7 Dance Technique Myths that are Killing Your Confidence in Dance Class

You need to know all about why these 7 dance technique myths are keeping you from making progress in the dance studio and what you should do instead!

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In the dance world there are so many things we are told to do or not do in order to grow as dancers. Especially with social media we are constantly hearing and taking in a variety of messages that are both explicit and not. However, not everything you see or hear is true, especially when it comes to how to build your dance technique.

There is so much dancers misunderstand when it comes to building your dance technique. And sometimes there are some dance technique myths out there that will actually hurt your dance technique more than they help.

Which is why I’m sharing the top 7 dance technique myths and misconceptions that actually keep you from growing as a dancer. You’ll learn about the common dance technique myths, how to actually improve your dance technique, and more!

This post is all about dance technique myths

Myths About Dance Technique

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Myth #1: Technique is Only Related to Physical Ability

You can have all the strength and flexibility in the world but if you can’t actually complete the movement pattern the technique is not there. There are also aspects of musicality, rhythm, and movement transitions that involve less physical aspects of dance technique.

Dance technique involves your brain as much as it does your body. This is why you can’t just do an exercise to give you the strength to do a turn sequence. You actually have to practice the turn sequence or parts of a routine.

Myth #2: Proper Technique is “Ballet-Only”

This dance technique myth is getting so old. Don’t get me wrong, ballet is very beneficial for building body awareness, facilitating useful alignment, and developing discipline in dancers. However, technique exists in every dance genre in its own unique way.

Every dance genre has its own fundamentals and technical foundations that need to be developed from the ground up and explored in their own way.

And the more you explore other areas of technique you’ll start to see how much different dance genres overlap with each other as you build your dance technique.

Myth #3: If You Want Better Lines, You Just Need to Stretch More

As I did research for this blog post I couldn’t believe how many people out there are just telling dancers to “just stretch everyday” to improve their dance technique. However, flexibility without strength is just instability.

The truth is that most dancers don’t need “more” stretching; they need active flexibility and core engagement to hold the extensions and lines they already have. In fact, if you are prioritizing flexibility over strength you are more likely to end up injured because you don’t know how to properly control your body.

If you want a higher, stronger leap you can’t just sit in the splits expecting it to happen. You need to strengthen your muscles to build power and control.

You Might also Like: 8 Habits of Incredibly Successful Dancers

Myth #4: “No Pain, No Gain” is the Path to Progress

I’m really glad this dance technique myth is becoming less common place in the dance studio. Dancers already have an incredibly high pain tolerance because we do a lot of hard things. But if something feels off or consistently painful, you need to give yourself a break and modify accordingly.

I recommend talking to a physical therapist or dance teacher about recommendations for exercises and precautions to take. Most of the time with a strain or chronic pain caused by conditions like tendonitis you can start a variety of strengthening and mobility exercises.

Myth #5: High Jumps and Quad Turns = “Elite” Technique

Just like I already said in dance technique myth number 1, technique exists in more than just your physical ability.

Any dancer can easily work to get higher jumps, but can they effectively take off and land that jump? You can do quadruple turns, but are you preparing for that turn in the proper stance? I’d rather see a clean single turn that effectively transitions in and out of the movement than a quad with sloppy transitions.

Elite dance technique involves the basics more than the flashy tricks. This means musicality, proper muscle engagement, allowing movement to breath, stability, weight distribution, and transitions.

I’m telling you the majority of the professional dancers out there aren’t doing more than a double turn on stage, but they do have most of these other technique basics mastered.

Recommended: 10 Essential Pieces of Dance Training Equipment

Myth #6: You’re “Too Old” to Improve Your Technique

Here’s the truth, I have seen dancers that were considered to have a “late start” reach technical levels far above that of individuals that had been dancing their entire life. You are NEVER too old to build or rebuild your dance technique.

In fact, many dancers that start later on are able to demonstrate better awareness of their bodies and grow faster than they think. Adult beginners or dancers with a later start are less afraid of going to the basics that many dancers that have been working for a long time avoid.

Every dancer should be willing to go back to the basics and look at things like a beginner to continue to improve their dance technique at any age.

Myth #7: You Need to Constantly Be Thinking About Your Technique

I don’t think I’ve heard anyone actually say this dance technique myth out loud but it is definitely an idea I know many dancers have fallen victim to in their own thinking.

As dancers we have to think about our posture, our facial expressions, how we engage our muscles, when to breathe, etc. This can cause us to believe that we have to constantly be thinking about all of this 100% of the time when performing.

However, that isn’t really possible. Yes, you should be physically aware but you shouldn’t need to over analyze. Overtime through practice and proper reflection, you’ll develop the skills to dance and think less all because you practiced!

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Before You Go

Now that you know all about these 7 Dance Technique Myths that are actually killing your confidence you are ready to actually grow your technique in the dance studio.

Get my ultimate dance confidence bundle for free below to keep growing your dance confidence in and out of the studio by journaling now!

This post was all about dance technique myths