Getting in shape for a dance?

December 6, 2008 10:51 PM

I have about a week to get in shape to do a 6 minute choreographed dance. What exercises will help me with endurance?

I have been drafted into dancing at a close relative's wedding. I am concerned I will not be able to keep up. I've been told to "get in shape" for the dance number.

I have no dance experience. I am 6ft, 230 pounds, and pretty pudgy. That's not to say I don't exercise. I am active and do olympic style weight lifting, full court basketball, and jogging among other things. What I'm concerned with is the extra weight I carry.

I have not seen the actual dance so I can't practice that. I am supposed to learn it in a day. I've been told it's the kind of dance you'd find in a Bollywood film.

What kind of exercises, besides the actual dance, would increase my agility and stamina to successfully dance at a high tempo for about 6 to 9 minutes?


On a related note, how do you keep your cool when performing in front of fairly large audience (600)? Dancing and performing are way outside my comfort zone.

posted by abdulf to health & fitness (7 comments total)

Suicide drills on the basketball court and jump rope would help your agility and stamina, but I'm skeptical about gains within a week. Instead, you should probably try to quicken your footwork/coordination.
posted by hobbes at 11:09 PM on December 6, 2008

You can't significantly change your stamina in a week.
posted by Class Goat at 11:30 PM on December 6, 2008

n'thing you can't. I used to figure skate, and a 4 minute program was something I trained towards for a few years. That level of stamina is built over time.

I have no idea why someone would ask you to do something like this - it sounds pretty unreasonable, and potentially a pretty complex dance to learn if you're not used to learning choreography to boot.
posted by wingless_angel at 11:53 PM on December 6, 2008

Hmm, Bollywood, you say? By any chance, is this for a desi wedding? If so, may I suggest that you shouldn't stress too much about being in shape for it? I say so because one of these events got sprung on me a few days before a wedding a few years back. I'm a crap dancer and at that point had not hit the gym in, oh, five years. But I gamely tried to master the routine in the hour of practice we were given, and the next day (at the mehndi), our incredibly shabby performance won many applause and cat calls, because the point isn't so much to dance well (or else you'd be given a lot more forewarning and training), the point is kind of to embarrass yourself in a fun, loving way for the bride and groom and family and friends. (Well, it was for our group, at least. The routine done by the cousin who was also a professional Kathak dancer? Yeah, not so embarrassing.)

If this isn't for a wedding... then ignore the above, sorry to be of no help!
posted by artemisia at 1:24 AM on December 7, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Jumping rope will kick your ass the way you're looking for it to. Buy a nice rope or make one of heavy line, and jump it at least 100 times every time you have 45 seconds. Carry it with you. Stay on your toes. Try to go as fast as you can w/o messing up. Start your count over if you do mess up. Try to get to 1000 consecutively before the end of the week. Also, make sure that whenever you do breath, that you're exhaling on an UP not on a DOWN.
posted by TomMelee at 5:53 AM on December 7, 2008

Try to keep up some cardio, but I agree that if it's for a desi wedding you don't really need to be "in shape". Is there ANY way you can get the choreography now? I'm a semi-professional dancer and pretty much the only way to get stamina for a particular dance is to do that dance over and over and over again.

As for nerves, remember that even if you screw up, no one is going to boo. No one's going to walk out or probably even remember that you messed up. They're thrilled to be sitting down and entertained, and the whole thing is a celebration. Some people are more nervous performing for friends and family, some are more nervous performing for strangers. Which are you? When you're out there, imagine the audience is the opposite group.

You'll do fine--have fun with it!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 8:39 AM on December 7, 2008

I agree that it's probably much less about your dancing expertise than showing off in a fun and silly way for the guests. But why don't you just find a how-to on some other Bollywood dance and practice that for the week? It will get you familiar with the general movement and exuberance of that kind of dance, and should make the real dance seem more familiar.
posted by tyrantkitty at 9:17 AM on December 7, 2008