I don’t dance and neither do my friends
Then it’s time to either invite your friends or find new ones. If you are interested in dancing, and your friends aren’t being supportive, there is a whole dance world waiting for you with open arms. It’s time to meet people by coming to parties, to showcases, or to competitions.
Later you’ll be able to show them what you can do, and they’ll be shocked. They might not have wanted to dance because they were afraid, but once they see how much fun you’re having they’ll start to rethink their position.
I’m never going to use it anywhere
Maybe you didn’t realize that people were dancing around you? Most people come in for their first lesson because they were planning on using it somewhere! Weddings, business functions, parties, and dinners are all places where you can and should be dancing.
I don’t need to be the best dancer
While you might not be the best on the dance floor, you should want to be at your personal best. Time and time again, you will surprise yourself with your own potential for success and skill.
If you are simply scared of trying and failing, I can guarantee that you will fail many many times. Fred Astaire himself is well known for making his mistakes part of his dancing. In fact, he often said that he didn't know a single dancer that hadn't been taught or trained. He didn't believe in failure- and neither do we. Remember the age old adage: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
I don’t have time to practice
Yes, we have a finite amount of time and most of it is spent sleeping. However, once you have committed and prioritized your life, you will always find time to do the things you want. If there’s not enough time but you want better results in your dancing, revisit your commitment level. Most of the time it means that your expectations are out of balance with your practice level. If you are unable to commit more time to practice, consider making your expectations more manageable.
I’m already good enough, I don’t need to learn anymore
While it’s rare to hear someone say this directly, however, this attitude can effect you in a variety of ways. Everyone always needs to learn and has more to learn. If you find yourself saying this, then consider discovering a new dance challenge. Dance is like any job or hobby -there is always continuing education even if you've been doing it for 50 years!
I can’t do that, it’s too hard
We all start something new, and starting with something new that's also difficult just means you’ll learn more. Your teacher is the one who has assessed your capabilities and wouldn’t give you something you’re incapable of doing. Deciding not to do something because it’s too hard will keep you from growing as a dancer and person! Don’t write something off until you’ve not only tried once or twice, but have also mastered it. You will discover that the things you once found difficult are now easy for you after some time.
I’ve already invested so much, and I still suck
At this point, you have a choice to stop or push harder. Stopping will always leave you with the same result, but pushing through will continually reward you, even when you’re exhausted.
If you still feel like you’re not getting anywhere, reconsider whether you have quality focus and practices. Take a look at your timeline and evaluate whether or not your initial goals were realistic. Ask your instructor for help, chances are they noticed and are patiently waiting for your permission to dive into this conversation with you.
I’m not good enough to dance
Everyone has feelings of inadequacy, but that doesn’t mean you should give into them. You are as capable and qualified as every other person to learn how to dance and to become a dancer. Dancers are made by their passion for what they do, not by their technique.
I don’t have anyone to dance with
If you can’t think of absolutely anyone to bring in on a dance lesson, your instructor provides you with many opportunities to dance –from parties to private lessons to competitions. At these places, you will meet other dancers who would love to dance with you.
I get stage fright, I’ll never be able to perform
Many of the things we do in life are scary, but fear isn’t a reason to prevent you from being your best. You’re greatest leverage over fear is doing exactly what scares you the most. Leveraging your fear is the fastest and surest wag to confidence. If you try it, you might just be surprised how much you will accomplish.
