…and still going.
About 10 month’s ago I passionately started my dance journey. Trust me, in the beginning, it wasn’t easy. Matter of fact, it’s still not easy! When you feel as if you look like a fool trying something new, (and if you’re like me and impatient with the no-shortcut, no bullshit self-progress process), then you definitely understand what it means when you, to put it simply, just suck. It’s a huge shot to your ego.
Reference the purple video above. Funnily, this actually wasn’t my first dance fitness class. I took several classes before then and had just started filming myself. So to be completely transparent, I actually sucked a lot longer! I was reluctant to share my very first videos because I knew it didn’t look good. But, I want to stay open and show you that it DOES take work.
“No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.” – Mikhail Baryshnikov
Pay attention. Notice the insecurity, frustration, and most importantly, the lack of enjoyment in the 1st video. When I look at this, my biggest pain point is seeing the lack of enjoyment. What the hell was my problem? Like many of us, insecurity and frustration all come with learning something new. Often when we’re uncomfortable or feel short of awesome, we revert back to normalcy…back to our protective shell. It’s these very behaviors that hinder us from accomplishing something extraordinary. Push yourself. Challenge yourself. Allow yourself to be and do more than you believe you can. I promise you…you’ll uncover something incredible.
Dance is meant to be fun. Fun throughout all phases of the learning process! Reference the 2nd video on top. If you look closely, you will see that I still make mistakes. The difference between now and then is that now, I improvise. Improvisation is my new favorite word. That and freestyle. These are the two words I absolutely used to dread when instructors announced it was time to do our own thing and perform. I used to panic and be all in my head. Now? I just keep moving and if I forget the choreography, I do what I can to fill in the gaps, fake it until I make it, and recover the choreography. How did I overcome my fear? Full of drama but in a sense, all so true – I made love to the words improvise and freestyle. Til’ this day, I still continue to embrace fear and learn to love every single learning moment that comes along with it. These are the lessons that have lead to my growth thus far. Excited to learn much more of the different facets of art and dance, science and fitness, and how the world interprets it in their culture.
The biggest takeaway from all of this and the lesson I want to share is not necessarily becoming skillfully better; but instead become genuinely PROUD and CONFIDENT. Be proud of what you accomplish everyday. Be confident in your growth, style, failures, successes, and your overall individuality.
Looking back at my first few videos, my face was completely stoic. Boring! I was simply a robot following the instructor’s choreography. What fun is that? Now, I’ve learned to embrace my own dance style, make movements work for me, and know my short-term limitations and understand how to eventually break through it. Express yourself and show the joy that dance gives you to the audience, even if the audience is yourself. Shit, the best performance you give should first start with YOU! So give it your all, then show everyone all of your awesome swag. If you feel good, you look good. If you look good, others will feel that shit, too. They will feel your energy. It won’t even be about the dance anymore, it will be about seeing you so full of passion and fearlessly going for it regardless. And that right there is something I’m plugged to, something I’m truly inspired by, and something that I can’t take my eyes off of.
Although it’s only been about 10 months, I am proud of how far I’ve come with my goals to become a much more confident and happier dancer. Looking forward to learning more along this incredible dance journey and, God-willing, dance for many more years to come.
See you on the dance floor, dear friends. You. Better. Werk!
Xoxo,
– popn’ dance cherries
P.S. Check out Part II of this post titled “#ProgressOverPerfection“. Here I show you what growth looks like and werkin’ from a bold, 5-inch heel point of view. Enjoy!
popn' cherries 
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