How do you count steps in dance?

Question

I'm on a dance team but I'm awful at counting! I just don't understand how you know how fast the counts go and how you know when to start? And if you get off how do you get back on counts? I have a performance coming up in a week and it still looks like I don't know my routine because I can't count it. If some one could explain counting for me that would be really helpful! Thanks!

Answer 1

okay depending on the speed of ur dance ur beats will b faster or slower. U alwayz count 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. some teachers do 1 and a 2..ect. every beat is a new step usually or you may hold it for to or three. since ur one the dance team i'm gunna assume u know all ab kicks....ex. first beat kick 2nd beat turn 3 beat kick 4.5and 6 beat pause 7 and 8 smile...u gotta know the counts or ur timing will be off. Count out loud if you have 2...eventually it will be automatic. good luck

Answer 2

Do you have an friends who are in band?  See if you can get one of them to come with you to dance practice.  You might even want to get them to videotape the team going through the routine so later you can watch the video together and you'll be able to hear the music.

Band people understand this counting music thing and they can explain it in ways that will make sense to you.  People who dance and just "get it" when it comes to counting - they can't explain it to you because they never had to learn it.  

I was involved in competitive dancing for several years and loved it.  But my coach spent hours and hours with me, trying to teach me to hear the beats, listen to the count, find the up-ticks and the down beats and the accents that would let me know where I was supposed to be when I (invariably) got out of step.  Some music has counts in eights and some has counts in sixes and some music has syncopation that does funky stuff to your brain when your feet try to translate it.  It was a challenge to learn and I was still a long way from mastering it even after 2 years of 3 to 6 hours a week in dance lessons.

I told the man when I started that I have NO sense of rhythm.  

But that's my suggestion - find a musically inclined person to watch practice, video tape it, and then watch the video with you to help you hear the beats for this upcoming performance.  

Good luck!!!

Answer 3

Sit and listen to the song you are meant to be dancing to. Obviously, it will have a beat. Every song has a different beat, some faster, some slower. You can count double time, especially to slower beats. So instead of 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8, you would go 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 so count it quicker.

You need to develop a sense of rythm. There is no use in dancing if your not dancing with the music. Every move you do should be on a count. Unless you have a really dodge choreographer, your routine should fit exactly in time to the music.

Example, step kick, step ball change, hitch kick, step ball change

Counts:

1,2, 3 and 4, 5,6, 7 and 8.

See how some steps go on the "and" counts?

You need to really practice practise practise. Sit and listen to the music, counting beats in your head in block of 8. Then start saying the steps in your head as opposed to the counting. The get up and do the steps, make sure your staying exactly on the beat.

It's very odd that you can't pick up rythm. Most teachers would work with this with you. If you have been dancing since you were young, then you don't really have an excuse (besides the teaching) as to why you cant dance in time to music... if your new to dancing, then you have an excuse.

Answer 4

My experience is that the count was always :

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8

Learn the movements and then add the count to pick up your speed.  

Answer 5

Most music is in either standard or cut time, and you aren't likely to have a lot of waltz time music on your team. And most of the music also has an accent on the first beat of the measure. If you just listen while at home, you'll also note that it's also phrased so the odd measures are generally predominant, with the following even measures subordinate in phrasing. That's why it's generally counted in eights. Just get in the habit of counting music at home and not dancing, and it'll carry over naturally.

Answer 6

its pretty easy listen to the music! there is always a beat

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. over and over