When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you. – Paulo Coelho
Lots of people in Malaysia have tried learning about dance at least once in their life and most people probably attended several dance classes when they were a child.
Dancing lessons are popular both because of how fun it is and how creative it allows you to be, but have you ever tried dancing with the help of a private dance tutor or dance instructor?
Whether in a dance school, performing arts degree or in private classes with an instructor, many Malaysians are enjoying learning more about the art form and different dance styles through dance classes.
In this article, you'll find out how you can get dance lessons in Malaysia and learn more about the different types of dance instruction for all ages.
Why Should You Learn to Dance?
Dancing has numerous benefits! Dancing is both a sporting activity and creative activity, it’s a great way to keep yourself fit, mentally healthy, and build your confidence on the dance floor.
Source: Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
The ideal body for dancers is usually thin and toned so many people aspire to look like that. However, if you want to achieve the same results, beginners will have to be motivated and take dancing seriously. A single dance class won't cut it and being taught how to dance in a weekly class won’t suffice, either, you’ll have to also think about working out regularly.
If you want a healthy and toned body, you should complement your regular classes with cardio sessions, dance fitness, and Zumba, etc. Learning to dance can have the same health benefits as doing rhythmic gymnastics.
What are the long term health benefits of taking dance lessons?
“Dancing – however you do it, even if it’s in your living room – is a great workout.” – Ciara
Here are some health benefits that you can enjoy (regardless of your age group) when you start to take dance lessons from a dance teacher at a studio or take online dancing tuitions from a private dance tutor.
a) Enhance and increase your blood circulation system
One of the first things that you will learn in any dance class is the learning of having the right posture and also how to move your body in the right way according to the flow of the music. As you become more comfortable and confident, your dance teacher will then ask you to increase the number of dance moves and also increase the beat of the dance.
This means that your whole body will move more rigorously and as a result, your body needs to pump more blood to facilitate oxygen production for you as you breathe in and out. If you are a person who spends most of your time sitting at work or leading a rather sedentary style at home, you should take up a dance lesson for this main reason!
b) Effective way to strengthen various muscles of your body (Balanced exercise)
Dancing is a good method to have a whole body workout. From your head, shoulders, hands, waist, hip and legs, you can be sure that every muscle of this part gets the right toning and exercise. When your body's muscles are strong, you will find that you will have more strength when you carry out other physical activities in your daily life.
As a result, your body coordination (for movement and balance) will also improve. This is why dancing classes are a huge hit for every age group (from young kids to senior citizens). There is always a time for a dance, regardless of how old you are!
c) Serves as a good and fun way to lose weight
This is no doubt one of the greatest reasons why so many people pick up dancing. For instance, many people enjoy Zumba because it combines fun and fitness effectively. If you join a proper Zumba dance class, you might even get to burn 600 to 1000 calories per class.
d) Improves and regulates your emotions (Dance the stress away)
When you are exercising, you are solely focused on remembering and executing the dance moves as you listen to the music. Furthermore, dancing facilitates the release of endorphins, where it helps us to experience a form of emotional release. Whenever you join a dancing class, it lets you focus on yourself instead of endless distractions that you might experience during other times of the day. If you join a small dance group class, social bonding with others will also make you more sociable and cheerful when you make new friends too. In short, dancing makes you feel good!
Take dancing lessons: What are some popular dance-themed movies to inspire you?
Movies are not only a great way of entertainment, but they are also a reflection of creativity in performance and arts. Sleek choreographies and catchy numbers play important roles in musicals especially to create a cinematic, visually and rhythmically pleasing experience!
Here are 4 different movies that you can watch that showcased the beauty of dancing.
a) The Sound of Music
This everlasting classic is the perfect feel-good movie to inspire you to start swaying to the lovely songs. Follow Maria's adventure as a governess at the Von Trapp Family mansion. She will then meet the stern Captain Von Trapp and his seven children.
Maria's cheerful personality and musical talents soon changed the whole atmosphere of the house. She began to teach the children how to sing and perform in front of a great audience both at their mansion and a farewell stage later. If you are a folk dance lover, you can also catch a good scene of the Ländler ( a traditional Austrian folk dance) between the captain and Maria during a ball. It is a lively partner dance that requires hopping and stamping. It is a good reminder that you can learn to dance at a tender age (just like the children) in the movie with the help of a passionate and experienced dance teacher.
b) High School Musical
If you are a Disney movie fan, you will surely recognize the singing and dancing of the main characters: Troy Bolton, Gabriella Montex, Sharpay and Ryan Evans of East High School.
