Dealing with Comparison

It’s so easy to fall into comparison, especially in the dance world where talent and progress are often on full display. Watching others turn more cleanly, jump higher, or pick up choreography faster can sometimes make you feel like you’re not doing enough. I’ve definitely been there.

In the hard moments of comparision I have to tell myself that I dont dance to be the best or the top, I dance because I love it. I dance because it makes me feel alive, expressive and connected to something way deeper than being the best or the top.

Everyone starts their journey at a different point. Some dancers begin when they’re toddlers, while others—like me—start later. People learn in different ways and at different speeds. Some have years of private training; others grow through group classes or online videos. Bodies are different. Life paths are different. Comparing the way you natural learn and your jounry into progressing in ballet downplays the beauty in your own growth. It dismisses the hard work, the small victories, and the individual pace that makes your path unique. Everyone absorbs information differently, moves differently, and responds to training in their own time. When we compare ourselves to others, we risk overlooking how far we've actually come. Progress in ballet—or in anything, really—is not linear and definitely not one-size-fits-all. Your journey matters, even if it looks different from someone else’s.

When I shift my focus back to the joy of dancing—the reason I started in the first place—I find so much more freedom. It’s not about being better than someone else; it’s about being better than I was yesterday. And that mindset allows me to celebrate both my own growth and the success of others without losing sight of my purpose.