing a little bit about you! Seeing video of yourself is very important in learning and seeing what moves you are comfortable with and the moves that need worked on. I am sure you did well! Keep working and honing your skills that is the best thing you can do! It is good that you are trying to find you niche and finding yourself this is really important in the dance since it is an art form and self expression of your feelings and your body. I tell my students all the time that I want them to find themselves and to be able to express themselves in there own way. I am there to guide them and it is a wonderful experiance for myself as a teacher when my students start to really blossom.
I myself sometimes experiance different stages when I am dancing this is even more so when I am studying under someone new and I am learning new things and my 2 left feet kick in! So here is to our 2 left feet! Love…Najla
Allison, Enjoyed your article on the stages of belly dance… Explaining how dance is a ongoing journey, helps to relax and enjoy the contionous development,I am always intriqued with all the new moves when I am in class.. thanks , hugs,Catharine
Good Morning Catharine!
I am glad you enjoyed the article! Belly dance is a journey and we never know where it is going to lead us!
Hugs!
Najla