If you’ve been dancing for a while, you could be at the point where you’re ready to put together a routine and execute it on stage. Performing can be an incredible and exciting experience, but the process can also be tiring, especially if you do everything at the last moment.
Fortunately, you can always rely on your instructor or an experienced peer to assist you with choreography and technique, but there are certain other aspects that you may work on your own. Whether this is your first or 100th performance, these ideas should help you and your preparedness, and alleviate any stage fright you may have.
Practice Comes First
There is no show if you don’t know what you’re doing once you get on the stage. The first thing you should do before performing is practice a lot. This may seem obvious, but we’ve all heard many performers say that they wish they had more rehearsal time before a show. So, to get the most out of your performance, begin rehearsing as early as possible.
Most people begin practising their routines a few months before their performance date, and they rehearse at least once a week. Running your routine as many times as you can is the best way to ensure that you don’t forget it. If you’re nervous about performing on stage, making sure you’ve had enough rehearsal time is the one thing you have in your control.
Above all, remember to be gentle with yourself. Take a step back and give yourself time to reflect and breathe if you’re missing a step, or if you feel like the routine isn’t working out the way you want it to. With focus and passionate dedication, everything will work out in the end!
Get in Full Costume (Weeks Before Your Performance)
Trying out how your make-up will look, checking for any wardrobe malfunction and picking the most appropriate hairstyle is all part of the experience. Knowing how everything’\s going to look beforehand gives you a boost of confidence and elevates the anxiety you may be feeling.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you must do your hair and makeup alone on the day of the performance, but it’s always nice if the dancer knows how to dress up when and if the situation calls for it. To make sure you have everything you need, make a list of all the essentials you need and browse for your cosmetics online to make sure you pick the best products.
Always Test the Shoes
Every dancer knows that shoes are important ingredients to any successful performance. Making sure they’re in their best condition and serving the purpose that you got them for is the least you can do during your final rehearsals. But even before you get to those last days before the show, rehearsing in the shoes you will be performing in (or the closest to that model) will provide you with the best feedback on what you need to improve.
Always advise experts before buying an expensive piece of dancing gear such as ballet shoes. When you take the time to pick the best pair you can rest assured it will pay off in the future and you’ll be happy you got the most quality pair. Together with your costume, hair accessories, and cosmetics online you can browse for footwear as well, and return or exchange it promptly before your performance.
Practice Away from Mirrors
It’s nice to practice your dancing in front of a mirror because you can see how you look while you move. It’s possible, though, to become overly reliant on the mirror – especially if you’re in a group dance. People who are accustomed to dancing in front of a mirror may become disoriented when doing their routine without one.
If you’ve been dancing in one way for a long time, it can be difficult to adjust to another when you finally face a different direction. When it comes to figuring out spacing, many dancers rely too heavily on mirrors. When the mirrors are removed, it becomes more difficult to determine how close or far away other people are.
Get Feedback from Outsiders
Aside from practising in front of others, possibly in full costume and beauty products you’ve chosen, you’ll want to receive some general feedback on your routine. This might come from your instructor, a fellow student, or a bystander. In either case, any kind of praise or constructive criticism will be beneficial. Getting feedback will assist you in determining which areas of your dance require improvement, as well as determining what aspects are most appealing to others.
It’s always good for the overall creative process to seek feedback from outside sources on how you’re doing. If you don’t have somebody around to offer you criticism right away, try recording your dance and giving it to someone later. You can also watch the video to see how you seem and take notes on things to fix.
Get to Know Your Stage
If at all possible, get to know the location in which you’ll be performing. To effectively prepare with your moves, as well as your looks with the adequate cosmetics online acquired and the suitable attire, you’ll need to know how much space you’ll have on stage. Getting acquainted with the stage might also assist to ease stage fright. If this is your first time performing, it can feel strange dancing outside of your usual practice location, which is why it’s a good idea to get some practice on the actual stage if you’re able.
This is essential because the place may have a different type of floor than what you’re used to, so it’s a good idea to practice how you’ll move while you’re up there. If you’re unable to practice on that stage before your performance, attempt to learn as much as you can about it before the show so that you’re as prepared as possible.
