Do you want to be more self-assured while you dance? You really should!
You won’t “slay,” “kill,” or “murder” anything unless you dance with more confidence, no matter how clean your photos or how textured your moves are.
Dancers that appear at ease in their own skin and are fully committed to their performance are the most captivating.
So, how can you get confidence and then apply it to your dancing? Take a look at these six pointers to help you dance more confidently!
Wanna Dance With More Confidence? Then…
1. Put in the work!
The more you work on yourself as a dancer, the more confident you will get as your abilities improve.
When you see yourself getting doper, see how lessons are easier, and notice how much easier it is to understand music, you’ll gain confidence.
You can’t be making so much progress and not be pleased with yourself! Your hard effort will pay off in the form of increased confidence and motivation.
Even if the outcomes aren’t good, the effort is something to be proud of.
“Know yourself and you will win all battles.”
– Sun Tzu
It doesn’t matter if you come in first or if you’re in a select group; what matters is how well you know yourself. Train. Learn. Have faith in yourself.
External circumstances will have very little room to disturb your confidence. In that vein, how do you see yourself?
2. Be “different, not better”
The fact that there is no “right” or “wrong” in dancing (or any art!) is one of the most liberating realisations you’ll have.
Yes, dancing has its technical aspects, but when it comes to personal style, you do you!
Embracing your right to be different is one method to dance with more confidence (particularly when it comes to freestyle or choreography).
If anything, be inspired to be unique.
Many dancers imitate their idols because they are afraid of developing their own style. Alternatively, they may be unaware that they have the ability to build their own personal style.
Their performance doesn’t only feel like a watered-down dance cover as a result of this. It also costs them their genuine flair, which was designed to show.
“Always be yourself and have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and try to duplicate it.”
–Bruce Lee
When you find your genuine voice, you’ll be able to wear it with such ease that it’ll be impossible not to look good.
3. Remember your posture
Want a quick tip for confidently executing your own or someone else’s choreography?
It’s no longer only about puffing up your chest and raising your chin. It’s all about figuring out what kind of persona the piece is supposed to depict.
Confidence takes in numerous forms depending on the situation. Standing tall with your shoulders back and your focus up is required for some pieces or styles (for example, waacking).
Mmph, hot and forceful. However, with such an erect attitude, some pieces (for example, smooth r&b) may appear odd.
Setting your concentration at eye level or lower, rather than projecting up, will appear more inviting and conversational.
Finding the right stance for the piece will help you embody the emotion of the piece, making your performance appear more natural and assured.
Do you want to go a step farther than posture?
4. Play a part
It’s possible that this will come as a shock…
But…
To dance confidently, you don’t have to be a confident person. In and out of dancing, we all have insecurities.
The beauty of acting is that you can put those things aside for a moment and pretend to be someone else. Literally. You can take on the role of a different character.
Listen to the song while performing and let your imagination create the full story.
“What is this person feeling?” you might wonder. Thinking? What are they looking for? What is their predicament??”
Defining the role will make it easier to portray the character’s posture, facial expressions, and mannerisms.
“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.”
– Walt Disney
5. Get immune to messing up
In the end, mistakes turn out to be blessings in disguise. In life, there are “pause buttons” where you must stop and think, “Okay, what just happened?” And how can I make sure I don’t do it again??”
You will have very little to fear if you approach obstacles with this growth mindset.
Being willing to learn and improve is, in reality, the ultimate recipe for success. So, the next time you have a brain fart in front of a group, don’t worry about it.
Instead, use it as a motivator to improve.
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
– E.E. Cummings
Being self-assured does not imply invincibility. It simply implies that you will not be held back by your fear of making a mistake.
6. Commit.
Dancing BIG and “all out” is a sure-fire method to get people’s attention…
However, not all “full-outs” are the same. It’s not about HOW HARD YOU CAN HIT EVERYTHING that makes you look confident; it’s about how totally you’re committing to it.
Instead of going all out for every move, figure out how much you need to contribute and provide it. Everything.
If a manoeuvre requires a straight arm, completely extend it. Do you have to get low? That sucker needs to be GRAND pliéd. Do you want to try jumping? Get some fresh air! When the music slows down, so should your motions. Make a firm commitment to slowing down.
Commit to simple things like a walk, a look, and a freestyle as much as you commit to full-out power techniques.
It’s all about believing in yourself when it comes to dancing with confidence. Use these six pointers to get there! Even if you don’t believe in yourself yet, know that we do!
Learn more: 10 Tips For Taking Online Dance Classes