Common Beginner Fears and Misconceptions

It is well known that, by and large, there tend to be more women or follows who go dancing than men or leads. Some attribute this to less interest on the part of men, but more likely I think has to do with men getting "caught" up in all the things they have to contend with during their first year or so of learning how to dance well.

While it is of course a challenge as well at the beginning for follows, it is easier for them to get the hang of dancing- they need to primarily learn to focus on footwork, what's being lead and develop a solid frame. (This shifts as they become more experienced.)

Leads on the other hand, need to not only focus on footwork, and frame- they also need to know what the moves are, what they need to do to do the move, and make sure that they keep their partners safe on the floor by avoiding other dancers- novices and "hot dogs" alike. (A "hot dog" is a term used for someone who is skilled at dancing but tends to not pay attention to other dancers on the floor.) This is a lot for someone to contend with, and many simply don't want to stick with the initial learning curve and stop.

• Lack of confidence
• Not having the ability to dance ie, Fear of "not getting it"
• Fear of looking stupid
• Feeling uncomfortable
• Fear of not having the right rhythm with the music
• Not knowing anyone in a class or social setting
• The good dancers make it look easy, it is obviously hard
• Concern with messing up steps when dancing with someone more experienced

For those willing to stick it out and keep going because they are enjoying themselves, or see the potential for what they can be be doing, the rewards can be great.

It is be useful to look at the dancers who have "made it" past this point and see what their attitudes are. You'll find some stark differences, including:

• Confidence
• Anyone can dance
• Feeling confident makes a big impression- people notice that more than anything
• Focus is on the partner -  making sure they are enjoying themselves and are comfortable
• Enjoying the music
• Getting to meet new people - realizing everyone is there to enjoy themselves
• Realizing that everyone is always learning, there will always be someone better and someone worse than someone else
• Having fun - simpler steps and moves are always preferred over trying to too much half-way.

It is good remember as well that having as much enjoyment along the way is important. Well seasoned dancers know that they are always learning, improving, getting better, that there is no actual "arrival" point where they no longer need to learn anything new. All the famous dancers and famous artists in history have known this. The best are always the ones who are working on getting the basics more and more refined at the same time they are learning "fancier" and "flashier" things.