Many new students join belly dance classes wanting to improve their confidence,
but the cold hard truth is…

You must already have some in order to even begin.

Why do I say this?
{Brace yourself for the truth here}

Because belly dancing can be challenging, scary, uncomfortable, [especially in the beginning], and if you can’t get over yourself for whatever reason, you might not even make it past your first class.

Which is unfortunate, because you are not ready to liberate yourself [yet]

Some of you might remember my story, that I too began in the proverbial confidence hole.

But I’ve since discovered that we simply lack the experience of exercising our confidence. Inside – those of us who were destined to be belly dancers – is a drive to reveal what is lying dormant in us.

We might be shy, even introverted, but we are rebels. We are wild at heart. We, despite society, culture, and religion trying to control and subdue every aspect of our lives, choose to do it anyway.

We wish more for ourselves.

We grab the forbidden fruit, take a huge bite, and we relish in the juiciness of doing something that we know much of the world still thinks is “inappropriate.”

(Because we know that’s total BS)

Those that get the most out of belly dancing – already have the SEED of confidence within them.

We aren’t lacking confidence.

We just need a safe space to exercise it.

Meaning, confidence works exactly like our muscles. Exercising your confidence with challenging tasks will cause your confidence level to develop and grow.

Let me share with you now exactly how learning to belly dance helps you exercise your confidence muscles.

Physical Wellness
How you physically feel affects your confidence. Belly dance is an excellent form of gentle exercise that can contribute significantly to your physical wellness by improving flexibility, muscle tone, and cardiovascular health. It reduces stress and anxiety, leading to a better mood and improved mental health. When combined with good nutrition and adequate sleep, belly dance can further enhance your overall physical and mental well-being, which positively impacts your self-esteem and body image.

Self-Awareness and Self-Acceptance
As you learn and practice the movements and techniques of belly dance, you become more in tune with your body and its capabilities. You gain a deeper understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, which can help you identify areas for improvement and celebrate your achievements. Belly dancing encourages self-expression and body positivity, promoting self-acceptance. By embracing your unique style and movements, you can develop a sense of pride and self-assurance that carries over into other areas of your life. Ultimately, belly dancing can help you feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin.

Preparation for Dealing with Life’s Changes and Challenges
Belly dancing can teach valuable skills that can help prepare you for any situation, including how better to deal with challenges and changes in your life. Belly dancers work on choreography, improvisation, and performance preparation, which requires focus, discipline, and practice. By honing these skills, belly dancers develop a sense of confidence and control that can be applied to other areas of their lives. Learning choreography and improvisation, in particular, can help improve problem-solving skills, creativity, and adaptability, which are valuable skills for facing challenges in life. Preparing for performance also teaches time management, organization, and attention to detail, which are important skills for success in any area of life. Belly dancing can help you feel more prepared and knowledgeable about any situation, giving you the confidence and skills to avoid and overcome challenges through preparation.

Successes and Achievements
Belly dancing is a great way to set and achieve goals, which can lead to a sense of accomplishment and improved self-esteem. As you learn new movements and techniques, you build skills and knowledge that allow you to progress in your practice. This progression can be measured by the attainment of specific goals, such as mastering a particular movement or learning a complex choreography. As you achieve these goals, you build confidence in your abilities and gain a sense of self-worth. This sense of achievement and personal growth can be applied to other areas of life, leading to improved self-esteem and motivation to pursue other goals. Belly dancing can help you feel more accomplished and self-assured.

Supportive Relationships
Having a supportive community is an essential aspect of belly dancing. Belly dance classes provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for dance and self-expression. Teachers can serve as mentors, providing guidance and encouragement as dancers work to improve their skills. Being surrounded by positive fellow students, who also encourage you can help boost confidence and self-esteem, making it easier to take risks and try new things. In addition, the supportive atmosphere of belly dance classes can help individuals feel more connected and less isolated, which is essential for maintaining good mental health. Having that supportive community can be a transformative experience that can help you feel more confident and empowered in all aspects of your life.

Taking Risks
Belly dancing encourages you to try new things and take calculated risks, which can be an important way to build confidence and self-assurance. As you gain skills to meet new challenges, you learn to push beyond your comfort zones and take risks that can lead to greater growth and self-discovery. This willingness to take on new challenges can help you build resilience and the ability to handle uncertainty, which is an important skill for success in all areas of life. Additionally, the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a new movement or choreography will further boost your confidence and self-esteem, providing the motivation to tackle even bigger challenges. Belly dancing will encourage you to take risks and pursue your dreams, leading to more fulfillment and satisfaction in your life.

A little bonus!

While belly dance offers many opportunities for you to REVEAL that latent confidence that is longing to shine boldly, there is ONE thing that I have personally found so valuable…

It was getting my mental game together – evidenced by an improvement in my self-talk.

I loved my father, but he was a harsh person, that didn’t speak kindly while we were growing up. And throughout my formative years, I had a terrible speech impediment which made me a prime target for school bullies and wiseasses.

For many years, I had this “tape” of terrible things others said to me [and things I made up to go along with what they said], on constant playback in my mind.

My mind was a mess but luckily I discovered that I could stop that old tape and insert a fresh mixed tape of my own making. One that was better for me and actually encouraged me, rather than keeping me stuck unable to exercise my confidence.

So, in addition to the beautiful gifts belly dance offers to help you exercise your confidence, positive self-talk is a gift only you can give to yourself.

It cannot be underestimated. It is an indispensable tool for personal growth, success, and more importantly your daily happiness.

If you haven’t already, I hope you consider giving yourself this gift that truly keeps on giving.