Learn dance from YouTube in slow motion
Hear the beat, then look closely at the movement. In a full choreography video, it is easy to miss the preparation for a turn, a weight shift or the first step of the next phrase. Choose a video that plays here, with clear movement and music. Put a short loop around the difficult transition and slow it down if needed. Learn the sequence and direction, then return to the original speed to connect the movements.
Work on one difficulty within a phrase
If the tutorial teaches in eight-counts, first find where the movement falls. Count “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8” with the music and notice when the movement starts. If a turn on count 5 keeps going wrong, do not isolate that count alone. Start the loop before the preparation and end after you have settled into the next step. Practise entering and leaving the movement, not just repeating a pose.
Watch the feet and weight transfer first: which foot carries the weight, and where does the other one go? On the next pass, watch the arms, body orientation and gaze. A video may not show every detail. Do not assume you have checked footwork that is out of frame; look for another angle or ask a teacher.
For example, suppose a phrase has a side step on counts 1–2, a closing step on 3–4, a turn on 5–6 and a finish on 7–8, but you keep facing the wrong way after the turn. Find count 4 in the music and loop from there through count 1 of the next phrase. Check the route into the turn and out to the finish, then move the start back to count 1 to connect the earlier steps. You choose these boundaries yourself; the app does not identify counts in the video.
If two phrases work separately but you stop between them, loop counts 7–8 of the first and 1–2 of the next together. Focus on how the feet and weight carry you across the join, rather than repeating the parts you already know.
Check the direction before mirroring
A demonstrator facing the camera gives you a different view from someone facing away, and some tutorials are already mirrored. Check the direction before using Mirror. Use a clearly left- or right-sided step or arm movement to compare. If the video is already easy to follow, leave it as it is. Mirror flips the picture horizontally; it does not determine the intended direction of the choreography. The setting is remembered for that video.
Learn the phrase, then connect it to the music
- Frame a short passage. Include its preparation and the completion of the next step. If the tutorial uses eight-counts, start with one phrase rather than the whole chorus.
- Slow down to observe footwork and weight shifts. Pause and try the movement while counting for yourself. Once the sequence is steady, practise with the loop. Available playback speeds depend on YouTube's player.
- Widen the loop. Join neighbouring phrases, then dance the full passage with the music. If the join breaks down, check the last step of one phrase and the first of the next instead of just repeating the whole passage more often.
Save separate loops for difficulties such as “verse turn” or “first chorus phrase”. Pick up the same passage next time. Practice mode remembers the video's last loop range, speed and mirror setting. Actual elapsed playback time goes into its practice record; it is not a measure of how much choreography you have mastered or a movement score. See the video practice method for choosing material and revisiting passages, or the loop and slow-down guide for the controls.
What's free, and which videos work?
Looping, slowing down, mirroring, saving loops and practice records are free for YouTube videos that permit embedded playback, with no signup. Some videos cannot play in an embedded player. The app does not download videos. Uploading your own class or rehearsal footage is also free, but requires a free account; the file stays on the device where you added it unless you enable Pro cloud sync.
Frequently asked questions
Should I mirror a tutorial that is already mirrored?
Not necessarily. Check a movement with a clear left or right direction. If the picture already works for following along, do not flip it again.
Can I practise only the last four counts of an eight-count?
Yes, but leave enough preparation at the start and include a settled next step at the end.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes, in the browser. Position the screen where you can see it without interrupting the movement, and pause when you need to adjust the loop.
Choose a dance video with clear movement and music. Loop a turn, a weight shift or the join between phrases; once it feels connected, practise the full passage with the music.