Mirror, Mirror on the Studio Wall

The glass that shows you everything — except how to actually feel good about yourself.

I’ve spent more hours staring at myself in a mirror than I’d like to admit. Not out of vanity, but out of necessity. It comes with the job description. As dancers, mirrors are supposed to help us — they tell us where our arms are, how our lines look, and whether our face is giving “graceful performer” or “tax return stress.”

But at some point, that shiny rectangle on the wall stopped being a tool and started being… well, a bit of a bully.

When you’re young, you’re told the mirror helps you correct yourself. But no one tells you when to stop correcting. There’s a fine line between improvement and picking yourself apart like you’re in a one-person episode of Strictly: The Roast Edition.

Studies even back this up. Dancers who train with mirrors too often report lower body confidence than those who don’t. Which makes sense, because when you’re constantly faced with your reflection, every class turns into a spot-the-flaw marathon. Instead of asking “How does this feel?” you start asking “How does this look?” And once that switch flips, it’s hard to turn it off.

The mirror started to chip away at creativity. I found myself dancing for the mirror instead of with my body. Every movement became about the picture, not the feeling.

It’s exhausting trying to out-perform your own reflection. So I started closing my eyes. Literally. I built exercises around it - improvisations, tasks, full sections of class. No mirrors, no glances, no self-critique. Just movement. When you can’t see your body, you stop worrying about what it looks like. You start to remember what it feels like.

Now, when I teach, I try to bring that same balance into my classes. Some moments for precision, some for presence. Mirrors can be helpful — but they can also talk too much.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is turn away and remind yourself that the goal isn’t to look perfect, it’s to feel alive.

Because the truth is, the mirror doesn’t know anything about you. It doesn’t see your musicality, your effort, your humour, or your spark. It just sees the outside. And as dancers, we know that the best movement comes from the inside out.

So next time you’re in class, maybe try a few counts with your eyes closed. Forget what it looks like. Focus on what it feels like. Because the mirror might show you your reflection — but it can never show you your power.

The mirror shows your reflection, not your movement, and definitely not your worth.

Written by Milly Best Dance Artist & Choreographer