Unlocking Confidence: Trusting Your Journey as a Dancer

By Amelia Walker

I think we can all admit that sometimes we wish we were all a little more confident. The feeling of confidence is often described as a sense of assurance or belief in your own abilities, skills, and judgment. It’s that inner certainty that you can handle challenges, succeed in tasks, and achieve your goals. When you feel confident, you typically experience a sense of calmness and composure, even in stressful or uncertain situations. Physically, confidence might manifest as an upright posture, steady breathing, and relaxed muscles. Mentally, it can be seen in a positive mindset, clear focus, and a strong conviction in your decisions. Emotionally, confidence can bring about feelings of empowerment, courage, and optimism.

For dancers, confidence might be that moment when you step onto the stage with the belief that you’ve prepared well, that your body will execute the movements as intended, and that you can convey the emotions and energy of the dance. 

The dictionary definition of confidence is “the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.”

Let’s look at those last two words again. FIRM TRUST. 

Trust is all about having a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. 

So when you see someone who comes across as a “confident person”, what you actually see is someone who trusts in themselves, their abilities, their strengths. 

Let’s visualize for a moment. Picture a time when you felt the most confident. Close your eyes and really visualize it. Maybe it was a moment on stage, under the bright lights, where every move flowed effortlessly. Or perhaps it was during a competition, where you executed each step perfectly, feeling the energy and excitement of the crowd. Think about every detail: the music, the sounds, the smells, the emotions running through you. What were you wearing? Who was there watching? How did your body feel?

Now, ask yourself: why did you feel that way? What made that moment different from others? Chances are, it was because you had an unwavering trust in yourself. You trusted in your abilities, in your preparation, and in your instincts. You knew you had put in the hours of practice, you had overcome obstacles, and you were ready for that moment. This trust is the foundation of confidence.

Trust is believing in your own reliability, truth, ability, and strength. You believe in your abilities and the preparation you’ve done. You’ve learned the routines, honed your skills and this trust will allow you to focus on your performance rather than being consumed by doubt.  

But I totally get it—trust doesn’t always come naturally. Often, self-doubt, past failures, and focusing too much on our weaknesses can chip away at that trust. All of us, even myself, get stuck thinking about what we lack instead of celebrating our strengths at times. 

Confidence isn’t a fixed trait; it's something that can fluctuate depending on the situation. Rather than being inherently confident or unconfident, people experience varying levels of confidence based on their circumstances. What’s important to understand is that confidence is influenced by the context of a situation, not a reflection of your inherent abilities.

So why do many of us struggle with confidence? Often, it's because our minds are preoccupied with everything we feel we lack, past failures, and perceived weaknesses. This constant focus on negative self-perceptions breeds self-doubt, creating a narrative in our minds that undermines our ability to trust ourselves and our capabilities. When you’re stuck in this cycle, it’s hard to see how you could succeed, which only reinforces the lack of confidence.

Let me share a bit about my own journey. Growing up, I was taught that if I wanted something, I had to work for it. This mindset carried me through my competitive and professional career, helping me achieve goals I once thought were out of reach. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. I struggled with nerves, the fear of making mistakes, and the overwhelming pressure to impress. Sound familiar?

Now that we've explored what confidence truly is—trust in yourself, your abilities, and your preparation—let’s talk about how you can cultivate and strengthen that trust. Because here’s the thing: confidence isn't something you're born with. It's something you build, brick by brick, through consistent effort, reflection, and sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone.

1. Acknowledge Your Strengths and Accomplishments

Start by recognizing what you already bring to the table. We often get caught up in what we haven't achieved, but it’s crucial to shift that focus. Take a moment to list your accomplishments, both big and small. Have you mastered a difficult move? Performed well in a recent competition? Maybe you've even just consistently shown up to practice despite challenges. These are all wins worth celebrating.

2. Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

One of the best ways to build confidence is by setting and achieving small, realistic goals. These should be specific, measurable, and time-bound. For example, instead of saying, "I want to be better at dancing," you might set a goal like, "I want to improve my turnout by practicing for 15 minutes every day for the next two weeks." Each time you achieve a goal, no matter how small, you’re building that trust in your abilities.

3. Practice Visualization

Visualization is a powerful tool that many athletes and performers use to build confidence. Picture yourself succeeding, whether it’s nailing a tricky routine or receiving applause after a performance. Close your eyes and see it, feel it, live it in your mind. The more vividly you can imagine your success, the more your brain believes it’s possible, making it easier to execute when the time comes.

4. Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

Mistakes are inevitable, but they don’t have to derail your confidence. Instead of seeing them as failures, view them as opportunities to learn and grow. Reflect on what went wrong, what you can do differently next time, and how you can use that experience to improve. Remember, every great dancer has made countless mistakes along the way—what sets them apart is how they respond to those mistakes.

5. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

The people you spend time with can have a significant impact on your confidence. Surround yourself with supportive friends, mentors, and coaches who believe in you and your potential. Their encouragement and constructive feedback can reinforce your trust in yourself and help you stay focused on your goals.

6. Take Care of Your Mind and Body

Confidence isn’t just about what’s in your head—it’s also about how you take care of yourself physically. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and adequate rest are foundational to feeling good in your body, which directly influences your mental state. When you feel strong and healthy, you’re more likely to trust your body to perform well, which in turn boosts your confidence.

7. Reflect on Your Progress

Make it a habit to regularly reflect on how far you’ve come. Keep a journal where you track your progress, note your achievements, and write down any lessons learned from setbacks. This ongoing reflection helps you see the bigger picture and reminds you of your growth, which strengthens your confidence over time.

Building confidence is a continuous process, much like dance itself. It’s about trusting in your preparation, your abilities, and the journey you’re on. Each step you take, no matter how small, contributes to that firm trust in yourself. So, as you move forward, remember to celebrate your wins, learn from your losses, and keep nurturing that inner trust. After all, confidence is not just about being the best—it’s about believing that you’re on the path to becoming your best self.

Now, take a moment to reflect on what you've read. What are some areas where you already feel confident? What steps can you take to build confidence in areas where you feel less assured? By focusing on these questions, you’ll be well on your way to developing a stronger, more resilient mindset that will serve you both in dance and in life.

Confidence is something that you can build over time, and it starts with small, intentional actions. Take a few moments today to think about what areas in your dance journey you feel confident in and where you feel less assured. Write them down in a journal or on a piece of paper. Then, choose one of the steps above—whether it’s setting a small, achievable goal or practicing visualization—and commit to it for the next week. Notice how this practice influences your confidence both in and out of the dance studio.

Confidence is such a huge deal, especially in the world of dance. It’s the foundation that allows dancers to truly express themselves, take risks, and shine on stage. This is one of the many reasons I love working with dancers and why I became a coach. Helping dancers build that inner trust and belief in themselves is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about improving their performance; it’s about empowering them to feel strong, capable, and confident in every aspect of their lives. Seeing that transformation is what drives me and makes this work so meaningful.

If you're feeling ready to take your confidence to the next level, let’s chat! Book a discovery call to see if we’re a good fit and explore how mindset coaching can help you build lasting confidence in your dance journey.