‘Role Model’ Mindset

As a Senior or Older Dancer in an Irish Dancing class, you can often be seen as the role model for all of the younger Dancers. Even if you’re not the eldest Dancer in the class, most dance classes have a role model - someone who leads by example and is always there to help other people. 

This is a wonderful position to hold and comes with a lot of respect and trust from your teachers and teammates, but being the role model can almost come with a lot of responsibility and sometimes additional pressure. 

If you’re feeling like the negative aspects of being a role model are impacting your mindset, then continue to read! Here are three common sentences we hear from Dancers about being a role model and this is what we tell them…

I am the role model in my school and it makes me feel under extra pressure to always be perfect, both inside and outside of dancing 

We sometimes hear from Dancers that because they are the role model in their Dancing school, it makes them feel under pressure to be perfect; especially if the Dancer already struggles with perfectionism. 

It is important to remember that being a role model doesn’t mean being perfect; it means trying the best you can and understanding that this will look different every day. It means showing the other Dancers in your school that you can (and will) make mistakes but can learn from them. It is about showing the power of resilience, teamwork, and the power of enjoying the journey. 

Change your thinking - being a role model does not mean perfection! It means that you are a human trying the best that you can, and that’s all that matters (imperfections and all!) Often, the times when things don’t go perfectly are the most important lessons that the Dancers looking up to you will learn - they’ll learn how to deal with disappointment, how to display sportsmanship, and how to regulate emotions - all because they saw you be vulnerable. 

I love being the role model in my school but I feel like people base their decisions on what I am doing rather than making their own choices 

We are so happy that you really enjoy your responsibility as the role model in your school, but you’re right, sometimes there will be times when we have to make choices in our dancing journey and just following one person isn’t the way to do that. This is often because the parents or the Dancers themselves are lost and they are looking for some guidance. Always remember to encourage everyone to make decisions based on their own circumstances - something that works for a U21 Dancer, won’t work for a U7 Dancer! Follow your own journey and as the role model, let go of the pressure of carrying the decisions of others on your shoulders - focus on what is right for you, and encourage everyone else to do the same. 

I am the role model in my school so I feel like my teachers are harder on me and hold me to a higher standard than the rest of the class 

This one can be super tough but there are lots of different ways we can look at this in order to help the situation. Sometimes Dancers feel like they are being held to a different standard to their teammates or to the rest of their class and the first thing we would suggest asking yourself is, ‘why do you think this is?’ 

If you have a close relationship with your Dancing teacher it may be worth asking for a conversation about how you are feeling and seeing if they can offer some insights for you. They may not realise that you feel this way or they may be doing it for a certain reason, and understanding this can help you both and strengthen your relationship. 

Being a role model in your Dance school is a wonderful thing, but with great power comes great responsibility; which can sometimes lead to additional mindset struggles for older Dancers! Remember, that you are at Dance class to make yourself a better Dancer, first and foremost, and helping those in your school is something additional. By being vulnerable yourself and accepting (and loving yourself) for being human, you are already being the best role model you can be! You’re a great role model just as you are ❤️