Navigating the Dance World: Honest Advice from a Dancer
Noelle, a passionate young dancer, shares invaluable insights on thriving in the dance world, emphasizing the importance of community over competition, mastering ballet technique, authentic content creation, and building confidence. Her advice covers everything from preparing for competitions to styling dance outfits and overcoming comparison.
TL;DR:
•Community First: Dance is about building relationships and making memories, not just winning.
•Ballet as Foundation: Strong ballet technique enhances all dance styles; focus on barre work for strength and flexibility.
•Authentic Content: Share your passion and studio life; don't let fear of judgment from others stop you from creating.
•Comp Day Mindset: Embrace excitement and nervousness, support fellow dancers, and bring lucky charms.
•Outfit Confidence: Layer vibrant colors and plan outfits to feel good and perform your best.
•Overcome Comparison: Focus on your own growth and hard work, rather than comparing yourself to others on social media.
What Non-Dancers Miss About the Dance World
Noelle, a dedicated dancer since the age of three, often finds herself explaining the true essence of dance to those outside the studio. While many might assume it's solely about trophies and accolades, Noelle firmly believes that the heart of dance lies in community and connection. "As a non-dancer, they would probably think that it's more for the win and all about winning and all this stuff, but really it's more about the community and the memories you bring through dance," she explains. It's about the incredible people you meet, the shared experiences, and the formation of a supportive dance family that truly makes the journey special. It's a sentiment many dancers resonate with, understanding that the magic extends far beyond what a movie like Step Up might portray.
Finding Your Rhythm: Noelle's Current Dance Obsessions
Every dancer has that one artist or song that sparks their creativity, and for Noelle, it's Olivia Rodrigo. The moment her music plays, Noelle's mind lights up with choreographic ideas. "Anytime I hear her music, my obsession is just, like, coming up with dances in my brain and just, like, trying to, like, move to that," she shares. She's particularly drawn to the contemporary and ballet combinations inspired by Rodrigo's tracks like "Stupid Song" and "The Cure," noting how the ballet-centric music video for "Stupid Song" beautifully merges her passion for classical technique with modern artistry.
Why Ballet is the Foundation of All Dance Styles
Noelle's favorite style is ballet, and she's a strong advocate for its foundational importance. She understands that not all dancers share her enthusiasm for its rigorous structure, but she stresses its universal benefits. "Ballet is definitely, like, the foreground of all of the styles of dance, and I think that's what I love so much about it, and that it's so very structured," Noelle states. The technique honed in ballet transcends genres, improving a dancer's performance in jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and more. Even a year of dedicated ballet training can lead to significant growth across all styles.
How Can Dancers Improve Their Ballet Technique?
For dancers looking to elevate their ballet skills, especially those aspiring to go en pointe or demi-pointe, Noelle offers practical advice. She highlights the often-underappreciated barre work. "In ballet, most people don't like the barre aspect, but you really have to focus on that 'cause that's gonna help you with all those things, getting stronger and definitely gaining more flexibility and strength to get all those things and to really improve on turns or all that," she advises. Consistent dedication to barre exercises builds the essential strength and flexibility needed for advanced techniques and turns, fostering overall growth.
Comp Day Essentials: Preparing for the Stage
Competition days are a unique blend of excitement and nerves for Noelle. Her routine begins with getting ready, including makeup, to ensure she feels prepared. A personal touch she brings to every competition is her collection of lucky charms – positive stuffed animals that have become a trend within her studio. Beyond personal preparation, Noelle emphasizes the importance of support and camaraderie. "I always go out in the audience and support everyone, not just my studio, but I support everyone at competitions," she says. Backstage, she embraces the nervous energy, often staying quiet to focus, knowing she's performed the dance countless times. It's a relatable experience for many dancers, balancing the thrill of performance with the pressure of execution.
Becoming a Dance Content Creator: Don't Let Fear Hold You Back
Noelle's journey into dance content creation began last December, inspired by other dancers sharing their passion online. Her primary motivation is to share her love for dance and inspire others. Her most crucial piece of advice for aspiring dance content creators? Stop caring what other people think. "You shouldn't care what they think because you want to do that, and you shouldn't stop going because of what they care about," she asserts. She acknowledges the fear of school friends seeing posts, but stresses that the opinions of your dance community are what truly matter. Noelle also encourages showcasing authentic studio life and friendships, rather than feeling pressured to only post perfect combos. "It's probably one of my favorite content to post is, like, the ones with my friends, 'cause you can just have fun with it, and you get to just show love each other through that," she shares, highlighting the joy of sharing genuine moments.
The World of Dancewear Ambassadorships
Noelle is also a dancewear ambassador for a local store, a role that initially spurred her Instagram presence. She actively pursued the ambassadorship, reaching out to the store and completing an application. Her responsibilities include participating in photo shoots and posting weekly content. This experience has not only deepened her connection to the dance community but also provided a platform to share her passion.
