For dancers, hearing critiques can feel more like holding your breath. You’ve poured countless hours, sweat, and emotion into your performance. Now, a teacher, a judge, or a peer will dissect your work, offering insights that could shape your future. Yet, the outcome of this moment isn't determined by their words alone. It's profoundly shaped by your own expectations, turning a potentially powerful learning moment into either a springboard for growth or a crushing blow to your confidence.
The Burden of Perfection
Many dancers, especially those on a competitive or professional path, walk into a critique expecting perfection. They believe that their hard work should result in a faultless performance and that the critique should simply confirm their success. When a teacher points out a wobbly turn or a less-than-perfect extension, this expectation is shattered. This creates a "prediction error" where the gap between what you expected and what happened feels like a personal failure.
In this all-or-nothing mindset, a single correction can overshadow all the positive feedback. The dancer might become so fixated on the negative that they miss the valuable, actionable advice buried within the comments. This isn't just about disappointment; it's about allowing your ego to turn a learning opportunity into a painful personal attack. The defensive posture that follows makes it nearly impossible to absorb the feedback and move forward constructively.
The Peril of Passivity
On the other hand, some dancers prepare for a critique with very low expectations, assuming there's nothing useful to be learned. They might adopt a passive attitude, dismissing any feedback as subjective or irrelevant. This can be a defense mechanism, a way to protect oneself from potential disappointment. However, it also prevents any real growth.
This mindset can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. The dancer who believes they can't improve won't actively listen or apply corrections. This lack of engagement means they don’t get better, reinforcing their initial belief that critiques are a waste of time. They miss the opportunity to learn from experienced eyes and stunt their own potential.
The Delicate Dance of Receiving Feedback
So, how do you navigate this challenging part of the dance journey? The key is to manage your expectations, not eliminate them, and to reframe what a critique is truly for.
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Separate the Dancer from the Person: Your worth as a person is not tied to your ability as a dancer. A critique of your fouettés is not a critique of your character. By separating the art from the artist, you can receive feedback as objective information rather than a personal insult.
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Embrace the Growth Mindset: A critique is not a final judgment but a roadmap for improvement. View it as an invitation to grow, not a declaration of failure. Remind yourself that even the most celebrated dancers in the world continue to receive corrections.
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Focus on the Actionable: When you listen to feedback, focus on the specific, actionable advice rather than the general tone. Instead of dwelling on a teacher’s blunt delivery, zero in on the specific correction about your alignment or footwork. If something isn’t clear, ask clarifying questions to show you’re engaged and committed to learning.
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Give Yourself Time and Context: After a high-stakes critique, like a competition, it's okay to let your emotions settle before processing the feedback. Revisit the notes later with a clearer head. Remember that the judge's comments are one snapshot in time, not a complete portrait of your abilities.
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Say "Thank You": It might feel counterintuitive, but thanking someone for their critique, even if it was difficult to hear, shifts the dynamic. It shows respect for their time and expertise and positions you as a professional who is grateful for the chance to improve.
Ultimately, expectations are powerful. By shifting them from a demand for perfection to an open-minded pursuit of growth, you can transform the often-dreaded moment of critique into one of the most rewarding parts of your dance experience. You'll learn to see feedback not as a barrier, but as a guiding light on your journey toward becoming a stronger, more resilient artist.
Chris Suchan
Executive Director
Platinum National Dance Competition
Instagram: @suchanchris, @danceplatinumco
TikTok: @danceplatinumco0
Podcast: The Great Dance Debate
