If you want to be a dancer, get ready to be frustrated on a regular basis. Dance is an art form, and it takes time to learn the techniques correctly. And you will always be striving for perfection as your dance education will continue for a lifetime.
With this dedication comes fear, anger, frustration, and many other emotions. The key is to turn these negative feelings into positive actions to help you become a better dancer. But when you have been practicing for months on your turns, and you just can’t seem to do more than two, this can be easier said than done.
With this in mind, here are:
3 Tips to Get Past Your Frustration and Start Dancing!
1. Stop the Negativity Immediately.
As soon as you start feeling frustrated or negative about your dancing, realize the emotion and replace it with a more positive one.
For example, if you can’t get a particular step, remind yourself that you will do your best at that moment to learn it, try to remember what you need to do to perfect it and tell yourself that you will perform it correctly eventually.
There are going to be many times when you don’t “pick up” something right away. Don’t let frustration get in the way of learning. Instead, let it go and just do the best you can. After all, that’s all you can do at that particular moment.
2. Write it Down.
After a frustrating class, audition or rehearsal, grab a pen and paper and make some notes. First, write down the details of how the movement, that you were having trouble with, needs to be done. Try to remember everything your choreographer or dance instructor told you, and write it down. You can use these notes to practice the movement for days to come.
Second, write down why you were frustrated or had negative emotions. You’ll feel a lot better by getting your emotions out of your system. And once you read your notes, you may realize that you had a hard day simply because you were tired or hungry!
3. Get Support.
After a difficult day of dance, it is always helpful to talk to a friend or family member who cares about you. They will remind you how great you are and why you got into dance in the first place!
And if you don’t really have any kind of support network, try to chat with other dancers online without revealing too much personal information, read a positive book, or just take some time to relax without thinking about dance. By letting yourself relax, you’ll feel better about your abilities and your dance career.
Dance is Not Easy.
Unfortunately, being a dancer is one of the hardest professions in the world. It’s physically and emotionally demanding and tends to pay little. But as all of us dancers know, we pursue a career in dance because it is our passion, and we’d rather dance more than anything else.
Unfortunately, with the joy of dance comes frustration. We love it so much and we want to do well for ourselves, our instructors and our audience. The key is to stay positive and learn from your mistakes. By writing down steps, practicing movements, being around supportive people, and relaxing a little, you’ll be less negative and become a better dancer in the process!
For more inspiration and tips on being a better dancer, check out the entries here.
