Why Adults Who Danced Are Successful

As someone who danced for 10 years, and is now enrolled in college, I find that I learned a lot of life lessons by just going to class everyday and working my body. The reason why I am able to keep a schedule, and work diligently is because of the hard work I put into my passion.

You become less self-concious. People who begin dance are never picture-perfect on their first try. It takes months of practice to get things right. After awhile, you stop thinking about how stupid you may look, and just go for it, and if you do it beautifully the first time - hey, that's great - but if not it's no big deal. Dancing, for me, gave me an environment where I could try my hardest the first time, and if it didn't work, then it was no big deal, just try again. And I tried to do the same thing for my students - give them a place to practice, and if they look silly or mess up the first time, it was okay. It is one thing to go full-out and fail, but it is another to give up altogether.

It's about effort. I learned very quickly that putting little effort into barré exercises or not using my muscles while going across the floor never improved anything. Using everything I had, and making the most of the hour and a half I had class, got me praise. It made me want to work harder, and before I knew it - I was a better dancer than I had been at the beginning of the year.

You learn to take criticism. As a college student, I have learned that there are some people who won't hold back. They won't give to you easy, they tell you in the most honest way possible - and that is what dance is. If I looked like a sinking duck, because my knees were bent and my feet weren't pointed, my teacher would tell me. She wouldn't sugar coat and baby me, because that's not how I would get better. I would get better by taking that correction and applying it to myself. Yes, at first, my feelings may have gotten hurt, but it didn't take long for me to realize that it would only make me better.

You learn time management. When I was in high school, sometimes I wouldn't get home until 9:30, or 10:00. Even when I was teaching during my freshman and sophomore years of college, the same thing applied. And even though I was exhausted, and felt like I couldn't lift my arms, I would still have to buckle down and get homework done. Yes, sleep seemed like a better option, but I knew that writing that paper, or solving that math problem would benefit me in the long run.

You gain confidence. Stepping out onto a bright stage is never easy. I always got butterflies, and my hands would get clammy, but once I got out there and did what I do best, I felt better. To hear applause that congratulates you on what you've been working towards for months, is a huge confidence booster. After I walked off-stage, I felt like I could conquer the world and that's a feeling that I have carried throughout college. It has helped me go up and talk to the guy I like, or even get up in front of a class and give a presentation I worked hard on for the past two weeks.

Because dance has provided me skills that are applicable in all types of situtations, I feel that it is important to continue supporting local dance studios and the art form itself, either by going to local recitals, or even trying to see the Nutcracker during Christmas. While I may no longer dance, these things have helped me to succeed in life, and why it should continue to bring other people these skills long after I have finished.

#dance #confidence #adults