Dancing Through Doubt: Overcoming Anxiety and Self-Doubt in Dance
As dancers, we are constantly navigating a world of high expectations, critical feedback, and intense self-discipline to reach whatever goal we desire. While these elements fuel our artistry and pride, they can also breed anxiety and self-doubt. Whether you’re stepping onto a competition stage, a convention floor, auditioning for a new opportunity, or simply dancing in class, it’s normal to feel the weight of pressure. The key to thriving lies not in avoiding these feelings but in building the strength to overcome them.
Anxiety often stems from fear of failure or judgment, while self-doubt can arise from comparing yourself to others or struggling for perfectionism. In dance, our bodies are a tool and we are the canvas. I’ve battled with these issues since I’ve been introduced to the dance world. The fear of starting a new dance class with a genre you’ve never tapped into before, the overthinking of negative voices and opinions on your performance as a dancer, the guilt of falling out of your turns, forgetting the choreography, or even a harsh critique that can spiral into an inner narrative that whispers, “I’m not good enough”, “I need to get better, be better.”, “Why can’t I dance like them?” that may soon lead to the falling of your tears in the studio bathroom or in your car on the drive back home, the auditory release of frustration and questioning of what you could’ve done better, why you weren’t better today. I get it, I understand.
But here’s the honest truth from dancer to dancer, no matter the experience, the talent or the training that one may have–has faced these emotions once. I understand it may be frustrating when faced with the challenge but acknowledging this shared experience is your first step toward confronting your own obstacles.
So, let’s work together to build some strategies to combat your anxiety and self-doubt!
Building Resilience:
Shifting your Mindset
Instead of basing your mindset on perfectionism, instead, let’s create a growth-oriented thinking. Don’t strive to be flawless, focus on improving one element at a time!
Practice gratitude for the progress you’ve made, no matter how small it may be, it was still an achievement and a step forward!
Redefine Success for Yourself
Success isn’t about nailing every move or sticking every landing; it’s about showing up, giving your best effort, and staying open to learn and correct!
Reflect on why you de cided to start dance–whether that was to express yourself, create strong connections, make a collegiate dance team, dance professionally, or just to feel alive!
Lean On Your Support System (Or Even Create One!)
Talk to your dance instructors, teammates or classmates about your struggles. You’ll often find themselves having to express going through the same struggles and can offer you advice and reassurance!
Surround yourself with people who encourage and uplift you, both in and out of the studio! Here at Allegro I’ve met so many new teammates, classmates and instructors that all have played a huge role in my love for dance and this studio and have become my dance family and I know that if you just take those first steps–it will happen!
Embrace the Power of Practice
Repetition builds confidence. Yes, I know repetition can be annoying and frustrating, but that feeling of finally being able to consistently nail that one move is undoubtedly a confidence boost! The more you work on it and apply the corrections, the more natural it will feel over time.
Incorporate mental rehearsal into your training! Whenever I train, I always listen to the music and visualize how I want to perform it and do my best to exude that in my performance! This technique is proven to help reduce performance anxiety!
Prioritize Self-Care
Rest is just as important as rehearsal. Give your mind and body the time to recover so you can come back stronger every time you step on the floor to dance!
Engage in outside activities besides dance that bring you joy and remind you of your worth beyond dance! Don’t let dance be your sole purpose or the deciding factor of your happiness!
The moments when you doubt yourself the most often lead to the greatest growth. Though uncomfortable, pushing through discomfort teaches you resilience, and every stumble and fall only brings you closer to mastery. Dance is as much as it is about self-discovery as it is about technique, and every time you face your fears, you’re strengthening not just your skills, but your spirit and growth.
Remember, your journey as a dancer is unique, you don’t need to dance like them tomorrow or be at a certain level to be considered “good”. No one else has your exact style, passion, or story–and that’s what makes you irreplaceable and the dance community endless.
Anxiety and self-doubt may pay you a visit, but don’t let them define you. What defines you is the courage you have to keep dancing and be yourself.
I always told myself that, ‘practice doesn’t make perfect, but it makes progress.’. Let this be a reason to keep going…and to keep dancing!
By Taylor Hurrt
