Golden Wright's Seven Tips That Will Make You A Better Dance Partner

1. Safety First 
Do a thorough warm up. Start small. Mark through the dance with your partner and without lifts. Always use spotters. Dancers can get hurt on the easiest of lifts. Practice the lifts before you begin a run. Speak up if you feel uncomfortable or feel unsafe. 

2. Build Trust
Trust can be earned in a number of different ways. Showing up to class /rehearsal early. Knowing the choreography that was taught at the previous rehearsal. Treat other dancers with respect. Obey the studio rules. Wearing proper attire. What you do before you touch your partner builds a foundation of trust. Trust goes both ways. 

3. Be Genuine
When partnering it is important to initiate and react in a genuine way. As rehearsals continue, we know what is going to happen. Continue to react and not preemptively move before your partner initiates the next movement. Example: Don't answer the door before someone rings the doorbell. 

4. Practice
Growing up playing sports, I repeatedly heard the term “practice makes perfect.” One day a dancer told me, “practice make permanent.” I was so wrong and completely agreed with what she said. I changed my philosophy. If you partner with someone and it doesn’t work, doing it the same way will probably end with the same results. Just like all aspects of dance, partnering requires lots of time and effort.

5. Communication
Communication is key. Talk to your partners about what worked and what did not. The less time you have, the more important the communication. I have danced with partners that we lived in separate cities. We learned the choreography and then didn’t see each other until the week or day of the show. Use your time wisely. Compliment your partner when things go well and tell them what you need when things don’t go according to plan. Most of us are not mind readers. Talk to each other. Be direct but polite, and apply the feedback.

6. Be Flexible
It is okay is something goes wrong. Sometimes changes need to be made. We are in this together whether we succeed or fail. Often, choreography is not 50-50. Choreography will evolve and change. Partners will come and go. In order to be successful dancers, we must give 100% all the time.

7. Pay attention to detail
It is important to eliminate the variables. Each time try to do it exactly the say way it was successful in the studio. Performing choreography the exact same way will limit the number of things that can go wrong. Both dancers will know what is going to happen and how to react to it. Surprises happen when we dance! We have all been there.

Overall, the goal is to dance as one duet and not as two soloists. Hopefully these seven things will help you become a better partner in the studio and on the stage.