hello, all,

i'm just starting a modern dance class for beginners next week, and i'd appreciate some advice from more advanced students. i've never taken any kind of dance before. i'm particularly looking for good books for the new student, good websites, and useful exercises. i'm in good shape (i teach several martial arts and bike quite a bit), but i imagine dance is going to be calling on unusual muscle groups and movements. also, general advice for practice- etiquette, etc. is always welcome. many thanks,

brian

Congratulations on starting dance!

Dance is a lot like martial arts: you are training your body to move in very specific ways. The vocabulary is very different because the end goal of dance is different.

You might find, depending on how far you progress in dance, that dance and martial arts conflict in the way they train and sculpt the body. C'est la vie.

As for exercises: they are part of your dance class. You can ask your teacher for other exercises you might do.