#25: Stop Measuring Your Value by Your Last Dance (Practica Lesson)

In this episode, we’re diving into the heart of our dance Practicas (or, as one attendee called it, a “dance practice jam session”) and what we’ve been learning about ourselves, our partners, and our community through them.So often, dancers tie their self-worth to how they’re perceived on the floor — the number of times they’re asked to dance, compliments they receive, or how “good” their last dance felt. It’s what we call conditional validation. And it can make trying something like a practica feel intimidating.One of our attendees verbalized it perfectly: the struggle isn’t lack of knowledge or skill — it’s the self-consciousness and fear of being evaluated. He shared thoughts that many of us have silently carried for years: the anxiety around leading or following, the fear that if a partner isn’t enjoying the dance, somehow we’re not enough.Our goal in Practicas is the opposite: we’re here to support growth, not scrutinize. To give you tools to have better dances, better connection, and more confidence -  without tying it to your self-worth.💡 Topics we cover in this episode:How Practicas help build confidence in both leading and followingWhy self-criticism holds us back from truly enjoying the momentThe importance of Connection &amp; Consent, Musicality, Movement Vocabulary, Adaptability, Creativity &amp; Concept Integration, and Technical Mastery in your dance growthHow technique and control make your movements more grounded, efficient, expressive, and help prevent physical energy leaks.Learning to adjust to different dancers, creating better experiences for your partners, and feeling more at ease with yourself💡 Practicas (aka dance practice jams) at Fusion University are designed to:Help you spot blind spots (like how you step or where you carry your weight)Give hands-on feedback so you can feel what better connection is likeWorkshop new ideas and moves with guidanceBuild a culture where giving and receiving feedback is safe, constructive, and even funIn the wild world of social dancing, you often don’t get that level of intentional feedback. Practicas are the bridge between “learning in class” and “dancing in the wild.”📅 Upcoming September Events:- Wed. Sept. 17, 2025 (Open Level Dance Practice Session - in Artesia, CA)Details:https://www.facebook.com/fusionuniversity/eventshttps://www.instagram.com/fusionuniversity—RESOURCES:• FU (Fusion University) is here!  To be the first to know about our classes, practicas, demos, assessments, social community events, and more, sign up for our email newsletter here at https://forms.gle/6GaYzigG1FjVU5vQ6 • 📌 FAQs: We’ve answered the same questions 50+ times about Fusion University (because we love you), but you can check out FAQ here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iHFXnIC8lxQcxDACRpjZQ2_-QkktxOgnbCt_1tKELDs/edit?tab=t.0—RATE, REVIEW, &amp; FOLLOW US! 👍This helps us support and reach more people just like you!Listening on APPLE Podcasts?https://bit.ly/FusionDancePodcastApple Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Listening to this on SPOTIFY?Go to https://bit.ly/FusionDancePodcastSpotify . Tap on the star icon underneath our podcast description to rate and help us out! (Rating is available on mobile app only).—CONNECT WITH US!Instagram: www.instagram.com/fusiondancepodcast Tiktok:  www.tiktok.com/@fusiondancepodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fusiondancepodcast <p