From the iconic choreographies that revolves around the basketball court and players ("Get'cha Head in the Game") to the dance moves at the school cafeteria ("Stick to the Status Quo") and the famous sing-along dance number ("We're All in This Together"), there is no way you will not feel the urge to dance after you have watched this movie. If you are currently a student and you have not had any experience dancing before (like Troy Bolton), it is never too late to start now. If you are a fan of the hip-hop music genre, perhaps now is the time to join a hip hop dance society at your school or your neighbourhood. Since you are already used to the rhythm of the music, you should be able to catch the dance moves faster. You might discover a new found passion for dancing.
Source: Insider.com
c) The Greatest Showman
If you are considering dancing as a career, this is the movie to watch! The Greatest Showman talks about passion for performance and the arts industry. If you are currently studying dancing in a university/ academy, you might dream of performing at the prestigious stage of Istana Budaya or a Broadway musical or even becoming a Hollywood dancer. Nothing is impossible as long as you persist to hone your craft.
This 2017 musical-drama movie is loosely based on the real-life story of P.T Barnum who became a successful entrepreneur by opening a circus that features different performers. Apart from the main characters (the actors), the movie also featured a great dancing ensemble that helped make the movie so phenomenal. Remember how the cast came together to perform the movie's empowering anthem " This Is Me" and the iconic song " The Greatest Show" at the beginning of the movie? That's the true scale of professional dancers.
d) Mamma Mia
Perhaps you have no longer a student, or you are no longer in your 20s, 30s, or even 40s. You began to think to yourself whether you can still learn to dance at your age. The answer is, of course, a BIG FAT YES! Just watch Mamma Mia!
Bear in mind that Meryl Streep, the actress that played the main character was 59 years old when she played the role of Donna Sheridan in the 2008 musical movie. Remember how she rocked the Dancing Queen scene with her friends? That proves that age is a number when it comes to dancing and expressing yourself with music.
There are many dance classes that you can take even if you are a senior citizen such as ballroom dancing (ranging from salsa, waltz, Latin), line dance, dance aerobics, line dance and even ballet!
Where to Find Dance Lessons Near Me in Malaysia?
Whether you attend a school of dance, a dance academy, get in touch with a dance company or get private dance lessons, there are plenty of places in Malaysia where you can find a dancer or choreographer who teaches dancing classes for all ages. In fact, some places even offer drop-ins.
Source: Photo by Budgeron Bach from Pexels
It’s important to choose the right place to learn to dance. When a beginner chooses the wrong class for their level or the wrong teaching style, they can quickly become disinterested in dancing. Make sure you carefully read the course description and make sure the tutor’s personality is going to work with yours.
Group classes, workshops, and camps can be useful for learning how to work with your partner, improve your verbal communication, and change the way you move. Group classes are also a great way to meet people, work out what your level is, and establish an objective to reach after a certain period of time. Making friends with the other dance students can help you better understand the lessons and share your concerns and achievements.
Here are some of the places you can get lessons in Malaysia:
- Cultural centres, gyms, or leisure centres
- Certified schools
- Private schools
- Dance associations
You won’t have to worry about finding a dance studio since these types of places have their own studios, other specialised facilities, and they provide top-notch dance education.
Of course, some students prefer getting dance tutorials because they can learn more quickly than they would with traditional dance training and have the flexibility of scheduling the lessons when it suits you whereas in a dance school you have to stick to the class schedule.
When you learn to dance with private tutorials, you benefit from a personalised approach and can study between lessons with the online and printed exercises your tutor gives you. You can find tutors offering classes for all ages, be it adult classes, classes for teens, or kids' dance classes.
To find private lessons, students should check out:
- Tutor profiles online
- Adverts in newspapers
- Private agencies offering classes
- Word of mouth
- Adverts on school bulletin boards, etc.
Learning how to dance at home gives you more autonomy to develop as a dancer and work on your choreography and a specific dance technique you've been struggling with. A private lesson usually takes place in a rented dance studio but can also take place at the student’s home if the tutor has the right equipment.
What's the Cost of Dance Lessons Near Me?
Taking classes sounds like fun, but how much do they cost?
Source: Aaron Chieng (The Star Online)
If you’re not familiar with the market, you may end up underestimating or overestimating the cost of an hour with a private tutor or end up not getting the service you’re after. You can find a fair price with just a bit of research and clearly defined criteria.
Firstly, remember that some schools and associations offer discounts for the unemployed, students, children, etc.
