Little Details VS Big Picture Dancing, Part 2
Welcome back! To recap: We’ve talked about how easy it is to place too much importance in the drills, dance partners, and opinions of your fellow dancers, because in doing so, we forget why we enjoy dancing in the first place.
While constant improvement will inevitably win you greater body control, higher judges scores, and the admiration of your peers, it’s vital that we do not make that the reason we dance. If we do, every mistake or imperfection will feel like a personal failing.
We can avoid this see-sawing of our emotions by reconnecting to what I call ‘big picture dancing’. Because the best reasons to dance, improve, and persevere, come from inside of ourselves.
Time and Money Investment
Little details: If you aren’t practicing, you’re falling behind. Therefore you should put in as much time as possible to improve your dancing. Likewise for your finances: If it’s really your dream to become a great dancer, you should spare no expense.
Big picture: Most people have many dreams of what they want in their future, so decide what’s most important to you when considering how much time and money to invest. You may not be the best dancer in the world, but that’s not a bad thing – it just wasn’t worth it to you.
Body Image
Little details: All things being equal, you are more likely to get partners, or better reviews, if you are in great shape, with a traditionally skinny body type. If your body isn’t naturally that type, too bad – you’ll just have to work off that extra weight.
Big picture: Starving yourself and working out like crazy to fit the popular image of a dancer isn’t just unhealthy – it can ruin your self-esteem, and compromises your integrity. Instead, get to know your body, and learn how to use it to your advantage. You may have to work harder, but you’ll feel much better about yourself.
Benefits of Dance
Little details: Dancing is more of a luxury than anything else – sure, some research indicates reduced symptoms of mental diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s, but for most people, it’s just a way to destress after work or mingle with the opposite sex. In other words, you’re not losing much if you decide to give it up.
Big picture: Over the long-term, dancing can boost confidence, posture, flexibility, balance and coordination, endurance, core strength, spatial perception, problem solving… and that’s just the more obvious improvements. If you decide dancing isn’t for you, consider replacing it with sports or another activity to maintain your mind and body.
About the Author
Ian Crewe has been dancing ballroom for over 18 years, and has a Licentiate in American smooth and rhythm. His passion for dance eventually led him to blogging and the World Wide Web. Ian currently teaches at the Joy of Dance Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.