If you’ve seen the likes of the reality TV show Dance Moms, you’d know that even the best professional dancers aren’t always oozing with confidence all the time. No matter how many competitions you’ve gone to and the number of trophies on your shelves, you’re still not exempt from forgetting some moves and experiencing stage fright here and there.

It's okay. It’s totally normal. Call us cliché, but nobody’s perfect, right?

However, if you’re new to dancing and get the jitters more frequently than not, then it’s a sign that you might need a confidence boost because, as we have mentioned in one of our previous blogs, dancing requires lots of confidence. If you constantly think that you’re doomed to fail, then it’d likely reflect on how you execute your steps. To get you by, here are ten tips and things that you should know to gain confidence in dancing.

1. Don’t be too tough on yourself. Constantly remind yourself that nothing is wrong with making mistakes as they actually serve as opportunities for growth. Though it may be difficult to see it that way at first, eventually, you’d get used to it. One day, instead of beating yourself up over that one footwork mistake, you’d be able to brush it off and just learn from it.
2. You’ve gotta start somewhere. That professional dancer whom you absolutely adore? Believe it or not: they were once an amateur too! Sure, they do make complicated steps look easy to execute, but what you don’t see is the years of training and all the effort that they put in to hone their skills.
3. Refrain from comparing yourself to others. They are them, and you are you—totally unique but equally awesome individuals who enjoy dancing. Dancing, just like any other art form, isn’t just black and white. It’s made of different colours that represent the differences in people’s dancing styles and skills. Just because they can do something you can’t doesn’t mean that you’re less marvellous than they are! With that said…
4. Find a style that you like and own it! If you’re not someone who feels comfortable in pointe shoes or find it hard to pull off precise and flexible movements, then either you practice more or realise that ballet might just not be for you. Not to worry, though, because if one dance style doesn’t fit you, there’s still a pretty long list of others that you can try out. It might take you a while to find what style suits you best, but once you do, it’ll be worth it.
5. Do things at your own pace. To reiterate #3, always keep in mind that you’re an entirely different human being, so don’t rush yourself trying to catch up with other people’s progress! Trust the process, keep going, and soon enough, you’ll get there.
6. Practice doesn’t just make progress. Being able to perform steps that you’ve once found too difficult does a lot for your self-esteem. What better way to achieve that than to practice? Keep in mind that confidence is directly proportional to your skills, so the more you excel, the higher your self-confidence.
7. Embrace your role. Dancing allows you to play a new persona, so rather than focusing on your surroundings and what other people may think, delve deeper inwards and think about what this persona is like. It’s a win-win situation—you forget about the audience, and you really get to embody the character that the performance requires.
8. What are you comfortable with? Ask yourself. Are you ready to join a dance school and learn with a group of people? Or would you prefer to learn on your own by watching videos online? Figure out your preferences because forcing yourself into something that you’re uncomfortable with might just hinder your growth. Also, take baby steps! Perhaps you can start by dancing alone, then with family and friends, until you can progress into joining a dance school and soon, perform in front of large crowds. On the contrary, if you find it easier to dance with family and friends, you can do just that until you find your own groove and build the confidence to dance on your own.
9. Self-affirmation is powerful. Though it may sound cheesy to some, it’s actually helpful to look at the mirror and tell yourself positive things that you would commonly tell other people. Never forget to be kind to yourself. Adopting this habit would do wonders for your confidence.
10. Lastly, believe in yourself. Everyone can dance unless they think otherwise. No matter how many people join forces in helping you boost your confidence, it would simply come down to nothing if you don’t put a little faith in yourself. Only you hold the key to unlocking your full potential.

No offence to the great Abby Lee Miller, but we ought to let you know that our team at N2 Dance is a lot less strict, so we guarantee that you won’t shed a single tear in class. Instead, you’ll be a part of a lively, supportive dance community that would help you be the best that you can be.

Think you’re ready to enter a dance school? Our team at N2 Dance is waiting for you. Contact us now at 0422 939 749!