By Anna Rodrigues
So you think you can’t dance? Think again. It’s true, some people are born with it and some aren’t. But dance can be learned. There was a group I danced with in my teens where the one who was self-admittedly the “worst” dancer (a “learned dancer” who was, believe it or not, beat deaf), audiences considered the best dancer. Why? Because she exuded a love for dance, a pure joy in her practice. Dance may not have been in her blood, but was in her heart. And she poured out that love she had for dance all over the stage and it overflowed onto everyone watching. She thought she could dance, she believed it, she wanted to, so she did.
#1 Home Workout Videos
Jumping straight into learning choreography can be difficult. But workout videos are the next best thing. These are great starting points to help you keep the beat while in motion, as well as learning how to transition smoothly from one movement to the next. Thanks to YouTube, there are hundreds to choose from. Just find a workout that has a style of movement and music you like and start moving to the beat.
#2 Find Dance Friends
You gotta have at least one friend who you think is good at dancing. If not, there are unbelievably supportive online dance communities that you can join where you can find encouragement, positive feedback, and like-minds on every level, from beginners to pros. I’ve found these groups to be wonderful, welcoming, non-judgmental places of learning and growth not only on the artistic and inspirational level but on the technical and foundational as well.
#3 Fake It ’til You Make It
Oh, the wonderful world of make-believe. Think about that word, break it down. Make what you believe. If you believe dance is in your soul, then it is. Don’t judge yourself or compare yourself to others. If others inspire you, by all means, take that inspiration and let it infuse your dance spirit. But if others cause you to compare negatively or think less of yourself, pay them no mind. You do you. Believe in yourself. Believe that the magic of dance can whisk you away on its musical wings. Believe it, do it, be it.
