Dealing with Self-doubt in Dancers

Self doubt is something we all deal with from time to time. But often young dancers at an impressionable age, can struggle with believing they are “good enough”.

Since self-motivation and self-belief are the biggest drivers of fun and improvement in the dance studio, self doubt or low self esteem can be the biggest inhibitors of reaching our goals.

Self-doubt is that little voice in the back of our head convincing ourselves that we can’t achieve our goals. More often than not, listening to that voice makes matters worse.

But what can we do to manage our self-doubt to be the best dancers we can be?

1. Notice your language: are you comparing yourself to others? Are you telling yourself you are not good enough to be in the class? Are you using extreme language like, I’ll never be able to do that?
2. Use more positive language that challenges your self-talk. Rephrase your thought to I didn’t do it today, but one day I will.
3. Ask for advice from a teacher or older student. Chances are, they had similar thoughts and can help you understand how you are feeling.
4. Set goals for yourself based on effort, not achievement. Instead of saying I want to do 8 fouettes, say I will practice my fouettes 3 times this week. This is guaranteed to give you more of a confidence boost.

What are some of the ways you put aside feelings of self-doubt? Let us know on Instagram or Facebook ?

Dance Factor is a Wollongong-based dance studio.