The first piece of advice I give out always remains unchanged. That advice is this: go get a locking teacher. A good locking teacher can take you from a complete beginner to an accomplished locker if you be the good student and practise and apply what you learn.

When you learn from a teacher, you will get to learn about how to do the moves and what makes the style work. You also have other benefits such as being able to learn from the teachers’ experience and past mistakes they may have made when learning themselves.

If your teacher is not someone you will meet in real life but a virtual teacher then I would recommend learning from a DVD rather than individual locking tutorials. Tutorials are good for getting started but are never going to be as complete as a DVD will.

A DVD is much more likely to offer you a more complete training, as well as shed some insight into the dance and style as a whole rather than just be centred around certain popular moves.

In addition to regularly learning from a teacher, another important piece of advice I would share is to try and learn from someone that was involved at locking’s inception, someone that was involved in the creation of locking.

No one can give you a better understanding of locking than the people who created the steps, who made the dancing what it is and saw it all through their experience.

I have only been afforded the chance to listen to Don Campbell speak once but it was very educational and gave me a much better understanding of where the dance came from, why things were done the way they were and what they were expressing as they came out to dance.

If you are able to get hold of footage of the lockers, this can be very inspiring and you will be able to watch the creators in action and see where the dance started.

The other piece of advice I share is something which makes learning and growth possible…stick at it. It may take a while to get used to new steps you may learn and to really be able to groove with the music as you dance, but anything worth accomplishing is worth spending time on.

The freedom that comes from being able to just strip away layers and let your personality come out as you dance can be immense. It can become such an uplifting experience to express yourself when that music kicks in that all you want to do is dance.

If that’s something you wish to experience and music can have that effect on you, then stick at it.

Most people often equate childhood with fun and games. Even expectant parents plan on enrolling their children in leagues and in a variety of sports activities. And like grownups, the young ones also are born with innate talents, and these are the things that make them all the more unique. Some aren’t born athletic. They just don’t take to sports the way others do. As much as you enroll them in different classes, they don’t finish the entire course. It’s especially hard to convince them when they’re younger. If they don’t feel like doing something, they may end up throwing fits and tantrums.

However, you shouldn’t also force them into doing something they don’t like. Sure, you can expose them to a variety of hobbies, but when you see that they don’t like it, let them be and explore other options. At this tender age, they should be free of pressure. Let them enjoy their childhood. And who knows, their interests could lean toward dancing. Instead of just setting your mind on one thing, you can try to enroll them in a dance class. After all, it has its own share of benefits. Whatever their talents are, be it in sports and dancing, you should give them all the support they need.

So, what are the benefits of dancing? Take a look at its long list and you’ll see that it’s something you can seriously look into. Here are just some of the many things your children will enjoy:

1. It gets them involved with an after-school activity. That way, your children avoid sedentary activities such as watching TV and playing video games. You actually get them out of the house.

2. They develop their own set of friends with similar interests. Dance creates a highly social environment, and that means that when they form alliances and friendships, their self-confidence increases.

3. You fine tune their motor skills. They will be asked to use their entire body to execute different dance moves. Coordination is something they’ll develop, and when they master the steps, they also become more graceful.

4. They now have an outlet for all that extra energy. Rather than shouting at the top of your lungs constantly when they make a ruckus at home, you give them a place where they can move a lot and not get into trouble for it.

5. They learn discipline, a skill required even when they grow old. Dancing requires that you listen to your teachers, watch the other dancers, and work well with others in the group.

6. Dance requires both sides of the brain to be used. And that means that you practice self-control and creativity.

7. Dancing makes your child healthier. It builds muscle strength, lengthens endurance, and establishes balance. And like exercise, this is also a good workout.

8. You expose your child to the arts at a young age. They will learn different songs from different cultures, and even simple ones will help increase and enhance their vocabulary.

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Many sites will offer a “free” trial, where you are a gay can log in, set up an account, look around a bit, and decide if it’s right for you. Then if you decide that you like what you see and want to continue with their service, you may have to pay some sort of “set-up” fee, or a nominal monthly charge, or both.

First, there are different styles of tights or leg wear – leg warmers, Capri pants, leggings, leotards, unitards, and bodysuits, to name a few.

Legwarmers are acrylic knit socks, sort of like sweaters for legs that dancers wear for extra warmth while dancing. They usually sit just below the knee and have stirrup slots at the toe to fit easily over a pair of dance tights and ballet shoes.

The length of material for tights sometimes determines what they are called. Capri pants are similar to full tights only they end at mid-calf, for a little more freedom of movement in warmer rooms. Leggings are also similar to fully footed tights, only their material ends at the ankle, leaving the foot free.

Likewise, there are longer, one-piece garments like tank top or long-sleeve unitards that give a unified shape and a very clean look for the sake of simplicity. For younger students of dance, clothing suppliers offer “biketards” that extend from the shoulders to the thighs.

