Why are so many people embarrassed to dance? Is it about quality?
Here are seven reasons why it can be embarrassing to dance badly:
Social expectations: Dancing is often considered a social activity, and people may feel self-conscious if they don't meet the expectations of their peers.
Lack of confidence: People who are not confident in their dancing abilities may feel embarrassed to show them off in public.
Fear of judgement: Dancing in front of others can be intimidating, and people may be afraid of being judged or laughed at for their dancing skills.
Physical awkwardness: Dancing can require grace, and those who struggle with an over abundance of clumsiness may feel embarrassed by their movements.
Attention: Dancing can draw attention to oneself, and people may feel embarrassed if they feel like they are not performing well.
Feeling uncoordinated: Dancing requires coordination and balance, and if a person feels uncoordinated, it can be embarrassing.
Dancing out of sync: Dancing in a group setting requires being in sync with the music and the other dancers, and dancing out of sync can be embarrassing.
Whether or not you should dance if you feel you dance badly is ultimately a personal decision. Here are five points to consider when you want to rip up the floor but feel reticent:
Dancing is a form of self-expression and can be a fun and enjoyable activity. If you enjoy dancing, you should do it regardless of your skill level.
Dancing can be a great way to improve your skills and confidence. By practicing and learning new moves, you can become more comfortable and confident on the dance floor.
Dancing in a non-judgmental and supportive environment can be a great way to build confidence and improve your skills.
It's also important to remember that everyone has different skills and abilities and there is no such thing as a perfect dancer.
Being in a comfortable and safe environment that allows you to be yourself, and to having fun, is joy in itself.
Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if you want to dance despite feeling you dance badly. If you're not comfortable with it, you can try to improve your skills first, or seek out a place where you fit in.
There will always be the critics.
On one hand, you've got the sticklers for discipline and technique who argue that without proper practice and form, your dance moves will flop like a fish out of water. They believe that concentrated thinking and concern about the outcome can actually lead to a more polished and refined performance. They see the mind and body as a dynamic duo that should be emphasized equally in the dance process, not one over the other. They believe that the idea of Samuel Beckett’s dance first, think later, is a fanciful notion.
Nevertheless, dancing continues in all its forms..
On the other hand, free-spirits are convinced that dancing is a natural and instinctual thing that should be done without a care in the world. They believe that the body should take the lead and the mind should follow, as if the two were connected by a bungee cord. They argue that following the natural order of things, in this case, dancing first, will lead to a more authentic and genuine experience. They argue that when people overthink and worry about the outcome, they tend to lose the natural flow of movements, which can make the dancing appear forced and artificial. Like a bird in a cage, they argue that allowing the body to move freely and instinctively can lead to a more genuine and spontaneous expression.
While it's crucial to have a good understanding of techniques to become proficient in dancing, it's also a skill to allow the body to move freely and instinctively. Striving for a balance between the two, where the mind and the body are equally emphasized, could be the key to achieving a polished and refined performance that is also authentic. After all this, the embarrassment may persist.
Enter, February Silent Auction.
Having concentrated on the act of dancing, let’s focus on the act of viewing. In February, you can put aside your embarrassment and simply participate in an opportunity to own a visual representation of dancers in the throws of social Salsa! This month’s silent auction, from 10.2.23 - 20.2.23, is for the painting shown here.
Captured in time-lapse moment, three couples move across the canvas with wild abandonment experienced on a steamy night of social dancing. Watch as they twirl and heave – is it in their DNA?