Seven lessons learnt in the DUTI training program

Originally published in May 2021

Amazing, inspired, fulfilled, and transformed are just some of the feelings after completing the DUTI dance training program. The exhausting yet invigorating three months flew by before our eyes. The experience both expanded and challenged us, in more ways than we anticipated.  

Here are seven key lessons learnt from our dance training program:

1) Dance is a skill that can be learnt…

A huge barrier to entering dance, especially as an adult, is the belief that if you didn’t start learning as a child, it’s just too late. We’ve often heard people refer to themselves as ‘unco’ or having ‘two left feet’. But dance, just like anything else, is simply a skill that can be learnt and improved on through practice, patience, and consistency.

Completing this program with a diverse group of people from various dance experiences and styles was a blessing. The twelve-week intensive training journey, spanning a wide range of styles, allowed us to witness collective growth among ourselves. It was also important to remember that improvement does not happen overnight and to shed any expectations of instant results. After all, many great things do not come easily.

We challenged limiting beliefs of ‘I can’t do this’ and shifted into a much more self-encouraging and positive mindset about our skills and abilities. Undoubtedly, this growth mindset can be applied to many other aspects of life.

2) Your body is powerful…

There’s no question that the course was challenging for the body. Exhaustion and fatigue were inevitable and felt by everyone. But throughout the three months, we were able to shift our perspective on the human body and gain a deeper understanding of its capabilities.

Training worked our muscle memory and helped improve our ability to pick up movements and choreography. We also gained so much more body awareness, which changed the way we danced. It was eye-opening to surrender to the power of our bodies and do things we never thought possible. 

Another transformative aspect was a shift in our relationship with our bodies. In a society where not conforming to an “ideal body” can often lead to low self-esteem and poor body image, dance has been a great tool in challenging these damaging beliefs. We now recognise that our bodies are not ornamental. Our body is a vehicle for dancing, expressing ourselves, and experiencing the world.

3) Calm the ego down…

During the course, at times, our good friend the ego would creep in and tell us, ‘You’re not good enough. You’re not capable. You can’t do this.’ In those moments, we were challenged to rewrite our self-narratives.

Many classes and dance styles were foreign to us, and even by the end of the program, they were still difficult. However, over the weeks, we were able to build deeper compassion and patience with ourselves and felt more comfortable and confident about feeling awkward and making mistakes.

We can so often be caught up in the need to improve or attain a certain level of skill to feel validated. The course encouraged us to be present and proud of ourselves wherever we are on our dance journey, reminding us that it’s not a race, and to not forget why we enrolled in the program in the first place – for the love of dance.

4) Dance is healing…

This experience allowed us to truly understand the impact and healing powers of dance – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The physical nature of dance elevates dopamine and endorphin levels, naturally boosting mood and increasing happiness. Some confirmed that anxiety and tension levels dropped from dancing every day, and they have had many positive outcomes for their mental health.

The biggest lesson for me personally was understanding that dance is at the core of my personal and spiritual healing. It allows us to use movement to release trapped emotions, stagnant energy, and trauma that have been stored in our bodies throughout our lives. When we dance, we can use this to channel our thoughts and experiences through movement and expression. This transmutation of energy is so liberating and creates an energetic flow that is healthy for the mind, body and soul.

5) The power of letting go…

There’s a real sense of empowerment when you let go of perfectionism, fear and limiting beliefs. Throughout the weeks, we evolved to start embracing mistakes and embracing discomfort. Some of us moved away from self-consciousness and self-criticism, no longer picking out flaws in the mirror and just simply embracing the experience. This helped clear the mental clutter, which can deeply hinder the learning process, and helped build confidence in walking into a potentially difficult class and enjoying it anyway.

6) More than just movement…

What a blessing it has been to have a safe space to be vulnerable and explore our unique relationship with dance. It shows that dance is more than just movement to music. It can be one thing, many things or everything to each person, whether it’s:

• rediscovering a love and childhood passion

• doing something new and completely out of your comfort zone

• giving you a sense of purpose

• doing something that is purely for your enjoyment

• improving your mental, physical and spiritual health

It’s been an incredible journey where the many lessons learnt can be applied to other aspects of our lives.

7) Surrender to the process…

We all had our unique journey and experience, and to feel the full benefits of the course, we had to be open and surrender to the process. Everyone was at a different stage in their dance life, so there was no use comparing yourself to others. It was essential to focus on your growth. There were times when we felt that no matter how hard we tried, no progress was being made, and our efforts were stagnating. But in reality, it’s during these times when the body is undergoing its metamorphosis. Each step is all part of the process. 

Sadly, the three-month program is over, and all good things come to an end. But we are taking away with us an enriching experience that is so much more than simply ‘completing a dance program’. 

And what now? Some want to take it to the next level and pursue a professional dance career, while others want to continue using it as a tool for freedom of expression and further explore their artistic practice. Some people feel empowered to take dance classes for fun and enjoyment. The options are limitless.

Even though the course may have ended, it truly is only the beginning of our dance journeys.