11 tips to a successful first day of dance!
Be prepared
Nothing helps your confidence more than coming into class ready to go. It makes those first day jitters less intense. You don’t need to know how to dance walking into the classroom you just need to be in the right uniform! Make sure you have the dress code needed for each of your classes and your hair is pulled completely out of your face and into a ponytail or bun depending on the class rules.
Arrive early
Starting something new can be intimidating and coming in late to a new space can make it even more intimidating. Always give yourself 10-15 minutes to get to the location of your class so you have time to park, run to the restroom and put your stuff down. Not feeling rushed to class helps the transition of trying something new for the first time.
Bring a water bottle
Even if you think you don’t need it, it's always better to have one with you. I’ve tried a lot of different fitness classes and I can tell you one of my biggest mistakes would be walking in without a water bottle. I’ve spent the whole class thinking about how thirsty I was at times and couldn’t tell you one thing I learned from the teacher or who else was in the room.
Set your intentions
Before heading into your class set your intentions for your time there! This helps you stay focused and look at the smaller goals you made for yourself and see what you’ve accomplished.
Introduce yourself
Yes, there’s no talking in a dance class..typically. BUT! You should introduce yourself to the teacher and someone around you before class starts. This is a great way to get over any fear when trying something new for the first time and you may even make a friend before class starts. If that friend is a veteran in the class they usually take you under their wing and help give you pointers if you ask. There’s no reason to feel alone when you’re in a room surrounded by people. Take the first step and say HELLO!
Put your best foot forward!
Nobody is a pro at something the first time they try. Okay…maybe that one friend is but that’s not normal! The best you can do when trying something new is to TRY. I know that seems silly but only you can hold yourself back. If you come into class with the expectation that it’s going to be hard and awful I bet your experience will not be the greatest. If you come to class with the expectation that you are going to try and it’s going to be a fun experience I guarantee you will have a blast. Give yourself grace and try new things!
Know your limitations
You know the saying pride comes before the fall? I think that was specifically created for dancers. I’ve taken classes where I’ve not listened to my body and tried things I knew I shouldn’t do at the time and hurt myself. Your teachers don’t think less of you because you are not doing everything! That is an eternal battle that you have to let go of. You know your body and your limitations best so pace yourself when trying something new and build up the strength or confidence to try it again next time. I always communicate my limitations to my teacher before class so they know where I am at mentally and physically for our time together. It helps you both have clear communication and your teacher may even be able to help give you modifications if they know ahead of time.
Let go of fear
This is a big one and can be the most challenging. You’ve got to let go of your fear. Whatever it may be fear of failing, fear of not being good enough, fear of being looked at, fear of being judged. Whatever it is. LET. IT. GO. That’s not a pressure you need to live under and it just hurts you in the long run. When you are trying a class for the first time you have to know that the people in the room are not there to judge you. They are there to grow and honestly they probably haven’t looked at you dancing one time. We tend to make things more about ourselves than necessary when the reality is. People are just there to dance, not to judge you. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Ask questions
As a teacher I LOVE when a student asks me a question. One, it shows me they are engaging in class and two it helps me know what exactly I need to review or focus on to help them succeed. Don’t feel like you're silly if you don’t know something because chances are you were just the only one brave enough to ask and everyone else was thinking it!
The mirror is your friend
Dance classes have big mirrors to the point where you can’t escape yourself in class. Sometimes this can be a student’s least favorite part of the class. I know for me growing up it was something that I had to overcome. Having the mindset that the mirror is your friend will save you from going down the rabbit hole of judging yourself. When you are learning how to do something you can watch yourself in the mirror and see if you are executing it correctly. SEE! The mirror is your friend! It can help you grow pretty quickly, don’t pick yourself a part. Grow!
Have fun!
Don’t take yourself too seriously! If it’s your first class you may have no idea what’s going on and that’s okay! Do what you can and the more you take class the easier it will be but you can still have fun in the process.
