Thank You
Practicing is the fun part!
I hope you enjoyed this, and if you didn't feel confident right away, keep practicing. People love to say practice makes perfect, but there's no such thing as perfect, so take that pressure right out of your head. Practice isn't about perfect. It's about confidence. Turning on some music, putting on those beautiful shoes, and letting yourself move and be free is empowering, full stop.
This is also a mood shifter. If I'm cranky or not feeling good about myself, I put on music and move. The more you practice, the more your body starts to flow naturally with the music and whatever you're feeling inside, and that is exactly what builds your confidence.
Here's a piece of advice I give my students. In my six week exotic dance course in Minneapolis, we always take a field trip. About five of us go out on a Friday night to the best strip club in town and watch the women perform. No pole, just pure expression and the art of exotic dance used to entertain and delight. Every woman up there had a different skill level and a different style. You could spot the new girl, still a little nervous. You could spot the veteran, slow and completely in her body. Different body types, different energy, different eyes, and every single one of them beautiful in her own way.
What that field trip really teaches is acceptance. Women supporting women. All of us learning, in our own way, to love and accept our bodies exactly as they are, which might be one of the hardest things we ever do in this lifetime. There's so much comparison out there, so many models and celebrities altering their faces and their bodies. I remember watching one dancer who wasn't the "typical" body type at all, and she was stunning. It was her attitude, her smile, her playfulness. It was so attractive and so inspiring, and it made me realize that all of us are gorgeous, stunning, sexy, and worthy exactly as we are. I truly believe that.
I am so happy you're here doing this course with me. Thank you for trusting me. I can't wait to hear how this changes things for you.
