Beginner vs Advanced Dancers

Last Updated on October 9, 2024 by

Ashley Rhianne

A beginner dancer knows they know nothing. They are aware of how much they have yet to learn, and they approach the process with openness, focusing on absorbing new information and developing basic skills.

An intermediate dancer, having gained some confidence, often believes they know everything. At this stage, it’s easy to feel like they’ve figured out most of what there is to know, which can sometimes lead to overlooking essential details or skipping over practice.

An advanced dancer, however, understands that the learning never stops. With experience comes the realization that there is always more to refine, more to explore, and that true mastery means consistently revisiting the fundamentals.

This past month, I had the pleasure of hosting and studying with the incomparable Shahrzad here in Vancouver. One of the most valuable lessons I learned during our training was the importance of working on foundational movements. This is where we build our dance from. It’s easy to get caught up in advanced choreography or complicated sequences, but it all starts with solid basics. Without them, the rest simply doesn’t work.

Though it may be humbling to return to the basics, it’s exactly where we all need to train. Mastering advanced movements doesn’t mean you’ve outgrown the fundamentals; it means you understand their value and how essential they are to your growth as a dancer.

I used to take beginner ballet classes at a studio where Ballet BC members also attended. It was both intimidating and inspiring. Despite being advanced professionals who performed regularly, they still made the commitment to return to their roots and strengthen their basics. They understood that the entirety of their technique was built on this foundation. Regularly revisiting these fundamentals was part of their ongoing development and success.

I’ve had students bristle at the suggestion of taking beginner classes in mixed-level sessions. What they often don’t realize is that this provides an opportunity to become an even better dancer. Once the foundation is strong, the layers of complexity can be added more effectively and with greater precision.

There is no shame in returning to beginner or intermediate levels. This is where meaningful progress happens. The more solid the foundation, the more a dancer can grow, and this growth is often more noticeable in classes that focus on the basics. A strong foundation creates better technique, more control, and greater freedom in movement.