How To Start Dancing When You Are Stiff As a Board?

by Alexandra Mansilla

How To Start Dancing When You Are Stiff As a Board?

5 Apr 2026

This is exactly my situation. As a kid, I did rhythmic gymnastics for several years, where everything was precise, structured, no improvisation whatsoever. I knew the routines I had to do, and I did them.

Then I was put into contemporary dance — and while I still feel completely at home in gymnastics or stretching, dancing was a whole different story. I just… froze. I would watch people around me move, and couldn’t do the same. I mean, I tried, and maybe from the outside it didn’t look that bad, but to me, I moved absolutely terribly.

So I prefer not to dance. There is just this block in me, and I can’t relax. And if it somehow happens (which is very rare) that I do start moving, I spend all my energy trying to get rid of the awkwardness and the feeling that every single move I make makes people want to laugh.

So yeah, I am stiff.

At the same time, I clearly remember watching dance movies — like Step Up 2 — and how badly I wanted to dance like that.

But yeah… I am stiff.

So I decided to ask someone I recently met — a dancer, Soony — how to start moving when you 100% feel like a tree. He actually started dancing completely by accident, just watching his brother and copying his moves. Now he is one of the key figures in the Saudi dance scene.

Not that I am aiming for that, by the way. I just want to move freely and feel happy while doing it.

Soony. Photo: Abdulrahman Aboud

Soony. Photo: Abdulrahman Aboud

And this is what Soony told me:

“If you feel stiff or like your body just won’t move, the first step is letting go of pressure. You don’t need to ‘dance’ perfectly — you just need to move. Start tiny. Shift your weight from one foot to the other, nod your head, swing your arms lightly, or sway a bit with the music. Focus on feeling the beat, not how you look. The key is release over technique. Even small movements unlock your body and build confidence over time. Play music you love, move a little every day, and let your body naturally find its rhythm. Remember: stiffness isn’t a block — it’s just your body asking for time to loosen up. The more you let yourself feel, the easier it becomes. And honestly, don’t forget to go to parties! Parties always make you want to dance. It’s one of the easiest ways to start moving.”

He also talked about what actually inspires people to start dancing:

“Step Up is one of the biggest inspirations for people who want to dance and for people who already dance. It really makes people want to move. For me, it was one of my inspirations, too. There was also older stuff, like B2K — more old-school vibes. When it comes to music, it really depends on what style you want to get into. For example, as a hip-hop dancer, I used to listen to old-school stuff like Wu-Tang Clan, different beatmakers. If you’re more into experimental or contemporary dance, people often go for classical music — it helps you feel the music more deeply.”

So I guess I will keep coming back to Soony’s advice — and maybe, at some point, I will finally get myself to move… or even sign up for a dance class.