Robyn Roste, Systems & Funnels

Dancing is 10 Per Cent Skill and 90 Per Cent Confidence

I’ve realized It is time to get dancing lessons. I knew it was time long before the moment, in fact I’ve known this fact for years. And now is the time.

Dancing is 10 per cent skill and 90 per cent confidence

Dancing is 10 per cent skill and 90 per cent confidence

There was a definitive moment tonight and in that moment I realized one thing: It is time to get dancing lessons.

I knew it was time long before the moment, in fact I’ve known this fact for years.

There have been other definitive moments in my dancing history, since I’m on this honesty kick lately.

A couple come to mind.

The first time I really became aware of my lack of skill in the dance area was in high school. I thought dancing was incredibly fun, although I hadn’t much experience other than at weddings dancing polka with my dad (that’s all he really does. Polka. I thought that was only my crazy imagination but I found out it’s actually a fact at my brother’s wedding this summer. Mr. Roste is amazing. He can polka to any style of music) and I knew polka wasn’t the ticket to cool. I decided to make up my own dance moves, and try my best to figure out how to dance properly.

So, at one memorable high school dance (maybe my first one, maybe not) I remember dancing with a group of friends and always getting shoved in the middle for people to watch. So I’d dance. Everyone seemed to like it. I don’t know what I did but people were constantly telling me how funny I was.

After a couple years I stopped going to school dances.

Yes. I am just that daft to not quite “get” why I was so funny.

The second moment happened when I was still high school age. I was really into figure skating (haha! something new about me!) and was eventually sent to ballet by (the details are fuzzy here) the province of British Columbia because I managed to have an excellent competitive year and had a chance of making the…I want to say national team but I can’t remember.

I’d like everyone to know that in general I’m a hard worker and ballet, although not my favourite thing, was no exception. I would dance and do the thingy’s with my toes and feet and fingers and arms that you’re supposed to.

So, like I was saying. I was really into figure skating and I had to take ballet.

Except, I was always getting in trouble for goofing off.

I would like to point out that I was actually trying to dance. I was not trying to goof off.

Yet the teacher, reasonably I suppose, surmised by the laughter of the other students that I was mocking her and not taking the class seriously.

So for a while she would end the class by pulling me up in front of everyone to demonstrate how I could not do whatever moves she was teaching us. The move that really sticks out is flying. I really can’t make my arms look like they’re flying (I still try every now and then) and the whole time I was trying, ENYA the instructor was yelling (in her French accent), “No, Robyn. You cannot fly! You are a disgrace!”

I think it was either one lesson or two after the flying incident that I began getting kicked out of class early and finally asked not to return to ballet. That was really the end of my figure skating career too, although the two aren’t really related.

So, in the handful of years in between these moments and the moment I had tonight, I’ve been extremely hesitant to dance in public.

More than hesitant, even.

Downright terrified. Sure, I’ve been dragged onto the dance floor by naive friends thinking they’re “getting me out of my shell,” or “boosting my confidence,” but I can’t actually remember ever having fun.

And being in Europe isn’t helping things, since in North America you can cover your poor skills by doing your best dance moves and pretending you’re just kidding. But you can’t here. Because everyone can actually dance. The girls are amazing, the guys are fantastic. It’s incredibly intimidating and something has to be done!

I’ve stated to several friends that I plan to take dance lessons upon returning to Canada but I thought while I’m in Europe I should invest something into dancing as well.

So I bought a book.

It’s called How to Walk in High Heels and it’s basically a step-by-step guide to becoming a better woman.

I read a bit every night and snicker at a lot of the “tips” (everything from how to pack what you need into your handbag to how to put in contact lenses…HELLO I’ve been doing those things since I was 15) but unfortunately I was reduced to shame and blushes when I read the bit on dancing.

Tips for Dancing:

  1. Remember, dancing is 10 per cent skill and 90 per cent confidence
  2. Always have icons in mind (Icons don’t fall over)
  3. What shoes are you wearing? It is crucial to calculate your shoe-to-alcohol ratio
  4. You will never, EVER look cool doing the Time Warp

I bought a book.  It's called How to Walk in High Heels and it's basically a step-by-step guide to becoming a better woman.  I read a bit every night and snicker at a lot of the “tips” (everything from how to pack what you need into your handbag to how to put in contact lenses…HELLO I've been doing those things since I was 15) but unfortunately I was reduced to shame and blushes when I read the bit on dancing.

Other Posts About BOOKS

One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.

This is a free resource but I do require a password to access the library itself. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.

Get Access to My Free Resource Library

* indicates required

SHARE:

Wondering how to craft a cold pitch? I have four pitch templates for you!

4 Pitch Templates

The fastest way I know how to make money as a freelance writer is to pitch companies with marketing budgets. Don’t know what to say in your pitches? Don’t worry—I’ve got four pitch templates you can start using right away!

Enter your email below to access your free pitch templates.