confidence

[girl-ika]

so...i don´t speak english well , but i´ll try...i´m a dancer of hip hop (i dance about 4 years and i´m a 17 years old)...i´m a competitor in my little country and every year i´m better, but my problem is, i don´t have a lot of feeling and confidence when i´m dancing (in competiton and i dance solo)...i must feel the music, but every time i scared and i now that everyone is better than me...i realy don´t know what to do..please help me, becuse dance means everything for me. And sorry for mistakes...

 

[pygmalion]

Hi girl-ika. Welcome.

I have a feeling your post isn't getting seen because it's in the articles forum. :? Would you have a problem with it being moved to general dance discussion so more people can seem and chime in?

Also, I seem to remember some older threads on this topic that might help. I'll go take a look. :car: Be right back.

 

[Medira]

Welcome to DF!

Dancing as a soloist in competition definitely isn't an easy thing for the confidence to tackle. I can assure you though, it does get easier as you do more of it. I competed as a soloist in ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre for 11 years.

If you find that you're scared while performing, whether it's in a recital, a showcase or a competition, then it may just be a matter of needing to practice a bit more, and to become more comfortable with the music. Your routine should feel second nature to you. That way, when you get to the stage, you don't even need to think about the steps and arm motions, they just come naturally as soon as the music begins.

If you find that you're scared during competitions only, then the above still applies, but there's also one more thing to keep in mind: the judges are going to mark you to the best of their ability. When you're performing, they are focusing on your routine and what you're doing, not comparing it to the person who performed before you, or anybody else in your category. The score that they give you is based only on your performance. Essentially, you're competing against yourself.

When you walk out on that stage, do it with confidence. Feel the music and let yourself feel the enjoyment that you get from dancing. You know your routine. You know you can do it. Trust yourself.

Best of luck,
- M

 

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df girl-ika

 

[girl-ika]

thx

 

[newbie]

What about performing in front of a smaller audience (cat and dog, or parents, or friends) to get confidence?

 

[bordertangoman]

I know the feeling. I teach tango so I have to demonstrate things and sometimes I have to dance to show what is possible.

to help I focus absolutely on the music and try to forget that anyone else is there.

 

[newbie]

Here are some pages from "Briefe an einem jungen Dichter" by Rainer Maria Rilke. He's answering to a writer-wanabee, who is unsure about himself and asks for advice.
To sum up, Rilke answers that comparing oneself to other writers is not the way to know whether you can hope to become a writer yourself.
Of course, it's about writing, while you're dancing. But still, these words of wisdom may help.

"Sie fragen, ob Ihre Verse gut sind. Sie fragen mich. Sie haben vorher andere gefragt. Sie senden sie an Zeitschriften. Sie vergleichen sie mit anderen Gedichten, und Sie beunruhigen sich, wenn gewisse Redaktionen Ihre Versuche ablehnen. Nun (da Sie mir gestattet haben, Ihnen zu raten) bitte ich Sie, das alles aufzugeben. Sie sehen nach außen, und das vor allem dürften Sie jetzt nicht tun. Niemand kann Ihnen raten und helfen, niemand. Es gibt nur ein einziges Mittel. Gehen Sie in sich. Erforschen Sie den Grund, der Sie schreiben heißt; prüfen Sie, ob er in der tiefsten Stelle Ihres Herzens seine Wurzeln ausstreckt, gestehen Sie sich ein, ob Sie sterben müßten, wenn es Ihnen versagt würde zu schreiben.
Dieses vor allem: fragen Sie sich in der stillsten Stunde Ihrer Nacht: muß ich schreiben? Graben Sie in sich nach einer tiefen Antwort. Und wenn diese zustimmend lauten sollte, wenn Sie mit einem starken und einfachen ich muß dieser ernsten Frage begegnen dürfen, dann bauen Sie Ihr Leben nach dieser Notwendigkeit; Ihr Leben bis hinein in seine gleichgültigste und geringste Stunde muß ein Zeichen und Zeugnis werden diesem Drange. Dann nähern Sie sich der Natur. Dann versuchen Sie, wie ein erster Mensch, zu sagen, was Sie sehen und erleben und lieben und verlieren. "

 

[boco]

and for those of us that dont speak german.

They ask whether your verses are good. They ask me. They asked different before. They send it at magazines. They compare it with other poems, and you are worried, if certain editorships reject your attempts. Now (you permitted there me to guess/advise you) I ask you to give all this up. They see outward, and which above all you might not do now. Nobody can guess/advise you and help, nobody. There is only one means. Go into itself. Investigate the reason, which writes you is called; if you examine whether it stretches its roots in the deepest place of your heart, confesses itself you whether you would have to die, if it were malfunctioned to you to write. This above all: ask yourselves in the quietest hour of your night: do I have to write? Dig into itself for a deep answer. And if this approving should read, if you with a strong and a simple I must be allowed to meet this serious question, then you build your life after this necessity; Their life to inside into its most indifferent and smallest hour must become an indication and a certification this Drange. Then you approach nature. Then you, like first humans try to say what you see and to experience and dear and to lose.


babelfish translation.

Anyways, to maybe help you on your way, all confidence is is knowing within yourself that you can perform a said task.

ask yourself, do you know the routine? i know how difficult it is.. theres this routine that i need to perform at a competition next month, and i cant remember the entire thing off the top of my heda (and its only 1:20 woirth right now.)

if you know the routine, and you have it down, then you should have absolutely no reason to doubt yourself. However, this isn't always easy. As it was suggested, try a smaller audience, (cat, dog monkey, parents, friends) because sometimes they will be your biggest critics!

and if you think you're not good enough... you're obviously there. so you must be good enough to get there. and 4 years, that's saying something.

another thing you might want to try, is closing your eyes for the first bit til you get in the zone.. whenever im dancing, i cant really watch other people, or watch myself in the mirror, because i get caught up, and start thinking about what im doing, and i trip over myself (sometimes literally!)

good luck with whatever you do, and remember, if you believe that you can do it... you usually can.

-justin

 

[newbie]

eek! I understand why it's called Babelfish. Here is a human translation:

"You ask whether your verses are any good. You ask me. You have asked others before this. You send them to magazines. You compare them with other poems, and you are upset when certain editors reject your work. Now (since you have said you want my advice) I beg you to stop doing that sort of thing. You are looking outside, and that is what you should most avoid right now. No one can advise or help you - no one. There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must," then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse. Then come close to Nature. Then, as if no one had ever tried before, try to say what you see and feel and love and lose. "