What I Learned From Forgetting the Routine on Stage
Because sometimes the best lessons come from the moments that make you go, “Oops!”
We’ve all been there—right in the middle of a performance, the lights are on, the music is playing, and then… you freeze. The routine that you’ve practised for weeks suddenly disappears from your brain, and all you can think is, “What was I supposed to do next?” It’s like the dance gods have decided, “Now is the perfect time for a brain freeze!”
That exact thing happened to me during one of my performances at Just Dance. I had rehearsed for what felt like a million years, my body knew the steps, but as soon as I hit the stage, my mind went completely blank. There I was, trying to figure out what move came next while my fellow dancers carried on without me. Awkward? Definitely. Embarrassing? You bet. But it taught me something I’ll never forget.
1. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
The first thing I learned that night? Mistakes are part of the journey. As a dancer, you’re not expected to be perfect. Everyone—yes, even the professionals—has had those “oops” moments. What really matters is how you bounce back from them.
In these situations, it's natural to feel apprehensive, but as a professional performing artist, you need to harness and use these nerves to better your performance. Mistakes are just part of the process, and how you recover is what matters most. For me, it felt like the end of the world in that moment, but the reality was, the show must go on. I took a deep breath, shook off the embarrassment, and started to improvise. You know what happened? The audience didn’t notice! They were too busy enjoying the performance. I realised that, most of the time, the only person who notices a mistake is you. The key is to keep moving, keep dancing, and show the audience that nothing can stop you from having fun on stage.
2. Confidence is Built in the “Oops” Moments
It might seem odd to say, but some of the best lessons in dance are learned when things don’t go according to plan. After the performance, I found myself thinking: “What could I have done differently?” But instead of beating myself up over it, I realised it was an opportunity to grow. Every mistake builds resilience. It taught me that confidence isn’t about never making mistakes—it’s about recovering from them with grace and determination.
So, the next time I hit the stage, I wasn’t afraid of slipping up. Instead, I knew that the real power in dancing comes from the courage to keep going, even when things go wrong.
3. It’s About Enjoying the Moment
What I didn’t realise at the time was that all the pressure I put on myself to be perfect was taking the joy out of dancing. When I stopped worrying about every tiny mistake and just focused on enjoying the music and the movement, I started to have way more fun.
Dancing is supposed to be fun, and it’s easy to forget that when you’re too focused on getting everything perfect. After that performance, I made a promise to myself: I would dance for the joy of it, mistakes and all. The audience was there to see me express myself through movement, not to see me be flawless.
4. Everyone is in It Together
One thing I noticed during that performance was how supportive my fellow dancers were. As soon as I missed that step, they didn’t skip a beat—literally. They adjusted, stayed in sync, and helped me get back on track without skipping a step (pun intended!).
This reminded me that dance is a team effort. We’re all in it together. No dancer is left behind, and when someone makes a mistake, the group rallies around them to keep the performance flowing. It’s this sense of community and teamwork that makes dance so special. If one person falls, the others help them rise—metaphorically and literally.
5. Laugh at Yourself, It’s Part of the Fun
In the end, the most important lesson I learned that night was not to take myself too seriously. Dance is a performance, and performances aren’t always perfect. I laughed at myself after the show, realising that the audience didn’t care if I missed a step. They were there to enjoy the energy, the music, and the passion I was putting into my movements.
Mistakes are going to happen, and the best thing you can do is laugh it off and move on. A sense of humour and humility go a long way in dance—and in life.
Ready to Dance Without Fear of Mistakes?
We all have those moments where we wish we could turn back time, but what we take away from them is often much more important. Dance is about growth, self-expression, and the confidence to keep moving forward, even when things don’t go as planned.
At Just Dance, we create an environment where everyone is encouraged to take risks, make mistakes, and—most importantly—keep having fun with it. If you or your child are ready to join a community where mistakes are part of the learning process, we’d love to have you.
Book a trial class today and let’s help your child discover the power of dance and the confidence that comes with it.