How to Dance Without Embarrassing Yourself

Co-authored by Yolanda Thomas

Last Updated: March 1, 2020 References

If you're too embarrassed to dance in public, you are missing out on a lot of fun. It doesn't take much effort to learn some basic moves and sidle onto the dance floor, even if only briefly. Practicing at home, perfecting some basic moves, and building your confidence will allow you to dance in public without feeling embarrassed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Feeling Confident in Your Dancing

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Smile and have fun. The best way to avoid being embarrassed on the dance floor is to appear confident, even if you are not. Hold your head up and keep your back straight. This will give you a look of confidence. Make sure to always smile and enjoy yourself on the dance floor. This will make you appear confident in your dancing abilities.^{[1]
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- Avoid looking at the ground and hunching forward. This makes you seem shy and uncomfortable.
2
Don’t drink too much. A drink or two can help to loosen you up and give you enough confidence to hit the dance floor. However, if you get too drunk, you may actually end up embarrassing yourself. When you are drunk your inhibitions are lowered and you are more likely to test out some new flashy dance moves. You will also have less control over your body and could bump into other people or fall on the ground.^{[2]
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Don’t worry about what others are thinking. You may be nervous to dance because you’re worried that other people will judge your dance moves. You don’t need to be music-video ready to hit a dance floor at a bar or other social event. Just try to blend in with the crowd. Most people are too concerned about how they look while dancing to even notice your dancing style.^{[3]
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EXPERT TIP

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor

Our Expert Agrees: Try to shut out the outside world so you can focus on dance. When you're dancing, try to connect with the music so much that you're not even aware that there are other people around.
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Avoid awkward or flashy moves. If you are worried about embarrassing yourself while dancing, then you should stick to basic moves. Don’t try and pull off a wild move that you saw on your favourite dance competition show. Leave that to the professionals and stick to moves you know will look good. For example, avoid breakdancing, krumping, or any style of dance that may draw attention.^{[4]
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- Similarly, avoid flashy moves like the moonwalk. You probably won’t be able to pull it off with as much swagger as Michael Jackson.
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Dance with a partner or group of friends. You are more likely to feel comfortable dancing if you are surrounded by your friends. This way you won’t feel like all eyes are on you. Similarly, if you dance with a partner, you can think about them rather than focus on whether or not people are judging you.^{[5]
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- If you are dancing in a group, make sure to respect the space of those around you. Avoid flailing your arms or stepping on other people’s toes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Learning Basic Dance Moves

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Identify the beat of a song. In order to dance to music, you need to be able to identify the beat. Listen to a song and try and tap your foot or clap your hands along to the beat. Depending on the song, the beat may be slow or fast. When you are first learning to identify the beat, listen to music that has a strong drum beat. This will make it easier for you to hear the rhythm.^{[6]
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- For example, try dancing to Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" or The Bee Gee's "Night Fever."^{[7]
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Try moving your arms. Once you have identified the beat of the music, you can try moving your body to the beat. When you are first learning to dance, it is best to isolate different movements. Begin by keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground and move your arms to the beat of the song. You can move your arms from side to side or up and down.^{[8]
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- Your arms are also connected to your shoulders and torso, so try moving them as well.
- Experiment with non-linear arm movements by creating waves.
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Learn some basic footwork. Now that your arms are moving to the music, try adding in your feet. You can start out simple, by picking up one foot and then the other, kind of like marching on the spot. As you get more comfortable you can try bending your knees and bouncing in time with the music. Continue to bounce and then add in steps to the side.^{[9]
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- Try to incorporate your hips and other parts of your lower body into your dance movement.
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Take dance lessons. Search online for dance studios in your area and research the different beginner classes available. Choose a dance style that you are interested in learning. For example, you could try hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballroom, etc.
- Alternatively, if you are looking for something more casual, you could find a dance class at a local community centre or YMCA.
- You can also watch instructional dance videos online or purchase one on DVD.
EXPERT TIP

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor

When you're dancing, keep going, even if you make a mistake. If you make a mistake and you stop dancing and you're thinking, "Oh I messed up, where am I?" then a few seconds are going to pass, and people will notice that. However, if your recovery is quick, people probably aren't going to notice that you made a mistake.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Practicing Your Dance Moves

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Try dancing by yourself. To get over your dancing jitters, practice your moves by yourself in a space that is free of any judgement. This way you will be able to fully commit to your movements and will begin to gain confidence in your dancing abilities. Make sure to always practice dancing with music playing.
- Close yourself in your bedroom and clear a space so that you can dance freely without bumping into anything.
- If you are worried about someone walking in while you are practicing, choose a time when you are home alone.
2
Wear loose and comfortable clothing. You don’t want your movement to be restricted by a tight skirt or pants. You are also likely to work yourself into a sweat, so avoid clothing that will leave you feeling hot or constrained. Instead, choose comfortable and flowing clothing that will not impact your ability to let loose.
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Practice in front of a mirror. Dancing in front of a mirror allows you to see how you look while dancing. You may feel embarrassed to dance, but after watching yourself in a mirror realize that you are not as bad as you expected. Alternatively, you may find that some of your movements look awkward and you can work on improving that aspect of your dancing.^{[10]
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- Using a mirror will allow you to pinpoint the area that needs to be improved in order to give you more confidence on the dance floor.
- Use a full length mirror so that you can see your entire body.
- Perform a variety of moves so that you can get an idea of what looks good.
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Experiment with new moves. Once you have learned and practiced some basic dance moves and you are comfortable moving to the beat, you can play music and just experiment with different movements. Have fun and be yourself.

Community Q&A

Question

What if you want to dance but aren't good at it?

Community Answer

Just like any hobby, dancing needs practice. Most people start out bad, but get better over time. Set aside some time everyday to practice.
Question

What should I do if I don't think I'm doing well?

Community Answer

Practice as much as you can, and perform for others and ask for their feedback. As with any other skill, you can only get better by practicing.
Question

What should I do when I embarrass myself while dancing in front of an audience?

Community Answer

Just laugh it off and keep going. Chances are, the audience won't notice. If they do, they'll love any funny reaction you might have to it. Loosen up and remember that dancing is all about having fun and expressing yourself.