Confessions of a Former Comfort Zone Dancer



Staying in your comfort zone is easy. It’s, well, comfortable. 

But, is the comfort zone beneficial to your growth as a dancer? Yea! Only if you’re ok with growing in age and not in technique/quality of movement! 

Take it from a girl who LIVED in her comfort zone as a young dancer.

I loved my dance studio. I loved my dance instructors. They were home for me. I thrived there because I was comfortable. Or, so I thought.

Guest teachers gave me anxiety. Master classes made my stomach turn. I literally hid at conventions, and I rarely took advantage of summer intensives or scholarships offered to me. I was scared! And that fear was only hindering me. 

In a sense, I was thriving at my dance studio, but only in my studio's style. I knew how they moved, how their choreography worked, what the combos would be. I was mimicking that one style instead of cultivating my own. (This was my own fault, as my studio provided me with ample opportunity to step out of the comfort zone.)  

But, mastering one style isn’t what dance is about. It wasn’t until I turned about 17 (wow, late bloomer, right?) that I TRULY understood the art of dance.

Dance is about learning, embracing and experiencing multiple genres. In order to do that, you should take from several instructors with varying backgrounds and experiences. 

Because Luam’s hip hop class/choreography is a totally different experience from Janelle Ginestra’s hip hop class/choreography, yet you will still walk away from both with something new to incorporate into your hip hop dance voice. 

This is one of the reasons why I value Masterclass Dance Company’s commitment to bringing summer dance intensives to our communities. It’s imperative in the growth of young dancers… from their vocabulary, to their personal style, to their confidence. It gives new insights and reinvigorates the passion for dance. Bonus? It’s FUN!

YOUNG DANCERS: LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES!

Do not take as long as I did to realize this! Don't fear what lies outside of your comfort zone. Leap out of that sucker! Take advantage of every opportunity to experience different dance genres and instructors! Even today, I’m still taking class from choreographers all over, and growing. You never stop learning.

Masterclass Dance Company has THREE dance intensives coming up. Click here to learn more and sign up, today!



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