Belly Dancing Builds Confidence, and Self-Esteem
Belly dancing can build your confidence and self-esteem by correcting, reinforcing, and uplifting the many qualities which make you the best person that you can be.
The personality of a person refers to their birth traits. For instance, you hear statements such as she was born happy and free-spirited. Another example often heard is that the person is an introvert or an extrovert.
Regardless of your inborn traits building confidence and self-esteem is considered to be a part of your character. We build our character traits by learning and changing our behaviors. A common phrase which is often heard is… « She or he is a trustworthy and honest person.
Regardless of our unchangeable personality (because this is what we are born with), we can improve our character by learning and changing our behaviors. Learning to belly dance helps build our confidence and self-worth regardless of our personality type.
Confidence and self-esteem is lost when we are feeling nervous, unsure, and self-conscious about our being.
This can be corrected by correct and factual knowledge. Knowing that the knowledge of the dance is correct is important to not make mistakes or create misunderstandings of communication.
Practicing is critical in order that we perform the movements as accurately as possible for correctness and in the case of ethnic or folkloric dancing it needs to be historically accurate as much as possible to not insult the culture being represented.
The teacher plays a critical role in analyzing and correcting movements to reinforce that the dance steps and movements are accurate and well executed. This is additional training which strengthens knowledge.
It is uplifting to have the knowledge, skills, and talents to dance or perform at one’s best with or without an audience.
The most frightening experience for a student is their first time public performance. But, because she was prepared, the applause and the comments from the audience rewards her with confidence and self-esteem.
It has been my experience as a Middle Eastern dance instructor that regardless of whether you are an extrovert or an introvert it does not mean that you are confident. An extrovert can be a show off and hide the fact that she is not confident. An introvert may be quiet but have a great deal of confidence.
In the classroom every student is enjoying herself as this dance is a lot of fun. Also comforting is to see how many other women are socially interacting and enjoying others with similar interests. Many life-long friendships are developed during classes. A bonding occurs making each woman feel strong and sure and able to overcome any negative thinking or influences.
Belly dancing is an intimate experience of mental, physical, and spiritual awareness unlike any other dance style because it is a dance which displays the inner being.