Then there are undergarments that protect and accentuate a dancer’s body. Camisoles, bras, and briefs are made of the same nylon and spandex materials as dance tights, and provide a level of comfort and support for layered costumes and dancewear. There are skirts, shorts, dresses, and tutus, for example, that adds colour and shape to the character of particular dance styles.

Then there are the styles of the tights themselves, like fishnets, convertibles, supplex, stirrup, high gloss, and opaque tights that meet the needs of different styles of dance. Opaque and metallic tights are even utilised as casual wear for college girls or to accompany skirts and spring dresses.

Convertible tights have a hole under the arch so that dancers can change into socks, slippers, shoes without having to remove their tights. Stirrup tights have just a band of material to place over the foot for more mobility. Fishnet tights are popular with jazz and more contemporary styles of dance.

One interesting addition to some pairs of tights used in ballroom dancing is the addition of rhinestones or other jewels to add some sparkle to a costume used in competitive dance. The extra flair is noticeable when female dancers twirl and spin on stage with their leading men.

Leotards are a usual accompaniment to dance tights. They generally cover only the torso and have a scoop neck with either short or long sleeves. The higher quality garments are made from the same nylon material as tights are, and the antimicrobial fabric resists bacteria growth and “breathes” well to keep moisture off the body. Bodysuits and unitards cover more of the body, but accomplish the same thing.

The range of colours, varieties, and high-performance materials produced by today’s manufacturers make dance tights more versatile than ever before. Women (and men) of all ages and levels have plenty of options in finding the right dancewear to suit their individual needs.

1. Search for a DVD that will help you learn how you are using your body as you dance, not just do the moves. You want to dance with feeling, not just be a man made robot capable of pulling off a few moves.

2. Aim to get hold of a DVD that will teach you how to be funky when you do the moves. It’s all about the funk, whatever you do in locking has got to be funky and it’s a big part of the dance.

3. See if you can get samples of the instructor’s teaching style to make sure that it suits you. Teachers have different ways of explaining things and you are bound to find some that you are more comfortable learning from than others.

4. Learn from teachers that have expended a lot of time and energy into learning locking. In other words you want to learn from a teacher that will have some of their own knowledge to pass on, as opposed to someone that has learnt it as a fourth or fifth choice dance style.

5. Don’t expect one DVD to teach you everything! One hour of teaching would just be skimming the surface.

6. Make sure everything is broken down for you. When you are in the learning stage, you want to know exactly what each part of your body is doing and when. You don’t want to second guess!

7. Select the right level. If you are a beginner, start at beginners!

8. Make sure your instructor knows who Don Campbell is!

9. If you are buying a locking DVD, don’t expect a popping and locking DVD unless it says that’s what it is. A locking DVD will normally be just that – just locking included.

10. Make sure your instructor knows the difference between popping and locking!

11. Expect to work hard – don’t select a DVD because you think it will keep you seated in your chair.

12. Do your own research. In addition to getting your hands on a DVD, learn about the history of the dance, get to lessons and learn as much as you can about the dance style you are studying.

Children that take lessons at kids dance studios have to guard against injuries. A good instructor will do whatever it takes to protect children from injury. However, accidents do happen. There are two injuries that young dancers experience quite often.

Ankle Sprains

A sprained ankle is a common mishap. In fact, it’s probably the most common mishap that dancers face. An ankle that has been sprained in the past is more likely to be sprained again. It’s easy to get an ankle injury. Performing a step wrong or landing incorrectly after a leap are common invitations to ankle damage.

A child may not realize their ankle is injured when it first occurs. But pain when walking is the first sign. There may also be swelling. In severe cases, the child might not be able to put any weight on the ankle at all.

The best cure for a damaged ankle is rest, ice, compression, and elevation. It usually takes two to three weeks for an ankle to completely heal. It could take much longer if the injury is severe. And then, the child should still be checked to make sure the ankle can withstand rehearsals and performance. If the injury is extreme, the child might require surgery.

Pulled Hamstring

Dancing isn’t a contact sport, but hamstring injuries do occur. The hamstring is a very important part of a dancer’s body. It’s used in practically every movement the lower body makes. When it becomes stressed or too tight, an injury can occur.

Unfortunately, many people don’t realize when they have a hamstring injury. They might think all they need to do is stretch more and things will get better. But, that’s the wrong thing to do. Stretching a pulled hamstring makes it worse. The hamstring should be allowed to heal first. Only then should stretching and strengthening exercises be performed.

Technique is Important

Injuries are a part of a dancer’s life. Luckily, the injuries usually aren’t too serious or career ending. Encourage your child to dance, but also encourage them to use proper technique. That’s the best way to minimize the possibility of injuries.