Many of us were dancers when we were kids, doing ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, gymnastics or some impressive combination of them all. It was our whole world at certain periods of time, with school merely being an obstacle we had to get through to get to our afternoon dance classes, or the weekend being for competitions or to make fun dance routines and shows with our friends. Many of us still remember the smell of hairspray, or the excited anticipation we found ourselves in, right before we went onto stage.
When we were younger, dancing felt like magic, and it didn't matter if you were any good, just being part of something a dance community, moving your body to music, was wonderful.
But then as we got older, somehow, life got in the way. We went to uni, got jobs, had families, and suddenly, without ever meaning it to, dance became nothing but a distant memory. Something that once filled our lives with light and dedication and fulfilment, but is only loosely part of our identities now.
And yet, years or even decades later, we find ourselves thinking about it again. Maybe it was seeing a friend dance a choreographed routine at their wedding, or a flyer pinned up at the local community notice board, or a post on social media advertising a free dance class, showcasing adults of all ages, shapes and sizes, wearing sneakers and jeans, caught our eye. Whatever it was, however it started, there’s a longing – a fire burning deep in our bellies – that we know can’t extinguish. That is, unless we dance!
Returning to dance can be confronting. We know we aren’t the same as our younger selves. We (probably) lost flexibility, put on some weight, even gained a few injuries that keep us humble when it comes to movement, to say the least. But guess what? We aren’t children anymore! We aren’t supposed to be the same as we were years ago, and returning to dance isn’t going to connect us with our old selves, it’s going to help us transform into entirely new people. (For example, it helps with our mental health. Read five ways dance improves mental health here.)
Returning to dance after a decades-long hiatus is fantastic - especially when it's a different genre of dance you've never tried before. Many people have grown away and come back to dance from every age group and background, which is why there’s such a strong community of support in dance! If you've never tried Dancesport (aka Ballroom & Latin American, the time has never been better!)
Don’t believe me? Take it from others:
Lindsay wrote about her return to dance after TWENTY years. She recounts her somewhat toxic childhood with dance, centred around comparison and people-pleasing, how a hip injury kept her from continuing the activity into her twenties, and how nerve-wracking that first class back was.
“I showed up early for class, heart pounding in my throat. Mirrors lined the front wall, and discarded sweatshirts lined the edges of the room. I was at least 15 years older than everyone else there, the teacher included. I found myself in the back corner—“my corner” as I used to think of it—tucked as far from the teacher’s sightline as possible.
The teacher had us sit with our legs crossed, and I started wondering if I had taken enough pre-emptive ibuprofen, if my body was actually going to be able to do any of the work, how I could slip out without making a scene. But then the music started, and my body took over. Without thinking, I was contracting and curling over my bent legs, bouncing and then unfurling my spine, opening my legs into a wide second, amazed that after all these years, the movement was embedded in my muscles, in my bones. I’d rejected it for more than 20 years, but the movement was still deep inside my body, still undeniably a part of me.”
In her article ‘What It Feels Like to Come Home to Dance After 22 Years’ for Dance Magazine, (which, by the way, ‘coming home to dance’ is the BEST way to put it), Nancy shares her story of taking to the stage again at 64 years old! Centred on the enduring community of dance, her story really reinforces the family you can’t lose, even after decades off.
“I have been so elated to have this return to the world of dance, the world in which I spent so many cherished years. I feel like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. I’ve clicked my heels and realized, there’s no place like home.”
Dancesport is a great way to get back to dance, and you can attend a class on your own or with a friend or partner.
Simon wrote about his experience of coming along to a UCan2 free intro class.
“I'd danced as a kid, tap dancing, and then got into gymnastics for a while. I loved it. But then life got in the way, I played sports, and I just sort of forgot about it. 30 or so years later, my wife and I were looking for something to do for our "date nights" while the kids were being babysat, and I saw the ad for a free intro class at UCan2. My wife's always said she had "two left feet" but I thought this would be a fun thing to do together, and it was knew to both of us. We had nothing to lose! We blimmin' loved it! We signed up to a course on the night, and four years later we're still going strong, love their party nights, have started doing medal tests, and we're even learning New Vogue. My wife also goes to Shine classes with a couple of her friends. The best thing we could have done as a couple was go to that first free intro night!"
Dancing, at its core, should always be about enjoyment and expression, not your age or capabilities. But, if you are still apprehensive (despite that burning in your stomach), here are a few tips to make the journey back a little easier.
Find the right community.
Sadly, life can’t be fantastic all of the time, and there may be some communities that aren’t as welcoming as you expect. If you come across one, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Kindness, acceptance and support should be the bare minimum when it comes to your dance community, so find the people who are excited to see you and make you feel confident, regardless of your age and skills. These could be in person communities where you dance, or even online communities. Just never settle when it comes to support. One thing we're incredibly proud of here at UCan2 Dance Studio, is we're told so often that our people feel like they're part of a family. That makes us feel great, we've achieved what we set out to do.
Don’t be hard on yourself.
Returning to dance after a break may be a little challenging, so choose your dance style to suit where you're at. Take care of your body and any pre-existing injuries before anything, and don’t get upset if results take longer than expected.
Start as a beginner.
Leading on from the last tip, starting as a beginner may seem pointless, but no matter how much time you’ve had away from dancing, it’ll keep you safe and dancing sustainable. It also never hurts to improve your skills because this will increase your knowledge, making you even better in the long run!
Don’t have the same expectations as you once did with dance if you're going back to the dance genre you did as a kid, and if you're starting something new (like Dancesport) don't have any expectations - because if you can walk, then we can teach you to dance!
Take this new dancing experience to have fun and explore your curiosities, rather than compare yourself to others and feel stressed about needing to compete with anyone. Expect dance to be FUN, not make you perfect.
Start small.
One of the biggest reasons we might've moved away from dance is because we aren’t able to prioritise it as much, and unless you’ve had a big spot in your life open up, you probably will still struggle to dance several times a week right off the bat. Instead, try to start small, such as one dance class a week, and gradually grow from there! This makes it less overwhelming and can help rekindle that passion, helping you remember why you want it to become a priority again.
Explore.
Revisiting our roots can be fun, but don’t limit yourself to the dance styles you did as a kid! Try different styles of dance, or new music genres, because you never know what you might find a passion for. Many dance communities (like us!) do introductory classes so people can get a taste for different styles, so keep your eye out for them in your community.
The hardest part about returning to dance is finding that initial motivation, and scheduling time to make it happen. Once you start, you won’t want to stop again! Try taking a small step towards rekindling your passion for dance today. Maybe you could sign up to a class, or even just listen to a song you used to love to dance to. Even the smallest of actions can bring the biggest of possibilities.
Share your own rediscovery of dance with us on our social media, or take the leap today and take our FREE introductory dance class by clicking here.
Happy dancing!