Why do some dancers excel faster than others? Maybe talent has something to do with it, but I believe that individual practice plays a larger role. You need time to focus in on the areas that are most difficult for you, to experiment with solutions, and solidify what you've learned. Class time is great for learning new steps, learning from peers, and gaining stamina, but it will never replace individual practice.

Every ballet class begins with plies. The plie is a time to center yourself, prepare your mind, and begin to warm up your body. But, with such a repetitive and seemingly easy exercise (don’t be fooled!), it's easy to just go through the motions.

Next time you're in class, try these tips to help you get the most out of your class from the very beginning.

I've recently been inspired by Steven Johnson's book and TED talk and Netflix documentary on where good ideas come from. Good ideas don't come from individual Eureka moments, but instead from many years of cultivating a wide range of ideas. Over time, these ideas collide in different ways, and in these collisions, new discoveries are made. Things that didn't make sense previously can make perfect sense in light of new ideas and learnings.