Why Dance Can’t be Rushed

The Problem with Instant Gratification (and What Dance Teaches Us Instead)

We currently live in a world built for speed.

Where you can have an impulse or craving and either go out and get it — or order it and have it arrive within hours, depending on where you live of course.  Where answers can be obtained almost instantly.  Entertainment is always at the tips of our fingers, and feedback is everywhere.  And more and more, that expectation of immediacy is showing up in places where it simply doesn’t belong — including dance.

As a teacher, I’ve noticed a growing frustration among students. Many want results quickly. They want things to feel & look “good” right away. They want to master something after a few classes and feel discouraged — or even defeated — when that doesn’t happen.

And to be clear: this isn’t a flaw in students.
It is simply a reflection of the world they’re growing up in.

But dance doesn’t work that way.

It never has — and I don’t believe it ever will.

Dance Is Not a Shortcut Skill

Dance — like music, theater, athletics, or any meaningful craft — is not something you take a class, figure it out, and then move on from.

It requires hard work. 

Repetition.
Patience.
It requires showing up when things feel awkward, frustrating, or unclear.

You don’t take a couple of classes and suddenly arrive.
There is no finish line where you’re “done.”

And that’s not a failure of the art — it’s the gift of it.

The Discomfort Is Part of the Growth

There’s an uncomfortable phase in learning where you’re working hard but not yet seeing the results you want.

This is the phase most people want to escape — especially in a culture that teaches us to expect results quickly.

But that space — the waiting, the practicing, the refining — is where real growth happens. It’s when resilience forms and where strength is built, coordination develops, artistry deepens, and confidence becomes earned, not borrowed.

When we rush past this stage or expect immediate payoff, we rob ourselves of something important: the satisfaction of knowing we worked for it.

Instant Gratification Isn’t the Enemy — But It Can Be a Trap

Let’s be honest: instant gratification feels really good. I enjoy it too.

But when it becomes the expectation, it creates a problem. We start believing that if something doesn’t feel good quickly, it isn’t worth doing.

And let’s be honest, that mindset doesn’t just affect dance — it affects how we approach goals, relationships, careers, and life itself.

When everything is about the result, we miss the richness of the process.

The Journey Is Where Meaning Lives

There’s a moment — often much later than expected — when progress becomes visible. A movement that feels more natural. A turn that stabilizes. A performance that clicks.

And when that moment comes after time, effort, patience, and persistence…

It feels different.

It feels earned.
It feels grounding.
It feels deeply satisfying.

Not because you “got the thing” — but because of who you became while working toward it.

A Thought for the Year

As we move into a new year, maybe one of the most powerful goals dancers can set isn’t a new trick, more pirouettes, or a specific role.

Instead maybe it’s this:

To have patience — with yourself and with the process.

To trust that meaningful growth takes time.
To allow yourself to be a student.
To understand that progress is rarely loud or immediate — but it is always happening when you show up consistently.

Dance teaches us something the modern world often forgets:

Life isn’t about arriving or receiving.
It’s about becoming.

And that takes time.

So remember to enjoy the journey!