Most people love to dance but when they are asked to dance either socially, or for a performance, they lose their nerve and don't believe they can dance with confidence.

Do you want to dance? Do you want to enjoy the feeling of moving to music? Do you want to dance with confidence? Then read on…………………

Dancing comes from the inside.

It comes from a powerful innate need we have to move our bodies rhythmically to music.

There are many different types of dance from traditional dancing, right through to ballet, ballroom dancing, disco and hip hop.

Dancing covers the whole spectrum of culture and history. Dancing can convey every human emotion.

Dancing is at the very centre of some cultures and traditions, but in modern Western culture dancing does not form part of the mainstream.

We have no traditional dances that the whole family, or community, do at a wedding, for instance.

Dancing is regarded as "frivolous". Something that "young people" and "people with nothing better to do" indulge in.

Many people, especially men, just DO NOT DANCE.

Therefore, they feel awkward, clumsy and inhibited when dancing at a party or club and they wish the floor would just open up and swallow them when asked to do a standard ballroom dance at a dinner dance or wedding!

Some people take dancing seriously and train to become professional dancers, or invest time and money in learning how to dance "properly".

But, this does not always enable them to "dance with confidence" - to dance with their whole being and to enjoy what they do.

What can you do in order to dance with confidence?

Step one -

Find the type of dancing that you thoroughly enjoy. The type of dancing that makes you want to move.

The type of dancing that doesn't even remotely seem like a chore.

Step two -

Have lessons. Find a good teacher who will improve your skills and boost your confidence.

Make sure that you can talk to your teacher and that your teacher listens to what you say - after all, it's you that's paying, so make sure you get your money's worth of skill and confidence.

If you don't want to pay for lessons, ask or observe people who are good at!

Success leaves clues as well so look and observe people who you want to dance like and copy them!

Step three -

Go out and dance. Get out there. Go dancing. Try out what you know. Smile. Enjoy it. Make a note of what goes well and what needs polishing up.

Don't beat yourself up when things go wrong - dancing is about fun and enjoyment, not pain and stress.

If you feel nervous, wait until the dance floor is full and then make your move - it's usually dark as well! You will not be noticed, so go and strut your stuff and get practising!

Step four -

Believe in yourself. You can do it. Dancing is natural.

Dancing is moving your body to music. We are designed to be able to do it. Some dancing and some steps are more difficult than others, but persevere and you will master it in the end. Rome was not built in a day.

Top professional dancers are always striving for perfection - their work is never done - there is always something new to learn or another technique to perfect.

Step five -

Don't let the search for perfection get in the way of your enjoyment of the dance. You will never dance with confidence if you continually focus on the negative. Focus on the positive.

Concentrate on how much you CAN do, not on what you can't do - yet. Close down the voice inside your head that continually tells you that you are a clutz and that you cannot do anything right.

Tell it to "Shut up" then get on and dance. We would not dream of speaking to other people the way we speak to ourselves - so don't put up with it for a moment longer!

Step six -

Stand tall and smile. Be proud of yourself and be proud of what you can do.

A smile will cover a multitude of errors. Do not amplify mistakes by broadcasting them to the crowd. Concentrate on the positive, smile and keep dancing.

Step seven -

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Most of us will not ever earn our living by dancing and we will not become World Champions - so the stakes are not high.

Therefore, do not expend time and energy on overly worrying, arguing or berating yourself over a few dance steps.

Dancing is a release. Dancing is good exercise. Dancing is good fun - if you allow it to be.

Get out there - AND DANCE WITH CONFIDENCE AND ENJOYMENT! You can do it!