The dance industry is one world that places a lot of value in criticizing or complimenting those involved in it, this remains true from the newest amateur to the oldest professional.
How do we learn to recognize if the criticism we receive is constructive or destructive? How can we develop our coping mechanisms for the very moments we need them in our dance training? How can we be better as teachers, dance masters, choreographers, etc, in delivering our critiques to the dancers we are working with? Let’s break all of this down in this blog post today.
As we navigate through life, we all naturally receive both negative and positive comments. Recognizing negative comments can be easier sometimes, based on either the words used, the tone of voice when commenting, or the situation the comment is received in. We are all familiar as well with what it feels like to receive this negative comment, whether it’s on your Instagram post, a message from a stranger or even from passers-by on the street. Sadly our brains are hard wired towards negativity, causing them to focus on the bad instead of the good (psychologists call this negative bias). For this reason, when we receive a negative comment, our subconscious initial reaction is to be insulted, hurt and even possibly angry and defensive. This comment can stay with us, replaying in our minds for the foreseeable future, unless we develop that coping mechanism we need. So, what is this coping mechanism? Reflection. If we pause in this moment, let the comment sit in our mind and reflect on what’s being said, we can look at the comment from a new perspective. This can show us that we can use what was said as fuel to be better, to improve ourselves. We can create something positive from the negativity, because we have no control over what someone says to us, but we do have control over what we do with it. By taking the words that were said and looking at if they do or don’t apply to you (some deep internal honesty is needed here), we can create a plan of action to find that improvement. Finally, this leads us to making the best out of the worst and becoming the better dancers we ultimately want to be.
Positive comments, on the other hand, can also be deceitful. As much as we love to be complimented and have our self-esteem boosted, we should also be reflecting on these moments to not only think of where the comment was coming from, but also if we appreciated it. Is this positivity a result of being who and where we want to be. A positive critique given to you from an honest and genuine place is the ultimate rewards as a dancer. when you’ve been working diligently for a long time and you eventually get the steps you’ve been struggling with, or you win the competition you’ve always lost in the past, it is a huge moment of bliss. These moments have a special place in a dancer’s heart, and they are what make it all worth it. However, it is important to not hit a point of stagnation and to rather continue finding something else to focus on. Otherwise, the positivity of the criticism is lost. Remember that there are also times when we hear positive feedback that isn’t honest. Either our teachers are tired and want to get through the repertoire, or they’ve given a correction many times over without seeing improvement, so they’ve given up. In this way, receiving that critique can make us believe we are doing well, that we don’t have anything to work on. This again can make us stagnate, meaning that positivity have now become negativity.
With all of this in mind, dancer teachers, choreographers, dance masters, etc, play a huge role in a dancer’s life when it comes to their career, their self-esteem, and their improvement ability. Learning how to communicate with your dancers can create a good environment, a trusting relationship, and an amazing dancer. Knowing that it is in fact how you say something to your dancers, makes the biggest difference in how a dancer will receive your criticism. All comments on a dance can be constructive when said in the right way, even if it is to correct something that is being done incorrectly. Choosing words wisely while also knowing your dancers is the best way to build that trusting bond to help them grow and use your critique for what it is intended.
We all play a role in deciding what to say, how to say it, what to hear and how to take it. And that choice is the most vital side of criticism in Dance. Choosing what to do with the critiques we are given and how to continue to grow will keep you on the right path to a bright future.
