Ask Bailar: I'm new to social dancing... HELP!
Updated: Aug 10, 2022
We feel you!
We've all been there, it can be so hard to put yourself out there on a dance floor full of complete strangers.
But don't worry, we have a few handy tips to help you get over the social dance jitters 😬
✨ Start small and slowly stretch your boundaries
If you're a beginner who's nervous about taking that first leap, try going to a practica or event that's held by a dance school. This way, you can just concentrate on dancing instead of worrying about random people staring at you or drunk people creating a disturbance around you.
As a bonus, people at dance events tend to be a bit more relaxed and social; take the opportunity to get to know the people you're dancing when you're both taking a breather between dances.
👯♀️ Call a friend
It's not as daunting to hit up the club when you know other dancers who will be there.
If you know someone who is more experienced at social dancing than you, ask for help. Most experienced dancers are happy to help introduce you to their friends - we all remember what it was like when we we first starting out and we all want our dance community to grow.
✔️ Set a goal
As clinical as this sounds, sometimes setting a goal helps. Start with half an hour (or if you prefer a number of dances) and slowly increase it as you build your confidence.
😁 Smile
Did you know that smiling can trick your brain into being happy? Even a forcing a smile can reduce the stress you feel in the moment. Plus, who wouldn't want to dance with someone with a bright smile on their face?
🤡 Have fun with it
Mistakes happen to the best of us. If you mess up on the dance floor, move past it, laugh it off, turn it into a chicken dance! Social dancing is meant to be fun so pursue in that spirit!
We hope these tips have helped. If you're an experienced dancer, what other words of wisdom would you add? Hit us up in the comments below 😘