Some tips on how to get to class, get through class and enjoy it!
Okay so you’ve signed up for a mini adult dance course. You feel ready, empowered, keen but also achingly terrified. A million questions are flying through your head. What if I embarrass myself? What if I don’t make it through the class? What if I fall over on my face?!?!? Yep, it’s daunting. Lucky you’re not the only one. When I first started hip hop I was so scared that people would question my presence or worse I would make a complete fool of myself especially being a ballet and contemporary trained dancer; I was stepping into a whole new world that was completely out of my comfort zone!
But with heart pounding, palms sweaty, feeling a little flushed I went anyway and I couldn’t be more grateful for pushing past that fear boundary. Instead of feeling judged and unwelcome, the dance community opened their arms and welcomed me with a smile. So I have a few little tips to help you firstly push past the fear boundary of starting a new dance style or class and also how to get the most out of your experience.
1. Fear not. You are capable.
Yes, you are very capable of doing whatever it is you set your mind to, so have a little faith in your body and trust that you can do it! I used to do a little active meditation before I joined new classes. As I was on my way there I used to study the details of my surroundings and describe them to myself in my mind. This not only prepares your mind for taking in new information and detail but can also help you reduce those feelings of anxiety. Another way to feel more ready, less terrified is to listen to the music of the genre to get you in the right zone – if it’s ballet listen to classical music, if it’s jazz listen to pop music, if it’s contemporary listen to pretty much anything! The point is that music helps soothe the soul and can help you not only feel excited about the class but also distract you from those mind numbing questions that bog you down.
2. Breathe. Smile. Stay Present.
For some reason, when we feel nervous or anxious we forget to breathe. It’s the most bizarre thing but instead of pondering why, let’s all just take a deep breath in and out right now. Ready. In… and… out… How amazing does that feel? Take a few more and reflect on how you feel. I bet you feel a little more connected, a little more calm, a little less cloudy headed? Now think of something that makes you sincerely happy. Your child performing dance on stage; playing with your dog; enjoying a delicious Sunday meal with your loved ones; it can be anything as long as it makes you smile. How do you feel now? Probably starting to forget the notion that dance class is scary and starting to remember that life is full of amazing moments and you participating in this dance class is one of them. It feels good right? Now imagine yourself in that dance class. You can feel the tension rising, the anxiety creeping up on you. You’ve forgotten to breathe and you feel frozen so you can’t seem to smile. Things are looking like their going downhill – so look up. Yes, physically look at the ceiling. What can you see? White paint, a few bumps, lights. Now look to your right, maybe you see another student. She’s wearing a purple top and black tights. Now look in front of you. You see the mirror. There are so many things reflecting in the mirror, including yourself. Look yourself in the eye and say, ‘You are amazing; you can do this!’ And 5,6,7,8…
3. Have fun. Ask questions. Make conversation. Do what you feel confident doing.
The main aim for any dance class is to have fun! Of course there are other aspects like learning new steps, improving your posture and getting a workout but if you’re not finding the fun then you’re making it way more difficult than it is. Even if you don’t get all the steps right now, have fun with the steps you do understand. Be patient with yourself and be kind to yourself. The teacher doesn’t expect you to miraculously be Misty Copeland in your first class so ask questions, go through the movements slowly and do what you need to do to get through at your own pace. And make sure that after the class you reward yourself with a positive affirmation such as: ‘Good job! I am proud of myself for making it through’ or ‘Thank you body for doing this with me. We are a team and I love us!’ or ‘I am a beautiful dancer and no negative thoughts can take that away from me!’
4. Practice.
There is nothing stopping you from asking your teacher for a little extra help so you can practice some of the new steps you just learnt. You could even ask your teacher to film the step for you or write it down. When you have a spare moment, preferably a quiet and calm moment try to remember the pointers your teacher gave you about the step – it could be the accent, the rhythm or the shape and then go through it. Start slow – I mean really slowly – then get a little faster and then do it at tempo. This will help your neural pathways develop a pattern of the step so that your muscles remember where to go. Practicing in your own time can also be a form of relaxation and has a number of benefits – a bit like Tai Chi. When you assign your mind to a task that has specific physical movements you’ll find that your memory, your focus and your mental energy will improve.
5. Don’t give up. Sign up for the next one!
Dance is the most wonderful addictive physical activity and if you approach your class with that positive and open mindset you’ll definitely want more. So before those doubts and anxieties find their way back in, sign up for the next one or ask your teacher if there are any other classes you could attend. If you’re feeling doubtful then go back and remember the reason why you decided to sign up for dance classes. Was it because you want to feel more coordinated? Or did you want to correct your posture? Or maybe just become more groovy on the dance floor? Did you achieve that goal? Don’t give up now just because the course is done. Maybe even try a different style but just don’t give up.
