Jealousy can be a dance teacher’s most detrimental emotion. If there is one thing, one habit, that dance teachers should always be striving to refrain from it is growing jealousy, and, if possible, they should encourage others to do the same. Jealousy will occur, there’s no stopping it, yet you can stop it from dictating the way you make decisions and grow as a dancer.
Celebrate Accomplishments (Even If They Aren’t Yours)
Jealousy and envy often work hand in hand, especially in the studio. Both teachers and students will watch their peers grow and accomplish things both alongside them and on their own. Because of this, it is important to separate yourself from others’ accomplishments. Celebrate what they are doing, but do not let their accomplishments reflect on your image of yourself. Wishing for what other people have will hold you back, not encourage you to move forward.
Be Your Best
As performers and artists, we always want to be the best at what we do. This is important. However, it is also important to recognize that being the best does not necessarily mean being better than someone else or even proving yourself superior. Being the best means putting everything you have into achieving your goals, developing your talents, and displaying your skills. It is not working to achieve the goals of others or to pull someone down to raise yourself.
Recognize Jealousy in Others
It is important to recognize that jealousy requires energy, and the more energy you put into jealousy, the more you take away from the things you are working on. When a dancer of any age is jealous of one of their peers, they are only encouraging insecurity and low self-esteem and discouraging progress. Because of this, as teachers, it is important to recognize jealousy in yourself and squash it, and it is also important to recognize jealousy in your peers and students and help them do the same. Jealousy breeds negativity, and negativity destroys motivation and progress.