Some people start social dancing because they are looking to improve their social life. Many people need help finding activities and social circles with the same interests and hobbies. Dance is the most common activity that people of all ages would enjoy. Socializing is not the main part of dance classes, so people feel less pressured to socialize than in other situations. Further in this article, I will explain how dance improves social skills and how it has helped me in various situations.
How does dance improve social skills? Dance improves social skills by exposing you to different people, situations, and environments. It will give you the confidence to approach and engage with people. Also, dance is a form of exercise; it is well-known that exercise helps boost self-confidence.
My main goal was to improve my social skills and expand my social circle when I signed up for dance lessons for the first time ever. I knew that social skills were one area of my life that I needed to work on.
I was thinking of activities I would enjoy while exposing myself to people and different situations. I always liked dancing but never felt comfortable dancing in front of other people.
So, I found Latin dance classes in my area, although I knew nothing about Latin dance. I was thinking, “Let me try it; if it doesn’t work out, I will try something else. ” What could go wrong, except a bunch of strangers would see me dancing horribly, which is not the end of the World.
Another thought gave me comfort in my mind and calmed my anxiety. Since it was a beginner’s Salsa class, I knew other people were in the same boat as me. And as I anticipated, others were horrible at dancing like me, so there was no room for judgment. And even if others were good dancers, I knew nobody would judge me or think negatively about me. And that all of those negative thoughts are just in my head.
Lesson after lesson, I felt more comfortable socializing, interacting, and getting to know people there. It was interesting to find out why people are taking dance lessons. Some were preparing for a wedding, some wanted to go out social dancing, and some were like me; they wanted to improve their social life and learn a new skill.
Little by little, I became more comfortable dancing in front of other people and socialize more easily. I also learned that I love Latin dancing, and so many years after my initial dance class, I continued to take different dance classes because I purely fell in love with the art of Latin dancing. Also, my social circle has expanded, and I attend many social dance events without negative thoughts about whether I would feel comfortable there.
Now that you have learned how dance has helped me improve my social skills let’s get into more details on how it can also benefit you.
7 Ways How Dance Improves Social Skills
1. Exposure to social situations
If you want to improve your social skills, you must actively and consciously expose yourself to social situations, even though you may initially feel uncomfortable. When you attend social dance events, you would naturally exposed to different social situations.
The good thing about dancing is that socializing is not the main part of dance classes, so you will feel less pressured to socialize than in other situations. Just that thought can alleviate lots of anxiety associated with socializing.
2. Improves self-esteem and communication skills
Dancing can help improve your self-esteem and communication skills and help break you out of your shell. You will have an opportunity to speak with other fellow dancers before and after the class, which may lead to long and lasting friendships, and perhaps even love interests if you are single 😉
You can find out where and when the next social dance event occurs by interacting with other people from your class. And if you tell them you are interested in attending, I am sure you will be in their mind to invite you to such an event.
3. Improves teamwork skills
Choreography can improve your social skills as well. Choreography often requires teamwork and patience. You will learn how to move in a group and synchronize – teaching you the value of collaboration to achieve goals.
Social engagement is a vital part of a balanced lifestyle, and dance classes offer lots of social interaction. Dancers bond over shared activities, improving their dance skills and their love of dance. Because dancers interact during a collaborative physical activity, interactions tend to be more social and less competitive.
4. Improves self-control
Dance requires a lot of discipline and self-control. The learning process of dancing requires accuracy and attention to detail. Dance also requires a commitment to practicing the steps that are being taught within a class, rules, etiquette, and structure. The capability to utilize self-control during dance lessons connects the dancer to results in their performance.
Once dancers demonstrate their ability to control themselves, they are more likely to be able to perform techniques to perfection. This is because dancers must think about several different things happening simultaneously when performing a dance routine. For instance, they need not only to think about the requirements for the skill itself but their foot placement and alignment, having a straight leg along with a pointed foot, among so many other things.
When dancers learn self-control and commit to learning the technique, they can apply that to other areas of their lives, producing a positive effect.
Many people nowadays struggle with social skills more than ever, especially since the Covid pandemic. I am an introverted type of person who sometimes struggles in social environments. Still, I have found lots of success and confidence in dealing with social situations since I started dancing.
5. Helps with self-acceptance and acceptance of others
Dance is a universal language that all cultures speak. It allows people to forget their differences and focus only on dancing. It also allows them to explore cultural dance styles from across the World, facilitating acceptance and understanding of others.
6. Builds empathy
Regular dancing has been shown to help build our ability to empathize and express emotion, two crucial aspects of creating a good bond with others.
Research has shown that people who dance regularly better interpret other people’s emotions. Expressing our feelings through dance can make us more sensitive when others express themselves.
Dance is fueled by emotion, moving through and sharing those feelings with others. Dance allows others to find a genuine connection with our feelings, regardless of whether they relate to that moment or if it reminds them of the moments when they shared that feeling.
Learning how to express emotion brings benefits beyond the dance floor. We learn how to be vulnerable in healthy ways that help fulfill social connections.
7. Builds self-confidence
Last but not least, dance improves self-confidence, which significantly impacts our social life. Taking dance classes is an excellent way of overcoming insecurities and helps gradually shape you into a self-assured and charismatic individual.
Taking dance lessons means you will get used to dancing around other people, whether your dance instructor, your dance partner, or the other students attending the classes. Dancing in front of others will help push you out of your comfort zone and teach you how to be more comfortable with your body.
As you boost your dancing skills, your confidence grows; when you are ready for it, you may start performing in front of an audience. Whether you feel shy or awkward in front of others, once you start dancing in front of others, it will all go away, and as time passes, you will be able to shake off your shyness, reflecting on other areas of your life.
Final Words
While most dance styles don’t require you to be part of a team, it is a social activity. Whether you’re shy or outgoing, you’ll find that being part of a dance class is a bonding experience that can increase social skills, foster a positive outlook, and increase self-esteem. I trust this article has helped you discover how dance improves social skills.
Happy dancing!