Some dance associations require an annual fee for membership. Nevertheless, you can still get the first lesson from a private tutor for free if you’re not sure.
Conservatoires and universities offer courses in dancing, but since these often include high fees and a long-term commitment from students, you have to be sure that this is what you want to go.
You need to consider the types of dancing that the teacher is teaching, too:
- Street Dance (Hip-Hop, popping, breakdancing)
- Kpop
- Ballroom dancing
- Line Dance
- Malay Traditional Dance
- Chinese Traditional Dance
- Classical Indian Dance
- Zumba
- Ballet
The more demand there is for a lesson, the higher the price will be. Of course, there are also alternatives if you plan to learn to dance for free.
When it comes to private tutorials, the student needs to keep in mind that their geographical location can affect the price of the lessons. The market for tutors will be more competitive in large cities which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.
Local economies will also affect prices as expensive cities will tend to have tutors charging higher rates than places with a lower cost of living. To make sure you don’t lose money by choosing the wrong tutor, remember that most tutors on Superprof offer their first hour of tuition for free. This taster session is a great time for the tutor and student to see if they get along and decide which styles of dance are right for them.
If you're a beginner and don't know any of the fundamental dance moves, you should learn to dance with a tutor who can help you build some confidence. An introductory workshop might be useful, too, if you're happy to take a group class or don't have the budget for private tuition.
If you're looking for an intermediate classical ballet class, there are plenty of dance schools and academies offering lessons. However, if you're after a tutor who focuses on posture or footwork, then it might be worthwhile getting private lessons.
Teens' and kids' dance classes are a whole different story. While all dance classes require the tutor to have a good knowledge of their style and teaching techniques, these classes require the tutor to be good with kids and keep them interested in the discipline.
Find the best prices for private tutorials on Superprof!
How To Find Good Dance Teachers/ Instructors in Malaysia?
Before you start learning how to dance, you need to choose the right dance teacher or instructor! You also need to think about the dance styles you're interested in and the abilities you want to work on. No matter what type of performer you want to be, you can find a tutor.
Source: The Star Online
Beginners often struggle to find the right tutor or dance workshop as they’re not sure what they’re supposed to be paying for. That’s why you should have a look at the reviews and testimonials left by the tutor’s other students so you can see how popular they are.
However, a teacher that works for one student may not work for another. It’s therefore essential that you make the right choice when choosing your tutor. Private dance lessons are becoming more and more popular and thanks to the huge variety on offer, you'll soon see why.
You should take the following into account when choosing your tutor:
- Dance qualifications
- Reputation
- Experience as a dance tutor
- Experience as a dancer
- Rates
- Levels they teach
- Dance equipment and resources they provide to their students
- Where the lessons take place (dance hall, gym, dance studios, etc.)
- Style of dance
- Versatility
- Teaching style
During the free taster session with your Superprof tutor, you should evaluate the potential tutor. While some students prefer a careful and calculated approach to learning choreography, others may prefer an intensive and quicker approach to learning and work on a full routine rather than the minutiae of a dance performance.
You should encourage your tutor to talk about how they like to teach their students. Think of it a bit like an audition for your tutor.
To find the best prices for your lessons, you should also check out the lessons offered by students looking to earn some extra money during their studies.
While students might be excellent dancers, you should keep in mind that these self-taught tutors mightn’t be as skilled when it comes to their teaching skills in comparison to an experienced or qualified teacher.
Explore Traditional Dancing In Malaysia And The Reasons to Dance!
If you are an old soul and have a soft spot for the traditional cultures in Malaysia, perhaps you should consider taking up a traditional Malaysian dance. Whether it is mak yong, tarian lilin, or the evergreen joget that you usually watch during cultural nights, it serves as a great way of showcasing the cultural heritage of our country.
As you could probably guess, with traditional dances, you can not only learn how to dance but also get into shape. It's a great way to study traditional dance moves while toning your muscles. Your shoulders, legs, and abs will also be hard at work during an energetic session and, after a lot of practice, you’ll start to see that dancer’s body emerging.
It relaxes muscles as well as being great at the end of a stressful week which is why a lot of couples and families choose to do classes together in leisure centres and gyms.
As you’ve probably gathered by now, there are few things better for your body and mind than dancing! Want even more reasons to dance? Check out our top 15 reasons to dance.
So why not start learning how to dance today with the help of a professional dancer?
All dance classes in various parts of Malaysia are different so if one's not working for you, you can just head to Superprof and hunt for another talented dancing tutor at your fingertips.
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