After watching some recent footage of myself dancing, and witnessing a few Zumba classes, salsa dancers on the town, and DWTS clips, I realized most of us need to be more comfortable being idiots.
For instance, I refer to most of my dancing as "having tea": it's very proper (posture, technique, facial expression) and nice, but not very compelling.
But have you ever watched a train wreck on the dance floor? SPELLBINDING.
You know, those people who are rocking it so hard, regardless of technique, that you can. not. stop. watching.
Sometimes I'm embarrassed for them; some of them seem to be making up for their lack of skill with loud sound effects and raised eyebrows. More often, I'm in awe. How does one shed their inhibitions and just decide to shake their ass in front of all those people?
Is it alcohol? An inflated sense of ego? Watching too much Honey Boo Boo? [shaking you by the shoulders] WHAT IS IT?! TELL ME!
I've always told my students that I'd rather have them overshoot their goal, so I can then reel them in to perfection, instead of me having to pushpushpushpushallthedamntime to get them to the finish line. Similarly,when it comes to performing, I'm now realizing that if you don't feel stupid, you're probably not doing enough.
Take Zumba for example. I've peeked in on several classes. The instructor is up there busting a move and the majority of class is sort of stepping around a little and trying to maybe catch up with the choreography kind of. Think of the CALORIE BURN you'd see if you just said "screw it" and threw your arms up and wiggled in a general imitation of the leader. Plus, you'd probably have more fun. So would everyone around you. Maybe have a drink first, then try that.
Salsa dancers: if you're new, you're likely shy and self-conscious. And everyone can peg you as a newbie because of that. Who cares if you don't know the steps? Most guys are just thrilled to have a laaaaady (say it like a boss) to dance with, and if she knows how to follow? BONUS. I'm not saying you have to be that crazy lace-pants wearing, arm-styling-windmill, lip-licking weirdo. Just dance with your chin up and stop apologizing.
DWTS peeps and fellow ballroom nuts, you know we like to see people having fun. So, at least, can we all smile? For the dancers in the upper echalons, we like to be entertained. I want to see that dance on your FACE (hopefully in your body, too). Think you're feeling it? Like really feeeeeeeling it? I'll break it to you first: I can't see it. You need to FEEEEEEEEEEEEL IT.
Shoot, I need to feel it. Turns out when I smile pleasantly, you can't tell I'm smiling from 10 feet away. I need to open my mouth and grin from ear to f-ing ear. Have you seen my profile picture? I need to do that, like all the time. It seems embarrassing.
But it looks great.
That line between idiot and awesome is very thin. But if you want to be awesome, you have to take the chance of looking like an idiot. Go way too far into Ridiculous Land and get your Tina Sparkle (or Ken Railings) on. Be the person who a judge has to seek out to say, "I need you to scale it back a bit." Can you imagine that? WINNING.
