Confidence on the dance floor

Wow! This is a BIG Topic because confidence or the lack of, is everywhere, anywhere and it’s not different in Salsa.

Confidence isn’t something you suddenly get (usually), it’s something you build, step by step with the support of (in our case) your OnSalsa teacher and your salsa fellow dancers.

Everyone Starts Nervous

Even the most experienced dancers once felt awkward and or shy! Trust me!

It’s normal to feel nervous when:

you try a new hobby (and let’s face it SALSA is quite different from let’s say tennis, football or netball)
you dance with someone new (and this can be quite daunting to start with)
you’re learning about timing, following, leading (pretty hard stuff)
you step on the dancefloor in a social setting

What you feel IS absolutely normal, it is not a lack of ability by any means.

Confidence Comes from “Doing”

Many dancers think they’ll become confident after they feel they’re “good enough.” However you will only become good at something by attending classes regularly and by practising consistently AND that’s what OnSalsa is here for: to take you from literally Zero to Hero. If you can walk then you can dance – patience is the key here.

Your Confidence will grow when you:

attend class regularly
practise little and often (10 minutes a day would be a good start)
start dancing socially (after your class is ideal as you’ll know fellow dancers)
don’t worry when you make mistakes (we all do – remember no-one is perfect!)
be proud when you “get that move” or “that technique” which you used to struggle with so much

Every little achievement is a step forward.

Connection with Your Dance Partner

The most confident dancers aren’t always the ones with the fanciest moves…they’re the ones who make their partner feel good and happy when they dance together. A great dance will go a long way.

To build confidence, try this:

Leaders: keep your lead gentle and clear
Followers: trust your following, relax into the lead and go with the flow
Both: Be nice to each other, smile and enjoy the dance.

Salsa is a conversation to be enjoyed over music

Change Your Mind Set

Easier than done I know… but think positive (this is valid for everything we do in life, not just salsa)

Replace: ❌ “I’m bad at Salsa.”with “I’m learning this.”

Replace ❌ “Everyone is better than me.”with “Everyone learns at their own pace.”

Confidence will grow with the support of your OnSalsa teachers and fellow dancer.

Practice

Try these:

Arrive to class 5 minutes early and start practising with fellow dancers or your OnSalsa teacher
Ask one new person in class to dance during the Socials on Tuesdays after class
Practise one move each week with either your OnSalsa teacher at the end of the class or a fellow dancer
Feel proud of your achievements because We at OnSalsa are certainly very proud of you.

Small steps create amazing dancers. Beginners today, advanced tomorrow. Don’t start running before you can walk. Trust me, give yourself enough time to learn and you will thrive. Nothing makes your teacher happier than seeing your progress each week, months and over the years.

Your style doesn’t have to match anyone else’s. Some dancers are playful, others smooth, some musical, some funky. Be the dancer, you want to be and “dance to your heart out”.

The moment you embrace this, your confidence will skyrocket.

Enjoy Yourself

For me, Confidence is about:

showing up to class and or social
trying (something new, something tricky, something fun)
smiling (yep! once you start smiling, everything feels so much easier)
enjoying your progress (that’s amazing)
letting yourself have fun (go for it!)

The more fun you have, the more confident you will become

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking, “I wish I felt more confident,”

Guess what? You will be because you are here to enjoy yourself, have fun and meet new people who feel the same as you with supportive teachers.

See you Tuesday — let’s build confidence together!

All your OnSalsa Teacher are here to be part of your Salsa journey.

7:30pm · Summertown Church Hall (OX2 7EZ)

Building Community Through Dance

Rosa, Giles and the OnSalsa team x