How to get back into dancing after a break

After a significant break you tend to feel bad for losing all the progress you had made with your dancing. When you’ve taken a step away from the dance floor, your style, form, stamina, confidence, and creativity all tend to take a backseat. This  feeling of starting from scratch can be particularly disheartening when you observe your peers continuing to grow and evolve in their dance journeys while you feel like you're starting from scratch. It can get a bit overwhelming regardless of the length of the break as you see a lot of changes in your dance environment. The first thing to do is to acknowledge the fact that you are coming back after a break and be lenient with the fact that it will take time for you to see some progress. But you must also understand that if you do put your heart into something, it does bring in a change provided there's consistency. Set achievable goals. This can be as simple as showing up for yourself. Make peace with reality and be excited about the process of restarting.

“Failing is part of the recovery process, so be okay with the fact that it might not work out every day but don’t give up.”  Divya Easwaran

Most times your body is capable of doing more than what is possible but the mind restricts it. Mindset is everything. The best way to have a positive mindset is to focus on the present and thinking about how you can improve things moving forth. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. For some, flexibility might be their forte while for others it could be geometry. Understand how your body works and how it reacts to the relearning process. An overall assessment of your strengths and weaknesses can help you to break down your mental restrictions that you’ve set for your body.

It can be attending classes, going to the club or even performing on stage. Meet your crew mates or dancer friends and have conversations with them, share stories or experiences from the past, it’ll definitely spark your passion and slowly get back. Establish the fact that you are dancing for yourself and nobody else. It is never about winning titles or proving your capabilities to someone else but simply about letting yourself be. Most of us are scared to take that chance while others are not. Find a teacher that not only changes your perspective to dance but to life as well. Choose your mentor carefully. Have a mentor who gives you enough space to take your time and pushes you beyond what you think you can do but also holds you accountable each time you try to make excuses. Find a mentor who makes you understand yourself better and makes you believe in your personality. Carry yourself to spaces where you can dance with no inhibitions. A balance of the two is where you can find joy, while restarting the process of getting into dance.

“The best way to reconnect is to immerse yourself in what you enjoyed most about dancing.” - Swaroop

While restarting, it is extremely important to start with beginner level classes. Beginner classes help you overcome the mental block and help you regain confidence. Beginner level classes are very important for anyone. It's important to put ourselves in spaces that demand commitment and spaces where you’re pushed to perform more often. It feels good to put yourself in a space where you're in control and nothing feels better than a place where you are already aware of what you're doing. Basics/foundations are very important regardless of the level of dancer you are. It is basically the oxygen for your dance. If you don’t have proper foundations, you will not and cannot survive. Foundation is key. Come in with no prejudice. Treat yourself as a complete beginner even if this used to be a very familiar space for you. Start logging your mental and physical health state. When you immediately step in after a long absence

“Be patient and enjoy the process, do not look for shortcuts, because there’s none. Stay patient, enjoy the process and work towards their dance goals.” - Gagan Somaiah

of physical activity, your body can feel overwhelmed and tired. Start navigating this process slowly. Sleep and diet play a very important role and it sets the tone for your mental and physical health. Maintain consistency and show up even if it's hard. Have a routine and manifest your goals. Manifestation is real but it needs to be supported with action rather than just thoughts. We are all masters of creating opportunities for ourselves. So move with intention and purpose.

It’s time to rediscover your passion for movement. Join our street dance classes at ARDSIndia in Indiranagar and pick up right where you left off. Have faith in the process and you’ll see the progress!

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