Small Habits, Big Results: How Tiny Changes Can Transform Your Dancing

When I was around 15 years old, a choreographer gave me a compliment & some advice—“You’ve got great talent but need more stamina if you want to get through the more difficult routines.”

At the time, I didn’t have the time (or energy) to overhaul my entire training schedule. But I also didn’t want to let that feedback go to waste. So, I made a decision: I would add just a few changes to my day, every day.

Before bed, I started doing five minutes of core work. Nothing fancy, just consistent. And I began waking up 20 minutes earlier to run on my dad’s old treadmill in the basement for 15 minutes.  Not too fast, just a light jog before school. 

I didn’t change everything. I just shifted a little. But here’s the magic part—within two months, my stamina had improved so much that both my teachers & choreographers noticed a huge difference.

The Power of Small Habits

There’s a method of habit-building that focuses on starting tiny. The idea is simple: connect a small new action to something you already do every day. You don’t need to wait for motivation or massive amounts of time. You just need to start small—and be consistent.

For example:

• After brushing your teeth, practice your spotting in the mirror to get those turns down.

• While waiting for your tea water to boil, balance on one leg to improve stability.

• When you get home from dance class, write down the corrections you got and one thing you’re proud of from class. (Check out this planner I designed! https://amzn.to/4dRb0tW)

• While doing homework, do 20 ankle circles per foot to improve foot articulation.

• Wake up in the morning, follow a quick 7-minute foot strength routine. (Need ideas? Check out my YouTube video!)

  
  

These actions are short, simple, and easy to repeat. Over time, they stack up and create real progress—without overwhelming you.

Find Your Habit Anchor

Think about something you already do every day:

• Brushing your teeth

• Drinking your morning tea

• Waiting for food to heat up

• Coming home from school

• Putting on your dance shoes

  
  

Now, ask yourself: What’s one small thing I could add to this moment that would support my dancing?

Remember: it doesn’t need to be a full workout or a huge shift. It just needs to be doable.

Consistency Over Intensity

The key is consistency. Doing five minutes of core work every day beats one intense session once a week. Practicing one turn every morning helps your brain and body more than trying to “cram” before a big audition.

Those tiny actions—when repeated—become your foundation. And before you know it, you’ll look back and realize just how far you've come.

So here’s your challenge: pick one moment from your day, and attach a new mini habit to it. Make it simple. Make it easy. Make it stick.

Because the truth is—small steps lead to big changes.

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