If you haven't heard it already, here's some breaking news:
The Medal Ball is a graduation party. The following is a list of tips to making the graduation process productive and enjoyable. For starters, you don't need to be a dance wizard to graduate. The event is designed to serves as a checkup, tuneup, or any other scheduled maintenance in your life.
This one is for your dance hobby.
Tips For Your Medal Ball Graduation at Arthur Murray
#1. You've Done The Work Already
Whether you're working on a Social Dance Program or a Competitive Dance Program, you've been learning the stuff you need to learn throughout. This is not that kind of test.
#2. Your Teacher Has Credibility
In any realm of academia, failing students (last time we checked) were not a good sign for teachers.... right? Well, here's a little secret, your teacher wouldn't ask you to participate unless you were ready to pass, and get great feedback.
#3. Mutual Benefit
The feedback you receive from this graduation process is designed to solidify your transition into the next stage of your dance program. That's not only helpful for you, but it's incredibly helpful for your teachers too.
#4. Proof Of Progress
Sometimes that inner-skeptic needs tangible proof of progress... otherwise that voice just blabs on and on. Your graduation certificate is that proof. Hang it on a wall, set it on your mantle, or fashion it into a belt buckle - whatever will do the trick as a reminder of your progress.
#5. What Is "Ready" Anyways?
It's good not to feel satisfied. There's always something you can do to improve. However, that shouldn't be misinterpreted as being unprepared. Your teacher will tell you that you're ready well before you may feel that way. In most cases, "ready" is a feeling that occurs when you're looking back on an event you were encouraged to participate in (Ex. "Wow, I really was ready to do that.").
#6. Dance What You Know
A dance judge can give you feedback based on how you dance basics, and your graduation is no different. When in doubt, limit the quantity of moves and focus on quality in your execution.
#7. Practice On Stage
A good habit to develop as you prepare to graduate is to dance without stopping. Being that we can all be critical of ourselves, or nit-pick small mistakes - this may take some getting used to. Doing this prepares you, in a strategic way, for dancing at an event. It doesn't need to be perfect. We recommend that you try dancing for 30, 60, and 90 seconds without stopping in each of the dances you are graduating from.
#8. The Catalog
There isn't a catalog of what Arthur Murray students look like at each level. Paricipating in your medalist gradutation, however, gives you a chance to see what the levels in the future look like. This can create some very productive conversations with your teachers so the vision of what you want to look like is clearer.
#9. Support Team
Working hard enough to graduate from a level is great, but celebrating that same accomplishment for the other students at your local Arthur Murray Dance Studio makes this event even more special. A supportive environment may have played a big part in you making it to this stage of your journey - cheering for others is how you return the favor.
Final Thought
We all get lost without direction.
The turns display the abilities of the navigator, the hand-off tests the timing of a relay team, and your teacher's recommendation to graduate will give you the direction necessary for success. The Medal Ball clarifies your journey as you ascend to new heights of your dance program, and find new limits of your comfort zone.
