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"Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect." --Vince Lombardi

So you've decided to practice. Good for you. However, do you know what to practice? More importantly, do you know how to practice? Here are my suggestions for your practice regimen. They're only my suggestions--I'm no expert and I don't pretend to be. Tinker with them, find what works for you. I'm giving this from a championship perspective, so if you're not there yet, you can play around to make it a little less intense. Please see my Drills and Stretches sections to understand what I'm referring to.

First off, in general, I recommend practicing only one dance per day. This way, you can concentrate more in-depth on each step and you get more time for drills and stretches.

Before anything else, do the walk-around warm-up. Do this even before stretching.

Next, stretch. Remember to use music to count your stretches, repeat each stretch at least twice, and hold each stretch for sixteen bars each time.

Now for drills! I usually do the slow heel-rises, the three jumps drill, and the marathon drill. If you want to focus on a specific fault, like turn-out or lift, add a drill for that or concentrate on it while doing the other drills.

Next, take a small break--ten minutes max, but still rest. Drink water, mop your forehead, keep moving around so you don't stiffen up.

Then, do your whole dance through. This is just to get you in the right mindset.

Next, do each step six times through. It works a lot like the triple-threat jump drill: dance sixteen bars, rest sixteen bars, dance sixteen bars, etc. Take a mini-break for water in between each set of steps. Once you're finished each step, take another small break.

Now, do the same thing--but for your whole dance. That means that if you're in championships, you dance three steps, rest three steps, dance three steps, etc. Then a break!

Now, if you've read my Practice Tips section, you've been taking notes on things you've been doing wrong as you go. Or just think back on what you usually get yelled at for in class. Break down each step and perfect each movement, no matter how small. This is where mirrors and video cameras come in handy.

Finally, cool down. Put on your warm-up pants and a sweatshirt to avoid cooling off too quickly and getting light-headed and also to keep your muscles from getting sore and stiff. Stretch out the same way as before. Then, I usually take a quick five-minute walk around the block to finish cooling off. Take your water bottle.

Collapse on the couch and pat yourself on the back.