Your Own Worst Critic

"I think the hardest thing to overcome is judging yourself and being your own worst critic so to speak.”

-Nile Rodgers

Getting pointed out for an error in dance class can be embarrassing, surprising and bettering. It shows that you are doing something wrong among the other dancers and is at a noticeable point. When being critiqued it may be eye opening into something you never knew was happening and become recognized as habit. Critiques can also give insight on how to perform the skills correctly which leads into furthering your dance horizons.

I find that most dancers can agree with the fact that they are their worst critic. Teachers, choreographers, judges, coaches, peers and parents can all give corrections, but it is how the dancer takes the correction that shows all. The frustration when a piece of choreography, technique or skill is not met can be the verge of a breaking point for a dancer. The dancer gets so hard on themselves, as many do when not hitting the goal of perfection. A dancer can take to the extremes and become their worst critic until getting the execution exactly right. No matter how many times you hear good job, you think you’re lying I could have done so many things bigger and better, because dancers hold themselves up so high, wanting to correct all mistakes made and problems that could be resolved.

Knowing that you have a dancing habit can become stressful and emotional, especially when the critiques keep piling up repetitively. Dancing in the mirror and watching video of yourself plainly shows all the critiques you’ve received and can slowly become the founding structure of negative vibes. As dancers work on their flaws, they see them occurring more noticeably, and as habit the critique will constantly reappear, but with focus the habit can begin to disappear.

Getting critiques points out the negatives of a dancer, but with the work ethic of being your worst critic the critiques resolve and become a positive part of the dancer. Critiques are a helpful part in dance as they point out the imperfections that need to be addressed and fixed and then correcting them. Critiques help better dancers to see what they are doing wrong, and although they can beat dancers up mentally they only help in the long run. Being your worst critic is at a balance. You constantly do not feel good enough, until you have reached the point of overcoming the critique, it is an accomplished feeling like no other for a dancer.

 ~Julia Brewer