Criticism in the Dance World

Everyone is a critic!

One thing you can count on in the dance world is that you will face a lot of criticism. Criticism can be tough on a dancer. A thick skin will help a dancer get by, but here are a few things to think about when dealing with criticism.

Take time to celebrate achievements!

You finally achieved a perfect single wing on your left and your teacher was working with another dancer. Or, your teacher sees you and tells you to work on switch wings rather than praising your accomplishment. It can be frustrating, but take time to be proud of yourself. As Mikhail Baryshnikov said, "I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself." Take corrections, apply yourself, and pat yourself on the back when you improve.

Use corrections to grow as a dancer!

Dancers are made, not born (Baryshnikov). Dancers should be continually learning and growing.  In order to improve, a dancer needs feedback. Some instructors can be harsh with their critiques. Dancers cannot be super-sensitive. Listen and apply. You will only get discouraged if you take criticism personally. Stay positive, focus on improving. Most of the time instructors are tough because they want the best for their students. That's not to say there aren't terrible instructors out there. There is a definite difference between being hard on a dancer and being cruel.

Who is the criticism coming from?

Think about the source of the criticism. Is it from a person who knows what they are critiquing? Is it a peer? Is it simply someone who has an opinion? Be sure to consider the source before you take it to heart.

Turn self-judgement into self-praise!

Dancers can most often be their own worst critics. Stop! Choose to motivate yourself. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep moving forward. Take time to smile at yourself!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Things Your Dance Teacher Might Not Tell You

Image
Dance teachers want their students to succeed! Dance teachers work just as hard outside of the studio! Researching, training, choreographing, music editing, performance prepping, office work, and more. Dance teachers love to be thanked. When dancers are tired and a little sore, it means they have been working hard and the dance teacher feels they have done their job well. Not everyone can be a dance teacher, it involves patience and passion. Dance teachers are love when their dancers reach their personal goals! Dance teachers know that the best dancers are the ones who are respectful, work hard, and apply corrections! Teaching dance involves much more than simply teaching steps. What dance teachers want most is to share their passion for the art of dance! Dance teachers consider you part of their dance family for life!
Read more

Ballet is Important

Image
Some dancers live for ballet while others struggle to drag themselves to ballet class. For those that consider themselves hip hop dancers, tap dancers, or jazz dancers, they may try to avoid ballet. So why is ballet important for all dancers? Ballet lays the foundation for most forms of dance. When a dancer has the technique background from ballet, it enhances all other dance forms they undertake. A dancer with a ballet foundation stands out from others.  Ballet demands discipline and dedication. Ballet technique is very specific and requires continual practice to improve. Quite often, the qualities of discipline and dedication translate themselves to other areas of life such as work and school.  Ballet improves posture. Let's face it: everything about ballet requires good posture. Good posture is carried through all other dance forms. Ballet improves balance and flexibility. Ballet technique develops, improves, and maintains balance and flexibility which lessens diminish
Read more

8 Things You Can Eat Before Dance Class

Image
Dancer's need to be properly nourished and hydrated. Like any physical activity, taking a dance class requires high energy levels, concentration, focus, and strength. One way to meet these expectations is to eat foods before the class that will help you meet these requirements. Not eating before a dance class and not being properly hydrated can leave you feeling weak and exhausted. According to research, it is better to eat at least one to two hours before a dance class rather than right before the class begins. Dance class can bring on physical exhaustion, pain, and soreness. Eating certain foods can possibly alleviate some of the soreness and exhaustion. Here are a few suggestions on what you can eat that will give you energy, good nutrition, and help you stay focused. 1. Hummus and Pita Bread/Vegetables Hummus is nutritious and goes well with pita bread and/or vegetables. Hummus is a good source of protein and fiber. Chickpeas are used in hummus and are high in iron,
Read more