Presenting is like Dancing

Presenting Is More Like Dancing Than You Think

There’s something about presenting that reminds me a lot of dancing. Both require a little extra push outward—more expressiveness than you use day to day—while also asking you to relax, release, and just be yourself.

When You “Think” Your Movements, You Freeze

Back in high school, I remember watching people dance and thinking, “How do they know what to do?” When I finally tried it, I was awkward and clunky because I was dancing with my brain—mentally controlling every movement.

I see the same thing in speakers. They’re overcontrolling themselves, trying to manage their body and voice instead of letting their natural impulses through. And when the impulse is to hold back, suddenly nothing gets expressed at all.

Two Opposite Forces—Working Together

To present well, you need two seemingly contradictory things:

• A push of expressive energy—a step up, a bit more conviction, a willingness to bring more of yourself forward.
• A relaxation into yourself—not calculating, not puppeteering your body, but letting your instincts guide you.

It’s the same advice dancers get: “Feel the music and move.” The point is not to perform perfectly—it’s to move naturally, with your real energy leading the way.

Expressiveness Comes From the Heart, Not the Head

I watched a baseball coach work with young players who were just going through the motions—no wind-up, no energy. They were technically “throwing,” but they weren’t putting themselves into it. It reminded me of first-time ice skaters who walk across the ice instead of gliding—they’re missing the flow.

Presenting is the same. It’s a higher-expression skill zone. You need that little push of energy so your personality shows, but you also need enough ease that the energy flows naturally—not mechanically.

Let Your Personality Amplify, Not Disappear

It’s not about perfect words, perfect gestures, or the “right” choreography. It’s about feeling the moment and letting your impulses guide you. Expressive energy plus relaxation gives you authenticity—and that’s what audiences truly respond to.

Try these two ideas the next time you present: push a little extra expressive energy through, and relax enough that you can simply be yourself. Presenting, like dancing, is about letting your natural rhythm show.