Balancing Dance and School
By Faith Potter, DWC Ambassador | pronunciation: Fay-th Pot-ter | pronouns: she/her
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Dance is a full time commitment and sport that takes hours of dedication. As a teenager however, school is also a commitment. This balance is not something everyone can master, here are a few ideas that have helped me to find that perfect middleground.
Tip 1: Get a planner.
It is extremely important in today’s hectic world to have a place to schedule your life. For me that looks like setting specific times around my pre-scheduled school and dance classes to make time for my homework. I am also sure to set time before I go to bed to stretch and roll out any sore muscles after dance. Even though this will look different for everyong, keeping a planner takes stress off your life and allows you to feel like things are being taken care of.
Tip 2: Focus on your surroundings.
Something I have found that helps me balance school and dance is focusing on where I am. If I am at school I'm not thinking about dance and vise versa. I usemy time to put my best foot forward on whatever I’m doing whether that is a math test or a plie combination. This helps focus your mind and not worry about the future but stay in the present.
Tip 3: Balance your time.
As a dancer, you may have a tendency to add too much to your plate. Aside from school and dance, you may try to juggle a job or want to hang out with friends and family. Beware of this trap! Putting too much on your plate can lead to burnout. Each week I try writing down my schedule to visualize it and if you can't fiteverything in then consider cutting something out.
Tip 4: School first
Know when to put school first. Depending on the person, dance may be a higher priority in someone's life but academics are still important. Acknowledging that school gets hard or demanding and that it might need to come before dance . For example, if you have a test in the morning and know you need to study, try communicating with your dance teacher and let them know that you may need to miss dance one day so that you don't have to stay up all night studying. If allowed, use this time wisely and really put school first.
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Tip 5: Fuel yourself
Fueling your mind and body is the main key to balance, so remember to eat! With long days and busy schedules it will do you no good if you aren't fueled and ready for your day. Three healthy meals and a snack here and there will definitely set you up for success throughout your day. Exercising your mind and body all day can be very tiring so another way to fuel your body can be taking a nap or just taking a moment between classes for alone time can be very helpful in rejuvenating your body and mind. And remember to stay hydrated!
These are just the things I’ve found have helped me through the years. Every dancer is different and will need different things. Check in with yourself and try out different methods to stay happy and healthy!
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