It is impossible to dance like Michael Jackson the first time you set foot in a dance class, as it is impossible to be good at drawing the first time you put a pencil in your hands.
Becoming good in any artistic field requires work, patience, passion, and imagination. Here are some killer tips to become a pro at dancing. Of course, you need a perfect pair of the most suitable dance shoes.
1. Dance In Front Of Others
As I said just before, at the beginning you suck and that’s normal! How could you have the level of a professional dancer when it is the first time that you take a dance class?! It’s just impossible. Nobody expects you to know everything when you are a beginner.
Going into the best dance class in Kolkata, can be one of your best decision of life.
The best remedy to gain confidence: the habit
The first time you had to give a presentation in front of the class in college, you were stressed, you did not speak loud enough, you said “uuuuh” in each sentence. However, at the end of the fifth presentation, you were more comfortable, you spoke louder, and it was ultimately easier than you thought.
It’s the same in dance. The first time you set foot in a dance hall you’re not used to it. It is a new environment with its own codes. But after three months of lessons, it became normal to dance in front of a mirror, to count in 8 steps and especially to dance in front of people. This is the most crucial point when you are a beginner: do something where you are not yet comfortable, in front of the others. The “others” look at us, judge us, make fun of us but also encourage and admire us!
First step: get used to dancing alone
Dance at home, in your room with loud music and do stupid things. You are all alone so this is the time when you have absolutely no worries about what others may think of you so wear your Salsa dance shoes and do whatever you can do
Get used to looking at yourself in a mirror. You will get to know your body, to visualize what your movements make when you dance. The more you get used to dancing with yourself, the easier it will be to dance in front of others.
Step two: get used to dancing in front of the others in the dance class
In dance classes, everyone is there to learn, so everyone knows that it is okay to make mistakes and that learning takes time. A dance hall is like a laboratory. It is a place to learn, explore, test dance steps that we have never done before, to fall, to hurt our knees by repeating this passage on the ground which lasts twice 8 times in order. It is a safe place where you can be confident to dance in front of your friends and your teacher because everyone is there to learn.
Third step: get used to dancing in public
Once you get used to doing all of this, you’re going to have to put yourself at risk of dancing in public. The only way for the first time is to get started. The first time you are on stage or in battle, you will be nervous or even stage fright. You can’t escape it, you’ve never done this before, and a lot of people are watching you so it’s necessarily intimidating.
It’s not the same environment as a dance class; when you show up on stage, the audience expects you to be prepared and to make no mistakes. To reassure you, if you make a mistake it does not matter. Once I had a friend who slipped and found her buttocks in the middle of the stage, but she caught up so well that people thought it was done on purpose.
You have to keep in mind that the public does not know in advance the choreography that you are going to present to them, so they miss certain details. And if you dance in freestyle then there you do not have to be afraid of making mistakes, you yourself do not know in advance what you are going to do.
But the more you get into the habit of being on stage, the less stressed you will be. You will feel more and more comfortable making wide movements, smiling and enjoying dancing in front of an audience.
2. Surround Yourself with People Who Push You Up
One of the most important things that have helped gain the confidence of a lot of people is being well cared for. When your friends or your dance teacher appreciates you, that you dance well, it gives you confidence. People’s opinions are important in the process of learning, especially the people you love. It quickly becomes complicated if you tell your parents that you want to dance, and they tell you that it’s for little girls and that you will do judo.
You must be well surrounded in your life, as much by people who dance like you as by people who understand nothing. Your family and friends are essential to building your identity, so it is better to be well surrounded not to be depressed. You are always happy when you know that your friends and family are there in the room waiting for your turn to go on stage. You feel supported and you want to show them what you are capable of. It’s not just a performance in front of a crowd of people you don’t know. It matters more when the people you love are in the room. So, stay well surrounded and don’t hesitate to share your passion with the people you know, as they will always encourage, support and applaud you.
Several moments are important in your life as a dancer, especially the moments when you feel that your dance teachers trust you. It has an impact because people who are important to you trust you.
When you have dancing friends, everything is more fun because you share the same passion. You speak the same language. You talk about dancing all day long and by dancing together you become connected with them. You know what movements they will make during their freestyle passage so much you spent time rehearsing with them.
It’s much more enriching and more motivating when there are several of you so don’t hesitate to talk with the other students about your dance class or your workshop, or even go to Hip Hop dance events to meet other dancers.
3. Be Different Or More Precisely: Be Yourself
When we are not confident, we dwell too much on what people may think of us. “What will they think of me if I do this?” People will laugh at me.” So, we melt into the crowd, trying to be like everyone else, to join the ranks. But you shouldn’t worry about other people’s criticism and take it personally because that is just part of your journey. People are always there to comment either positive or negative. You should be comfortable in your skin and in your dance style and celebrate your passion for dance up there on the stage and just enjoy what you do, the audience will also applaud and cheer you in the end.
Conclusion
If you follow all of these tips, you will become more and more confident in your life and in your dance. Being confident to dance in front of others takes time. The more you get used to doing it the more normal it will be and the cooler it will be! You will feel confident to make funny movements and it will become more and more fun to dance in front of and with others.
