How Can Dance Increase Your Self-Esteem and Self-Worth?

Typically, people walk into a dance classes in Pearland, TX, for the very first time with an idea that they will learn some steps or perhaps get a great workout. And while these things are absolutely possible, we see something much more amazing happen on a daily basis. Certainly, people improve their posture not merely due to matters involving their spinal column, but due to matters involving pride. Their eyes light up, and their smiles broaden. The link involving movement and mental health is astounding, and for some people, it becomes a vital method for which they improve their own sense of self-worth.

 

By choosing to move your body to music, you are doing so much more than exercising. You are engaging in something that challenges your mind, connects you with people, teaches you to appreciate your physical form from a completely different perspective. How can dance increase your self-esteem and self-worth? It does this by providing opportunities for personal growth, self-discovery, and connection. And we see it every day at Chara Christian Dance Academy! 

 

Finding Appreciation Through Body Awareness

 

In our everyday life, we might start criticizing our own bodies. We usually concentrate on what we would like to change and how we could be compared with what we see. Dance completely reverses that approach. As you find yourself right in the middle of the routine, your eyes are no longer on what your body looks like, but on what your body can do. You will start noticing your muscle strength in your legs as you stand on your toes in a plié position.

 

This transition from an aesthetic emphasis to a function emphasis is completely therapeutic. You start to see your body as an instrument of expression as opposed to something that needs to be looked at. As you gain more awareness about your capabilities within your own body, your appreciation for your body translates perfectly into an appreciation for yourself.

 

Processing Feelings Using Emotional Release

 

At times, words alone are not enough to convey what we are experiencing. We all have stress, anxiety, and emotions within us. Dance becomes an excellent expression for these unexpressed emotions, and dancing becomes a method for you to unburden your energy.

 

A cathartic effect can be achieved through movement. Whether it be aggressive and intense, as seen in hip-hop dancing, or smooth and poetic, as it relates to contemporary styles, relating your internal experiences with movement outside of yourself will be an affirmation and recognition of your experiences. When you are capable of expressing yourself without reservation, your beliefs about your own emotions and worth will be reinforced.

 

Strengthening Confidence via Social Associations

 

Dancing is a communal act. Just as you are learning your own movement skills, there are almost always people around you who are working toward similar ends. It is easier to feel a sense of belonging because of this. For many, dancing with confidence is a process that grows in group settings – you see others brave new moves, support each other, and soon realize you can do the same. We have seen people who were strangers become allies because they can support and encourage someone when they finally master a tough step.

 

It’s an honor to be a member of a tribe because it fosters an atmosphere where you can be vulnerable and make mistakes. Because you fear judgment, my esteem will be low. But an encouraging dance atmosphere shows that it’s perfectly acceptable to make mistakes. It’s very enabling because you learn that you can make mistakes, and  you can have a good laugh and just continue.

 

Achieving Goals and Marking Milestones

 

There is no experience quite like that of learning a movement combination that once seemed out of reach just weeks before. A loop of learn and achieve occurs with every small goal set and reached with dancing. It could be learning a rhythm combination, working on your flexibility, or even just staying on beat with the music.

 

Every time you succeed at reaching one of these goals, you are giving yourself proof that you have what it takes. That is what self-esteem is based on. It isn’t just meaningless praise; it is hard-earned confidence. We enjoy seeing our students catch on that if they can get through a tough routine, they can probably get through tough times at school as well.

 

Step Into Your Power

 

So if you have been grappling with feelings of self-doubt or just want to become more at home in your own skin, we would encourage you to get on your own dance floor. The path to greater feelings of self-worth will almost certainly have some bends and curves, but it will be much more fun as a music-filled road. By reconnecting with your own physicality, working with your emotions, and reaching toward new goals with a surrounding cast of supportive members, you can build a sense of yourself that stands tall and radiates bright.