Handling Comparison Culture in Irish Dance

If you’ve ever walked into a dance class or a Feis, and immediately scanned the room to see who’s better than you, you’re not alone. Irish Dance is a beautiful, expressive art form but it also lives in mirrors, competitions, social media, and side-by-side classes that can quietly (or loudly) fuel comparison culture.

At Move With Meg, we believe dance should feel empowering, not deflating. So let’s talk honestly about comparison culture in dance - why it happens, how it affects us, and what we can do to move through it with more compassion for ourselves and others.

Why Comparison Is So Common in Irish Dance

Irish Dance invites comparison almost by design. We have classes in groups. We watch others improve in real time. We’re often given feedback in front of mirrors and peers. Add social media highlight reels and competition results, and it’s easy to start measuring our worth against someone else’s flexibility, technique, body type, or confidence.

Comparison can sneak in even when we love dance. It often comes from:

• Wanting validation or reassurance
• Fear of falling behind
• Perfectionism and high personal standards
• A belief that success in dance is not meant for us

The problem isn’t noticing differences; it’s when those differences turn into judgments about our own value.

The Cost of Constant Comparison

When comparison becomes a habit, it can quietly drain the joy out of dancing. Instead of being present in your body, you’re stuck in your head. Instead of celebrating progress, you’re fixated on what you lack.

Over time, this can lead to:

• Increased anxiety or self-doubt in class
• Feeling disconnected from your body
• Burnout or loss of motivation
• Avoiding classes, competitions, or spaces you once loved

Irish Dance should feel like a connection with your body - not a competition against someone else’s.

Reframing the Way You See Others

Here’s a gentle mindset shift: someone else’s strength does not highlight your weakness…it shows what’s possible.

Every dancer in the room is carrying a different history, training background, body, and mindset. The dancer you’re comparing yourself to may have:

• Started years earlier
• Worked on their mindset at home
• Spent months working through injuries or setbacks you can’t see

When you notice comparison creeping in, try replacing it with curiosity or appreciation. What can you learn from them? What do you admire? Inspiration and comparison look similar but they feel very different in the body.

Coming Back to Your Dance

One of the most grounding practices is reconnecting to your why. Ask yourself:

• Why did I start dancing?
• How do I want dance to feel in my life?
• What does progress look like for me right now?

Your dance journey doesn’t need to look impressive to anyone else. It needs to feel sustainable, joyful, and aligned with your life.

Try setting personal goals - like feeling stronger after a full, more confident, or more motivated - rather than external ones rooted in comparison.

Curating What You Consume

Comparison culture doesn’t stop when class ends. Social media can amplify it.

A few supportive practices:

• Unfollow or mute accounts that trigger self-criticism
• Follow dancers who share process, not just performance
• Take breaks from scrolling when you notice comparison spirals

Remember: you’re often seeing a highlight reel, not the full picture.

Building a More Supportive Dance Culture

At Move With Meg, we aim to create spaces where dancers of all levels feel welcome, respected, and encouraged. A culture shift starts with small choices:

• Compliment effort, not just results
• Celebrate others without diminishing yourself
• Speak kindly about your own body and abilities

When we release comparison, we make room for connection and dance becomes something we share with all.

A Gentle Reminder

There is no single “right” way to be a dancer.

Your body is not behind. Your progress is not too slow. Your dancing is already enough.

Keep moving. Keep listening. And keep choosing presence over comparison - one class at a time.