stop comparing yourself to other dancers
To be honest, dancers compare themselves to everyone all the time; whether it’s a famous choreographer in the industry, like Sean Bankhead, or your teammate on the dance team. It all comes down to the simple fact that we think we are less than those who are better than us. That is a toxic and unhelpful mindset to get into that stunts growth as a dancer. So, how can we beat it?
You are not less than
Comparison stems from this simple mindset of less than. Firstly, it’s important to understand the adverse effects of this mindset. By establishing yourself as less than someone, that also establishes your work ethic; why work as hard as you can if someone else is already better than you? Why push yourself in dance class? Why work on your roundoff handspring back tuck? Well, you should still work on all those things not to catch up to that person who is better than you, but to catch up to the best person or dancer you can and will be. It all comes back to that old quote, “The only person you can compare yourself to is your future self”.
2. We’re all on an equal playing field
Time and time again, dance teachers stress that all dancers are equal. One choreographer is not better than one student; they are equal in talent and potential. If you walk into a professional audition one day, whether you get what you auditioned for or not, you’re in the audition and walk out of it on the same playing field, opportunities, and status of other dancers. By acknowledging this straightforward fact, you realize that you don’t truly have any dancers to compare yourself to, if you’re all equal. You might think that one dancer is better than you because they’ve had more time to train or take more classes. That might be true, but regardless, you all have the same opportunities available to you NOW to grow into YOUR best self as a dancer; not that other dancer. So, take advantage of them; branch out and take new dance classes, download DanceVibes templates to grow, connect with new dancers, etc.
3. Inspiration over comparison
Sometimes, dance teachers stress comparing yourself to other dancers to have someone or some ability to match up to. But, as we’ve already established, the end goal is to match up to the best dancer you can and will be. So, rather than viewing the dancers around you as competition or better than you, view them as inspiration. Get inspired by their talents and abilities and figure out how to incorporate them into the way you dance. This mindset shift in inspiration over comparison does take time and effort to get used to, but helps you see the dancers around you as equals (like we’re already established) and people to draw inspiration from rather than dislike towards.
Actionable steps to stop comparing and start growing:
Download the Goal Growth Guide, Habit Tracker, or Inspirational Intentions Plan to work towards this uplifting, positive growth mindset!
Create affirmations to come back to when you feel yourself slipping into the better than- less than mindset.
Remember that all dancers are equal in talent and potential
Connect with the dancers around you to create positive relationships and share tips on dancing and dance growth!