Tips for Dance Photo Shoots
For dancers interested in dance photo shoots, Noelle offers straightforward advice: preparation is key. "Definitely come prepared with photos or poses that you wanna try. Because if you're not prepared, you're definitely gonna struggle to figure out what to do," she advises. Additionally, ensuring your hair and makeup are done to your liking helps build confidence, allowing you to feel your best and shine in front of the camera.
The Unspoken Truth: What's Really in a Dancer's Bag?
When asked about the most random item in her dance bag, Noelle's answer is hilariously relatable: "random crushed up bags of food that I never ate." It's a common dancer phenomenon – snacks brought with good intentions, only to be forgotten amidst the chaos of rehearsals and performances. From candy bar wrappers to forgotten fruit, every dancer's bag holds a treasure trove of forgotten fuel.
Competitions vs. Conventions: Which is Right for You?
Noelle openly admits her preference for competitions over conventions. Her reason is simple: she struggles with quickly picking up choreography, a core component of conventions. "Conventions are hard for me 'cause I can't really pick up choreo that fast. So then I struggle with, like, knowing the dances, then when it comes to, like, they're, 'Oh, let me film this,' I don't know what I'm doing," she explains. Competitions, for her, offer a more enjoyable experience focused on performing and supporting her dance family. While conventions offer opportunities to learn from new teachers, the intense environment and pressure to stand out can be overwhelming. Competitions, in contrast, foster a sense of camaraderie, with dancers hyping each other up backstage.
The Dream Dance App: Solving the Outfit Dilemma
Noelle's dream app for dancers addresses a common struggle: finding the perfect dance outfit. She envisions a platform that helps dancers curate their looks for classes, conventions, and competitions. "I always struggle trying to find the perfect outfit. I try on so many shorts, so many tops, all these things, and I can never find the perfect one," she confesses. Her personal approach to class outfits involves layering vibrant colors: starting with shorts and a sports bra, then adding a matching top and a black shirt for layering. This method allows for both style and practicality, ensuring comfort and confidence.
The Most Important Advice for Every Dancer: Overcoming Comparison
As a final piece of wisdom, Noelle shares what she believes is the most crucial advice for any dancer: do not compare yourself to other people. This is particularly challenging in the age of social media, where seemingly perfect splits, extensions, and tricks are constantly on display. "Comparison is kind of, like, assuming, like, with, like, Instagram and, like, social media, like, it's kind of inevitable but also you have to recognize that, like, you're also a good dancer and, like, if you, like, put in the hard work, like, you can also get to, like, where you wanna be," she wisely notes. Focusing on your own journey, hard work, and inherent talent is far more empowering than getting caught in the trap of comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the most important thing for a dancer to remember?
A1: Noelle emphasizes the importance of not comparing yourself to other dancers. Focus on your own progress, hard work, and unique strengths, rather than getting caught up in what others are doing on social media.
Q2: How can I improve my ballet technique as a dancer?
A2: Noelle recommends focusing on barre work. Consistent dedication to barre exercises builds essential strength, flexibility, and technique that will benefit all your dance styles and help with advanced skills like turns and pointe work.
Q3: What are some tips for aspiring dance content creators?
A3: Noelle advises aspiring creators to stop caring what others think and to share their genuine passion for dance. Don't be afraid to post about studio life and friendships, not just perfect choreography. Authenticity is key.
Q4: How can dancers prepare for a dance photo shoot?
A4: Noelle suggests coming prepared with specific poses or photo ideas you want to try. Also, ensure your hair and makeup are done to make you feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera.
Q5: What's the difference between dance competitions and conventions?
A5: Noelle prefers competitions because she finds it challenging to quickly learn choreography at conventions. Competitions offer a chance to perform and support fellow dancers, fostering a strong sense of community, while conventions are more focused on rapid learning and showcasing skills to teachers.
Q6: What are Noelle's tips for styling a dance class outfit?
A6: Noelle loves layering outfits, starting with shorts and a sports bra, then adding a matching top and a black shirt to layer over it. She also recommends incorporating vibrant colors to make your outfits stand out.
a note from the interviewer, Prisha:
I’ve been seeing Noelle’s content on my feed for months, so I knew I had to have her on the podcast. I love how practical and honest she is when sharing advice on everything from competitions and ballet to photoshoots. As someone who was that five-year-old who absolutely hated ballet, this conversation genuinely changed the way I look at it and gave me a whole new appreciation for building a strong foundation. That’s exactly why I created the danZING app—to make it easier for dancers to stay organized and improve by keeping their corrections, notes, files, calendar, and everything they need in one place. If you’re looking to level up your dance journey, check out the danZING app through the link here.