How to Use The Ultimate Dance Journal

The reason I started this journal was because I kept seeing my students struggle — forgetting corrections, losing track of their progress, and feeling overwhelmed trying to balance it all. Looking back at my own journey as a dancer, I realized that what always helped me most was having a plan — a little bit of structure in the middle of the chaos. Between school, projects, social life, and endless rehearsals, staying organized was the only way I could keep growing without burning out. I wanted to give my students that same sense of calm and control — to teach them, from a young age, how to juggle everything with less stress and more confidence.

The Ultimate Dance Journal was born out of that chaos — a place to bring everything together so you can stay focused, organized, and inspired. This isn’t just a notebook. It’s your dance partner on paper — the one that keeps you grounded when rehearsals get intense and helps you see how far you’ve come when you’re too busy to notice.

Start with your “why”

Before you even write down a single correction or note, open your planner to the My Dance Goals page. Think about what you want most right now — maybe it’s landing that double pirouette, improving flexibility, or building confidence on stage. Write it down.

Then go a little deeper:

• What steps can you take in the next few months to help achieve your goal?

• What will matter six months from now?

  
  

You’ll be amazed at how powerful it is to see your goals down on paper. Suddenly, progress becomes something you can track — not just feel.

Use your daily Class Notes pages as your reflection space

After each class or rehearsal, take ten minutes to fill in the Class Notes section.  The prompts in the book will help you reflect on how class went.  Write down the corrections and feedback that stood out.

Then, be honest with yourself:

• What went better today?

• What do you need to work on at home?

• What do you want to change in your next class?

  
  

You can even rate your effort using the little Class Effort Scale — not to judge yourself, but to stay aware of your energy and mindset. Some days you are naturally in a good space, some days you really have to push hard to get through class, others you just barely get through — that balance is part of growing as a dancer.  Sometimes outside influences can affect your energy and effort in class. It’s good to keep track of what helps and motivate you, and what steals your energy. 

Really focus on your work at home section

Now here’s where real progress happens!  If you take those corrections and suggested training exercises from class home and practice them — even just ten minutes a day, three times a week — that adds up to more than 26 extra hours of training a year. Think about that: 26 hours of focused, intentional improvement without adding another class to your schedule. That small, consistent habit can make a huge difference in your growth as a dancer.

Reviewing your notes before your next class

It only takes a few minutes, but it completely changes the way you train.  When you read through your previous notes, you walk into class already focused — aware of what your teacher asked for, ready to apply it immediately. It’s like giving yourself a head start every single week.  When you fix corrections quickly, that allows the teacher to give you new things to work on, allowing you to grow as an artist and athlete faster.  Your teacher will notice your progress and can give you more challenges and you may even end up with opportunities you never thought possible. 

Revisit your progress pages often

Every few weeks, flip back through your notes. Look for patterns:

Do you see the same correction appearing?

Are you noticing improvements?

And when you hit a goal (big or small), take a moment to write about it on the Results & Reflection page. It’s your personal record of growth — and it’ll remind you how far you’ve come when you’re in a rough patch.

Don’t skip the dance glossary

The planner also includes a built-in mini glossary with ballet, jazz, and modern dance terms — great for students learning technique and for anyone wanting to dive deeper into dance theory. It’s one of those little things that turns the planner from a notebook into a true learning tool.  Learning dance terminology will deepen your understanding of the movement, allowing your body to really understand the movement better. 

Final Thoughts

The Ultimate Dance Journal is more than organization — it’s reflection, motivation, and mindfulness all in one. If you use it regularly, it becomes a snapshot of your dance year: the hard days, the breakthroughs, the laughter, and the lessons.

Because in the end, your best growth doesn’t happen by accident — it happens when you plan for it, dance by dance, note by note.

If you’re ready to start organizing your classes, tracking your progress, and building habits that actually move you forward, the Ultimate Dance Journal is the perfect place to start. It’s designed to help you stay grounded, motivated, and proud of your growth — both in and out of the studio. You can find it now on Amazon here: The Ultimate Dance Journal

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