There is no denying that dancing is a competitive art. There will always be competition, whether you’re a competitive dancer or angling for your next professional position. To succeed and perform at your best, it is crucial to put balance and wellness first in dance.
You need to have procedures in place if you want to manage the stress of your dance pursuits. Consider both your thinking and habits in the areas of food, body image, dance improvement, and lifestyle while making practical changes. For you to function at your peak, you need each of these components. They are essential elements for dancer wellness.
It could be simpler to persuade yourself that in order to perform at your best, the only thing that counts is the effort you put in in the studio.
The truth is that you will be more resilient in dancing if you prioritise your health both physically and mentally outside of the studio.
Your mentality affects how you approach each of these topics. Do you assign them a priority? Do you recognise the significance of maintaining a healthy diet, having a positive self-image, setting high goals but being realistic about your progress, and living a balanced lifestyle?
Belief in yourself is a crucial component of the attitude required for real achievement.
“If you think of people that constantly win, you would say, ‘Well, they win all the time because they want to win, right?,” says sports psychologist Stan Beecham. They are motivated enough. That is not at all true, in actuality. People that are successful and consistently win don’t actually consider themselves winners. They merely have confidence that they will succeed.
Food: A State of Mind
You will perform better or worse depending on what you eat. There is no doubt in my mind that the fuel you choose can improve or hurt your dancing. Which type of gas, regular or premium, will you use to refuel a sports car? You ought to treat your body the same way.
You need food for fuel, so you should also enjoy it. It’s important to develop a positive relationship with food and to stop considering any items to be “bad” or “off limits.” When you designate certain foods as “bad” and others as “good,” you frequently experience guilt when consuming the “bad” foods.
You can also believe that all of the wonderful cuisine is bland and tasteless. Delicious food must also be healthy food. You’ll develop a positive relationship with food if you think of all the food you consume as nourishment and something you should enjoy.
The Practice of Eating
It’s crucial to consider how your day will go while making a food plan. Do you ever take a break? How long will you spend in class, practise, and cross-training?
Then, consider how you’ll obtain a lot of vitamins and minerals; consume a variety of meals that are brightly coloured. Make sure you’re eating healthy, disease-preventing foods like greens, fruits, and colourful veggies.
Finally, consider what balance means to you. Avoiding things like cake, cookies, and desserts won’t make you feel more balanced in your eating habits. How will you include those foods so that you can eat them guilt-free?
Body: The Attitude
When you look in the mirror as a dancer, your natural reaction is to point out the flaws. What can you do better? How can you improve your body, suggesting that it isn’t as good as it could or ought to be.
You must accept and appreciate your body exactly as it is if you want to dance with confidence. You have a pretty defined body type. Yes, you can make changes, but not everything can. You’ll become a more confident person and dancer if you reach a point of self-acceptance.
Without breaking your body apart, try to watch your dancing. You can still dance brilliantly and to your full ability even if you have larger thighs, calves, arms, or a butt. You’ll advance more quickly and gain more confidence if you concentrate on your skills rather than your physical attributes.
Body: The Technique
Practice is the key to developing good self-talk and a positive body image. You’re going to come to believe whatever messages you repeatedly repeat to yourself. You are enough if you take a look in the mirror. You have special talents. Success in dance is possible.
Outside of the studio, take care of your body with massages, foam rolling, epsom salt baths, supporting cross-training, and guidance with your diet and health.
Advancement: The Mentality
It’s crucial to consider your dancing development as a journey. There will be troughs and peaks. There will be times when things go more smoothly for you, and other times when you face a bigger difficulty.
People who are successful are considered to be such because of their reactions to failures or perceived failures rather than because things come to them more easily.
Progress: The Work
Do you set objectives and keep track of your choreography, technique, and corrections? Have you thought about your goals for your life and dancing? Have you developed a vision?
You are more likely to achieve your goals if you dream large and see a more positive future for yourself. Instead of aiming for some degree of perfection, consider setting goals that place an emphasis on steady advancement.
Personality: The Attitude
Your capacity to perform in the studio will directly be impacted by how you design your life outside of it. You won’t likely have the determination and attention required to excel in dance if your life outside of dancing is chaotic and lacks preparation or structure.
In order to have relationships and experiences that can inspire your dancing, it is advantageous to have a life outside of dance. You’ll contribute so much more to the roles and choreography you play if your breadth and depth are higher.
Personality: The Practice
Don’t forget to give yourself time completely away from dancing while yet supporting your dancing with your activities outside of dance. How can you get in touch with your soul? How can you discover tranquilly and quiet at home or in nature?
Read more: Tips for Dancing at Home