"Embrace The Restart: Coming back to dance after a break.”
Taking a break from dance can be a daunting experience, but it's also an incredible opportunity for growth and rediscovery. When I came back to the studio after having my daughter, I had mixed emotions. Logically, I knew that the combination of the length of time I had taken off and the physical changes my body had gone through would mean I couldn’t re-enter the studio at the same level I had left it. But emotionally, this was a tough pill to swallow. In my twenties I had taken a break from dance due to burn out (hit me up if you want to read the very dramatic and emotional poem I wrote about my relationship with dance when I was 25 😂) Dance just wasn’t fun anymore and the studio I was dancing in was feeling less and less like home. But each time I came back to dance, there was a sense of rejuvenation and readiness to start a new relationship with dance.
Here are five things that helped me to embrace the restart and build myself a positive experience when coming back to dance after a break.
1.Remembering my why.
This sounds cliche but remembering WHY I dance has always been the first step to re-entering the studio. Before class starts, I set an intention for myself: I am here to move my body, be present, and have fun. I am not here to be perfect. When I was a little girl, I danced because of the way it made me feel, not because I needed to prove to myself that I could nail a particular dance move or perform a combo flawlessly. I remind myself that I am dancing for ME, for the feeling I get when I dance, and for the absolute love of it.
2. No cameras, please.
I get it. We want our Instagram and TikTok videos of us slaying the combo at a drop-in class. GIVE ME ALL THE LIKES ON THIS VIDEO! I LOOK AMAAAZING! I’ve been there. But when I come back to dance after a break, I often opt out of the filming at the end. This helps me to remind myself that it is not about the video or the end result of the drop-in class - it’s about how I felt in class.
3. Less is more.
Before I had my daughter, I was a solid intermediate level drop-in class dancer. I could hold my own in a drop-in and feel great about the combo, get a good sweat in, and my physical capabilities were strong. Coming back to the studio, less is more. I started with beginner level classes so that I did not injure myself by trying to do things I was able to do 12 months prior (and then I did injure myself trying to do a trick that my body wasn’t ready for…). Even if you are returning to the studio after a break that was less physically taxing than childbirth, you are not going to be in the same shape as you are when you are dancing every week. Your muscles aren’t used to being used in the same way as they are when you’re dancing regularly, so PLEASE start slow and build your way into the level you were at before. There is no shame in rocking a beginner class!
4. Find my community … or be anonymous.
Part of my WHY is the community aspect of dance, so to anchor myself into that it just made sense to dance with friends! I chose classes to attend that I felt would be fun and would provide some interactive elements with my friends - dance is a community activity after all!
Alternatively, sometimes coming back to dance can feel daunting because you can feel like all of your friends and fellow dancers kept going and you are going to be slow and not keep up. Being completely anonymous and dancing in a class where you know no one can be exactly what you need to get back into it. This allows you to focus on yourself with no feeling of expectation to perform at the level you once were. The most important part of this is to listen to yourself and to determine what you need before class because sometimes you need anonymity, but sometimes the community aspect of dance is the best welcome back to the studio.
5. Celebrate my wins, give myself grace, and get excited about growth.
Giving myself permission to be a beginner again was the best thing I could have done for myself when I came back to dance after having my baby. I took the pressure off of myself to perform at the same cardiovascular level I once could, acknowledged my decrease in muscle tone, and worked hard in beginner classes. It is so important to give yourself that grace and to celebrate the wins that you have in the studio - no matter what class or level you’re dancing in. And when I come across a move that I used to be able to do with technical skill that is now messy and unrefined, I look that challenge in the face and give it a wink! Because that means I can take this moment as a starting point and when I nail it again in the future, I can see how far I’ve come and I know I will be so proud of myself for all the hard work I’ve put in to grow.
