How do I slow down a dance video to learn it?
Slow the video to half speed to see the weight changes, three-quarter speed to learn the timing, and full speed to test it, using the playback-speed control in your video app or a practice tool that adds looping. The mistake to avoid is staying slow too long: dance each piece at full speed as soon as it is clean, or you will learn the slow version and have to relearn the fast one.
Which speed for which job
- Half speed: see where the weight goes and which foot moves first.
- Three-quarter speed: learn the timing against the music, which is still recognisable at this speed.
- Full speed: test. If it falls apart, drop to three-quarter for that piece only.
Where the control is
Most video players have a speed setting in the playback menu. Practice tools go further: they loop a section and keep the pitch of the music normal when slowed. On a phone, editing apps can export a slowed copy if the player cannot slow live.
Climbing back up
Increase the speed in steps, not in one jump: half, then three-quarter, then full. If a step breaks the piece, stay there until it does not. Earn the speed rather than dragging the slider; a clean move at three-quarter is worth more than a scramble at full.