Dance class after care often gets overlooked. When you’ve completed your dance class or video, you feel you’ve achieved a lot. You want to celebrate.
But, you must take care of your body – it’s just been put through a workout.
Here are a few things to consider after dance class:
Your Feet
This is a bit of an etiquette thing as well as common sense but don’t walk home from your dance class in the shoes you’ve danced your lesson in.
Your feet are going to be hot and sweaty, so your dancing shoes need to be aired out and you’ll feel the benefit of putting on a different pair of shoes that are cooler than the ones you’ve danced your class in.
Also, dance studio rules everywhere are pretty firm that indoor (dance) shoes are mandatory so changing into them when you arrive for your class and out of them at the end should be a natural thing.
Body Temperature
Taking a few thin layers of clothing to a class is always a good idea, that way you can always put on or take off clothes to adjust your temperature.
Wrap up as soon as you have finished dancing. You may feel hot after class but going out in the cold in your dance wear could cause your muscles to cramp.
Even better?
A hot shower after class once home:).
Also, pinning your hair up can help as it keeps your hair off the back of your neck, and therefore helps to cool you down slightly.
Hydration
Drink plain water during and after your class. You need to replace those lost fluids to prevent dehydration. Even mild dehydration can give you a bit of a headache and make you feel lethargic.
Avoid coffee, pop and alcohol until you’re sure your body has fully recovered from class. Sticking to plain water, pure fruit juice or fruit and herbal teas is usually a good idea.
If your dance class after care regime doesn’t contain anything else, make sure it’s this one tip you follow and keep your fluid levels up.
Nutrition
Everyone is different but the standard rule is that a light meal or snack is preferable to a really heavy meal after activity; your system needs to recover from exercise.
If it’s an option, preferably wait about an hour before a large meal, alcohol or coffee. This will give your body an opportunity to return to a resting state. If you’re hungry and can’t wait, drink water and our fave dancer food – Bananas – is great as a snack as they are high in potassium which helps to prevent cramping.
Rest and Recovery
An often overlooked tip is to leave yourself rest time before bedtime if dancing in the evening as the body can take a long time to return to its resting state after a bout of exercise – even if the dance class is very gentle.
Going straight to bed too soon after may give you a restless night so make sure there’s enough time between dancing and bedtime to properly wind down. Give yourself time to wind down and reflect mentally and emotionally after a class, and not just physically.
It works the other way too. If you’ve been feeling lacking in energy, sluggish and bored, a dance class can be just the thing to pep you up and get your motor running. That’s the beauty of dance; it can be adapted to suit any body, any needs and any dreams.
Elan Dance Arts (EDA) offers dancers a new level of dance training through programs that are not offered anywhere else in the city.
Starting from ages 2.5 to adults whether it’s for certified examinations or simply for health, fun and recreation, we’re the studio for you!
EDA is the only ADAPT certified studio in the SouthWestern Ontario area. We specialize in educating students using the distinguished Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) syllabus created by Brian Foley, one of Canada’s most renowned dance teachers, directors and choreographers. ADAPT offers yearly examinations in the dance disciplines of Tap and Jazz. The syllabus teaches a strong solid technical foundation, along with artistic expression preparing students to enter the dance profession.
At EDA we strongly believe that Dance as an art form is one of the most beautiful and exciting experiences one can have in life. We are highly devoted and dedicated to the process of the development and popularization of dance activities among people of all ages.
We are also fully committed to providing our students with the highest level of education.
Nutrition