How to Dance Like No One’s Watching

Katherine O’Connor

How to Dance Like No One’s Watching 

And Know You Don’t Look Like an Idiot

Everyone has that one friend that is notoriously bad at dancing. The one everyone loves to laugh at from afar when they are attempting to shimmy on the dancefloor. Well, unfortunately, I’m that friend, and chances are you are too if you’re reading this.

If you're that friend, then you know the immediate discomfort that arises when someone suggests that everyone go dancing at a bar or club. It’s easy to say “relax”, or the cliché, “dance like no one’s watching”. But the reality is, you know some people arewatching, and it's normal to want to look good while doing it. So, from one non-dancer to another, these are the tips I’ve learned along the way that will successfully transform you from a terrible dancer into an average one (with confidence).

#1 Throw out Your Preconceptions about Dance

The first key to mastering dance, is knowing that you can’t. There is no right or wrong way to dancing. Sure, some moves look better than others, and there are some technical parts that you are probably unfamiliar with, but when you stay true to yourself, you are creating your own personal style of dance. In reality, dance doesn’t appear the same way to every person. Any dance technique represents a collection of movements that a person has received and recreated. In this way, you should look at dance as something that shouldn’t be copied exactly from the experts. Instead, understand that you’re supposed to develop your own style, and embrace your right to be different. With this mindset, it's impossible to not look good. 

#2 Focus on Rhythm First

Once you're in the mindset of creation and not duplication, it's time to try and find your rhythm. Right now, you’ve probably come to the conclusion that you simply were born without rhythm, but that's not the case. In fact, people who feel like they have no rhythm are usually held back by things that have nothing to do with their sense to recognize the beat. From a psychological standpoint, everyone has to have some type of rhythm, and it’s seen in the way we walk, the beating of our hearts, and the simple act of us breathing. Yes, some people are innately more in sync with the beat than us non-dancers, but that doesn't mean it can't be learned. To do this, turn on your favorite song, preferably with a strong drum beat, and listen to the baseline. Then, get comfortable with the beat by tapping your foot, snapping your fingers, or even walking to the rhythm. You have to make a connection to the music before you can even attempt to dance along to it.

#3 Use the Basics

After you've learned how to recognize a beat, all you have to do is translate it onto the dance floor. To make it look like you know what you’re doing, all you have to do is add the simplest of dance moves. Count to four in your head and add movements, like swaying your arms or hips, on the two’s and four’s. This is a simple trick to break down the song and make it easier to move too. Unfortunately, the older you are, the harder it is to break from the movements you learned growing up. Your body will naturally want to revert to its muscle memory, but after practice, these new movements will become a part of your muscle memory too. However, it is important to be patient and understand that sometimes it takes time for your body to catch up to the sound and movement patterns that your brain already understands. If you were born without innate talent, it's not going to come to you immediately. As you practice your movements more, you’ll start to see your body move with greater ease, comfort, and facility. If you feel comfortable enough, dance in front of a mirror and practice your moves in a space that’s free of judgement. While seeing how you actually look, you’ll realize that you’re actually notthatbad and also be able to pinpoint any areas that need to be improved. 

#4 Confidence is Key

Once you’ve identified your rhythm and applied basic dance moves, all you need is confidence. Dance is an expression of freedom and it should be fun! It’s normal to feel insecure when you dance because you’re putting your physical body out there. However, what holds most of us back is the fear of dancing like an idiot. The key to dancing like you know what you're doing, is just to pretend like you know what you're doing. No one is watching you as closely as you're watching yourself. It shows when people feel awkward, so find the groove that feels right to you and work with it. A key to looking confident is maintaining good posture. To avoid looking uncomfortable, you should hold your head up high and refrain from slouching forward. Dance should be an escape, so unlock your knees and relax your core and have fun with it! 

#5 You Have to Commit

The key to looking confident is fully committing to every dance move you make. If you give every move 100%, no one can say you look stupid because you're owning it. Make your movements match the pace of the music and commit to it. The slightest of hesitation in your movements will result in under delivery. You now have the gift of basic rhythm and dancing skills, so show it off! Don't be the awkward person of the group who reverts back to the same comfortable, joke dance moves, or try to pull off a wild move you saw on your favorite dance show. Leave the attention-grabbing moves to the professionals and stick to the basics you’re comfortable with. Be serious, and you'll look good swaying your hips to the music. 

#6 Always Smile

The final tip to looking good while being a subpar dancer is to ALWAYS smile. I know you’ve heard it before, but a smile IS contagious. If you look like you're enjoying yourself, then people will believe it and enjoy your company too. When you smile, you are not only making yourself appear more attractive and inviting to others, but you’re biologically lifting your mood with the release of endorphins and serotonin that fight off stress. Even better, no one can tell you're awkward if you're smiling. So, sport a smile and maybe you’ll even trick yourself into having a good time. 

With these six tips in mind, it is impossible to look or feel like an idiot on the dancefloor. Although some tips seem simple and implied, you have to keep an open mind because even the littlest changes to the way you approach dance will make a difference. Remember, you CAN dance, and you DO look fabulous doing it. 

Works Cited

“How To Not Look AWKWARD When You Dance.” STEEZY, STEEZY, 2 Jan. 2019, blog.steezy.co/how-to-not-look-awkward-when-you-dance/. 

“No Rhythm, No Problem: Learn to Dance.” Dance Passion Studio, 21 May 2017, www.dance-passion.com/blog/no-rhythm-no-problem-learn-dance/. 

Swanson, Kate. “Can People With No Rhythm Learn to Dance?” HobbyLark, HobbyLark, 21 Apr. 2018, hobbylark.com/performing-arts/Learning-to-Dance. 

“There's Magic in Your Smile.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile. 

“Why Do Humans Dance?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-body-knows/201503/why-do-humans-dance. 

 “How to Dance Without Embarrassing Yourself.” WikiHow, WikiHow, 7 Feb. 2019, www.wikihow.com/Dance-Without-Embarrassing-Yourself.