Progress isn’t always loud—and that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Every dancer hits a point where they feel stuck. Maybe the corrections aren’t clicking. Maybe you’re not picking things up as quickly as you used to. Maybe it just feels like everyone else is moving ahead while you’re standing still.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s a very normal part of the journey—and it doesn’t mean you’re not growing. It just means you’re in the messy middle, where the real work happens.
Here are some honest, practical reminders to help shift your mindset and keep going:
1. Look Back, Not Just Ahead
When you’re feeling stuck, it’s easy to focus only on where you want to be. But take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. Think about things that used to feel difficult that now come naturally. That’s growth. Sometimes we forget our progress because it’s become part of us.
2. Remember: Plateaus Are Part of Progress
Not every week will bring a breakthrough—and that’s okay. Steady practice builds the foundation for your next big leap. Even when it feels slow, your body and mind are still learning, processing, and adapting. Trust the process.
3. Ask Specific Questions
Instead of just feeling frustrated, try asking your teacher specific questions. “What should I focus on to improve my turns?” or “What’s one small thing I can work on this week?” Clear feedback gives you direction—and having one focus can ease that overwhelmed feeling.
4. Don’t Compare Your Path to Someone Else’s
Everyone improves at a different pace. Just because someone else is nailing a skill doesn’t mean you’re behind. You’re on your own timeline, and comparison will only cloud your motivation. Focus on your own rhythm—it’s valid, important, and uniquely yours.
5. Shift the Goal
When you’re chasing a perfect outcome, it’s easy to get discouraged. But improvement doesn’t always mean mastering the hardest move. Sometimes it’s holding your posture longer. Sometimes it’s staying focused through a whole routine. Recognise the small wins—they matter.
6. Reconnect With What You Love
Frustration can suck the joy out of dance. So take a breath, turn on your favourite song, and just move. Not for anyone else. Not for a goal. Just for you. Reconnecting with the reason you started dancing in the first place can do wonders for your mindset.
7. Focus on the Good, Even if It’s Small
When everything feels a bit heavy, it can be helpful to focus your energy on the good things in your life, however small. A compliment from a teacher. A stretch that felt easier. A good laugh with a friend in class. Noticing and appreciating these moments can shift your perspective and keep your spirit lifted.
Progress Isn’t Always Obvious
Sometimes growth hides in the details—in the effort, in the mindset, in the courage to keep showing up. If you’re still turning up, still trying, still caring—you are improving.
If your dancer needs a boost, or if you’re thinking about joining a class that understands the ups and downs of real progress, come and see what it’s like to learn in a space that celebrates effort, not perfection.
Try a class at Arabesque School of Performing Arts and experience a community that supports every step, no matter how small.