This has been a crazy year to say the least and it may seem crazier still to be focusing on goal setting when we are still getting used to the new and temporary changes to our everyday life, but goal setting is a great way to ground yourself through whatever adjustments you have to make during the year. This past dance year on Zoom was really challenging for all of us and we are all so proud of our students and how hard they worked. Now that we are back in studio you can take advantage of being physically in a space made for dance. Keep in mind that this year’s goals may be very different from other years so here are some (slightly altered) tips for setting them.

• Start by revisiting last year’s goals. Which ones did you reach? Were there any that you had to put on hold due to dancing virtually?
• Ask yourself if you want to set goals to build on ast year’s progress, if you want to tackle something completely new, or maybe a mix of both. Keep in mind, less will be more this year because you may need to incorporate regaining your flexibility, endurance, or other skills that may have dropped off a bit from being out of the studio.
• Take the Goals to the Source: Your Teacher – talk to your teacher about the goals that you are looking to reach this year. They will give you honest feedback of whether you are over (or under) extending yourself, and help you with different ways to achieve them.
• Once you have your big overall goals, build in the smaller daily, weekly, and monthly goals that will help you to check in with your progress along the way. This will help you and your teacher to know if you need to adjust anything. You can also share your plan with a parent, friend, or teacher who can help keep you on track and motivated!
• Celebrate! This seems a little premature, but you should celebrate each time you reach a milestone. Maybe you celebrate your first month mark, or celebrate when you gain that double pirouette. The important part is to appreciate your own hard work because it will keep you going!

Our whole staff at Dance Connection is looking forward to a great year, and we are here to help you improve and to support you in any way we can. Jump into the comments and let us what goals you have for this year!