When Dance Gets Hard: Why Progress Takes Time (and why that’s a good thing).

There often comes a time (normally more than once) in a dancer’s journey when things start to feel… harder.

The steps don’t come as quickly. Progress feels slower.

We feel like we’re way behind our peers. Confidence wobbles. And sometimes we might say, “I’m not very good at this anymore” or “I don’t want to do dance anymore.”

At Dance Dynamic, we see this moment not as a sign that something is wrong - but as a very normal (and important) part of learning. But what do we do when dance gets hard?

Dance is a journey, not a quick fix

In today’s world, we’re all surrounded by instant results. Apps load in seconds, videos can be replayed endlessly, and answers are often just one click away. Dance is wonderfully different.

There are no shortcuts in dance (despite what some YouTube videos might lead you to believe). Strength, coordination, artistry, musicality and confidence all take time to develop. Progress isn’t always visible week to week - but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Often, the point where something feels difficult is actually the moment a dancer is growing the most.

What children learn when they don’t give up (and what we’re all reminded of)

When a child sticks with dance through a challenging phase, they’re learning skills that reach far beyond the studio:

• Resilience – understanding that it’s okay not to get things right straight away

• Determination – trying again, even when something feels tricky

• Patience – recognising that improvement comes with time and practice

• Confidence – discovering that they can do hard things

• Self-belief – learning to trust the process and themselves

These lessons stay with them - at school, in friendships, in sport, and later in life.

Plateaus are part of progress

Every dancer - children and adults alike - experiences plateaus. These are the moments where progress seems to stall, even though effort is still being made.

In reality, the body and brain are busy absorbing new information. Coordination is catching up. Strength is developing. Understanding is deepening. Then, often when you least expect it, something clicks.

We regularly see dancers who have felt “stuck” or “behind” suddenly remember a new step, gain confidence, musicality or control - simply because they allowed themselves time.

My role as a teacher

Here at Dance Dynamic, we work hard to create a supportive, encouraging environment where all our students feel safe to try, make mistakes and grow.

We celebrate effort just as much as achievement. We praise progress, not just perfection. And we remind our dancers that everyone’s journey looks a little different.

A gentle message for parents (and a reminder to our adult students)

If your child ever tells you they’re finding dance hard, it can be tempting to want to fix it straight away - or to wonder whether stopping might be kinder.

Sometimes, though, the kindest thing we can do is encourage them to keep going just a little longer. To remind them that it’s okay to struggle. That learning isn’t always easy. And that feeling challenged doesn’t mean they’re failing.

Of course, every student is different - and I always believe in open conversations and listening to how they’re feeling. But many of the dancers who feel most proud later on are the ones who didn’t give up when things felt tough.

Trust the process

Our classes are not about being perfect and it can be tough when dance feels hard and progress takes time. They are about growth, confidence, joy and self-expression.

So if any of our students are in a “this feels hard” phase - it may be exactly where they need to be.

And we’ll be right there with them, every step of the way.

If you’d like to know more about the classes that we offer for both children and adults, CLICK HERE