Halloween: It’s the start of the fall and winter holidays and also promises lots of pumpkins, candy, and costumes aplenty! And while it may have been a few years since you last enjoyed this beloved holiday, there are a whole bunch of lessons to be learned. Here are six that you can apply to your dancing.
1. Costumes Help Heighten The Experience
- Whether a ghoul, ghost, prom queen or pumpkin, you’ve probably dressed up in some pretty cool Halloween costumes over the years. And it made you get into the experience more, right? Same with your dancing. Many of our students wear nicer clothes to their lessons or special dance clothes to competitions because it helps them get into it more.
2. You Can Act Like A Different Person
- Maybe it’s that clown mask or the Winnie the Pooh hoodie that hides your face, but costumes make us act different too. Explore a new side of yourself when you go to a dance event. Try out fun new gear.
3. Preparation Is 9/10ths Of The Experience
- I know, getting ready for Halloween can be time-consuming and/or overwhelming. What am I wearing? What will I use to carry candy? What route should I walk to maximize my time? Will I go with friends? Once all of those questions are answered, it makes the big day flow seamlessly. Same with dance. When you come in for your first anything, be it lesson, group class, in-studio event, or outside event, you’ll have lots of questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more prepared we can help you feel, the more you will enjoy the experience!
4. Go Crazy
- No matter whether you were a good kid or left something to be desired, you went a little crazy during Halloween. It’s part of what makes Halloween amazing, right? Same with your dancing. You’ll feel awkward at first, but going a little crazy while you’re in the moment will help you have fun and who knows? You may stumble onto something that you’ll want to do again and again!
5. It’s Okay To Be Motivated By A Sweet Treat Or Two
- Personally, I very much doubt I’d get excited for Halloween if it wasn’t for candy. And that’s legitimate, wouldn’t you say? In dancing, there may be a candy bar or two, but the real treat is your future self in six months, or what you’ll look after you finish that cool West Coast Swing routine. So look forward to that prize! You deserve it!
6. It’s Normal To Be A Little Scared
- Every time you knock on a stranger’s door, there’s always the fear that it might be a really scary house, or that they’ll growl at you in a really convincing costume. But that’s part of why you keep going back for more! A new experience in ballroom dance will give you a similar hit of adrenaline, but that’s good! Channel it. I guarantee you’ll want to come back for more.
As you get ready to start dancing, or even just try something new, remember that your trick-or-treat days can teach you many valuable lessons. So grab a costume, get a little crazy, and try out a whole new you. You’ll be surprised how much you like it!
Written by: Ross, Communications Consultant for Arthur Murray Bellevue
