Fear of dancing: tips for a good opening dance

February 08, 2017

Dancing is something that belongs to almost every culture in the world. Dancing plays a role in many important life events, such as at the wedding. Dancing can also be fun while going out to have more fun and dancing is also healthy. Nevertheless, some people have a fear of dancing. People who are afraid to dance have chorophobia.

To help you get rid of your fear of dancing, in this blog I will discuss what dancing is, what dancing is good for, and what you can do about your fear of dancing.

What is dancing?

Dancing is moving to music. When you dance, the rhythm of the music is generally important to the steps you take.

You can dance on your own, in pairs or with a whole group. It doesn't matter.

Different types of styles of dancing

There are many ways to dance. The hip-hop or street style of dancing is very well known through shows such as X-factor. This is a form of dance that is often danced in groups and to hip-hop music. This form of dancing is very broad, because for example breakdancing is also part of it. This is a dance form that you usually do by yourself or as a "solo piece" during a dance with the group.

Jazz ballet is another dance form that is also very popular. It is very similar to classical ballet, but it is danced to more modern music, such as hip-hop or rock music. It is also a little freer than ballet in its movement.

Jazz ballet can also be done with a group or on your own.

Then there is ballroom dancing. This dance form often plays an important role during weddings for the opening dance. In addition, ballroom dancing can also be great fun to do with your partner.

Ballroom dancing is divided into two styles namely ballroom or Latin. Ballroom includes dances such as the waltz and Latin involves learning how to dance the salsa, samba or rumba.

Ballroom has its origins from European soil and Latin already makes it clear that these are South American or Mediterranean dances.

You also have other forms of dancing, such as line-dancing.

What is dancing good for?

Dancing is a form of exercise. Because of this, dancing alone is good for improving fitness and getting your daily amount of exercise.

Research also shows that dancing is healthy for older people. Because of the pleasure you get from dancing, and not always from cycling or running, for example, it is the way for older people with age-related ailments to still keep moving.

A group of women aged between 60 and 80 years old reported that dancing causes them to forget about aches and pains and problems. The study also looked at maintaining creativity and coordination ability in older age( 1).

In addition, research on adults who dance for fun shows that dancing also has positive emotional benefits. For example, the positive aspects of dancing include increased self-confidence and better stress management ( 2).

Research also shows that a 12-week dance therapy program for young people with mild depression can improve the processing of neurohormones, such as serotonin and dopamine, thereby reducing their depressive symptoms ( 3).

There is also another interesting study on Latin dancing and its benefits to your cognitive skills, how well you can think. American scientists noticed a difference in cognitive skills of white people with and without Latin backgrounds. Latinos were able to perform mental tasks better than those from more European backgrounds.

Because dancing has an important place in Mediterranean culture, or Latin culture, it was investigated whether regular Latin dancing made this difference. Indeed, the study found that when people started dancing Latin it helped to improve long-term memory, and it also improved performance of mental tasks and working memory( 4).

So anyone can take a salsa or chachacha class.

Fear of dancing

If you are afraid to dance, it is a great shame. Dancing can cause you to become physically and mentally healthier. Not only does your body become stronger, you can better handle stress and negative emotions, and your brain can better solve problems.

Fear of dancing can refer to several things, such as:

Body Uncertainty.
Afraid of being laughed at.
Afraid to fall.
Afraid to be in other people's attention.

Especially with the latter anxiety can be the case if, for example, you are nervous or anxious about an opening dance at your wedding.

A good example of fear of dancing to be laughed at is something a friend of mine told me. She was once going out at a nightclub when her eye caught a young man who was moving quite nicely. He was on a dance stage, but at the very back.

She and her friend started gesturing to him that it was okay for him to come dance up front. So he did.... And how ... Before she knew it, he started breakdancing, someone else also started breakdancing, and one talented dancer after another followed suit.

He then approached them, asking if they didn't also want to dance. Since her talent didn't really go beyond stepping back and forth, she and her friend ran away. After such dance moves on that stage, she really didn't want to be laughed at with her minimal dancing talent.

Tips to do dance

If you actually do want all the benefits of dancing and want to give yourself a fun opening dance (or show off at the disco), it's important to figure out what actually caused your anxiety.

Tip 1: Identify your beliefs

First, it’s helpful to figure out what thoughts you have about dancing and what beliefs are holding you back from dancing. For example, you might think you can’t dance because you don’t look like those breakdancers on TV.

You may also have a fear of dancing because you are afraid you will fall if you make a somewhat complicated pass.

If you know what beliefs are holding you back, you can counter them with other beliefs.

Suppose you ’re feeling insecure about yourself; that’s actually a good reason to start dancing, because it can actually boost your self-confidence.

For example, you can repeat different beliefs to yourself during self-hypnosis.

"Dancing makes me more confident."

"Dancing makes me more beautiful."

"It doesn't matter what others think of my dance."

In addition, self-hypnosis allows you to visualize what it looks like when you dance. Visualizing it already makes it a lot less scary.

A hypnotherapist can use techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help you reduce your beliefs that cause the fear of dancing.

Tip 2: Search your memories

If it is difficult to figure out why you are afraid to dance, you can search in your memories to see if the cause lies there. Perhaps you once loved to dance, but have fallen and are afraid of that happening again.

Maybe someone once made a rotten comment about dancing people and you're afraid you'll comply with that comment if you dance.

A hypnotherapist can help you with regression therapy to uncover memories that have caused you to no longer want to dance.

Tip 3: Dance on your own first

Fortunately, we live in the age of the Internet which allows you to reduce your own anxiety step by step. For example, you can first dance on your own.

If you search for "Learn to Dance" on YouTube, you will already come across great instructional videos. Those videos include, for example, ballroom dancing, for a wedding, as well as steps you can perform on the dance floor while going out.

You just start practicing at home, and when you feel more confident you try it at a wedding or while going out.

Tip 4: Take dance lessons (this can also be done privately)

Another way to reduce your fear of dancing is to take dance lessons. By taking classes, such as Latin dancing, you will learn how to do it the right way without hurting yourself.

In the process, through dance classes, you learn the more complicated moves than those found on the Internet. As a result, you also develop more of the mental benefits that come with dancing.

Dance classes can often be taken in groups your own age, or you can take a private class. Then afterwards you can surprise everyone on the dance floor at a party.

Would you like to learn more about overcoming fears to make your daily life a lot easier? Then join the free online masterclass or check out the courses offered by the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands.

Also pin this handy infographic:

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