A prop mishap, a costume malfunction, a loss of music mid-performance, or the two dancers that stand in front of you get sick last minute…These unfortunate situations are out of your control and can put you into a state of panic! However, if you have truly prepared yourself for this situation, you will know that you can more than survive the challenge, but thrive within it!
Are you wondering how you prepare for such an unpredictable situation? Here are a few tips to prepare to succeed on the stage.
1. Know your choreography! Don’t plan to watch the girl in front of you (she may get injured or sick). Know the steps like the back of your hand so you can keep dancing while your brain problem solves the unforseen issue that arrives while you are on the stage. (TIP: experts say that if you can lay down, close your eyes, and not move a muscle but envision yourself doing every dance step THEN you truly know the choreography!)
2. Sleep. As you sleep, your brain is actively working to create new pathways for learning. Sleep helps your body fight off common infection and gives your heart and vascular system a rest from your active day.
3. Hydrate. Your body is made up of 60% water. Water is imperative for your digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature. It’s extremely important to keep your body hydrated before and after physical activity and sweating. If you begin feeling thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Be pro-active and drink H2O!
4. Practice Hair & make-up in advance (decrease stressors of the “unknown”) and decrease the arguments you will have with your mom or dad that day as they try to help you. PRACTICE doesn’t make perfect, but it sure makes it more pleasant.
5. Breathe. At the end of the day, you are alive and that is a gift! Remember it is just DANCE. Breathe and relax.
6. Smile. Smiling physically puts your brain in a more positive mind set. When you’re onstage, your audience is most drawn to watching your expressive face! If your face appears confident, it is very likely that the audience will not recognize a mistake. “Don’t fake it ’til you make it, Fake it ’til you become it.”
To help our Performing Arts Dancers succeed,
we have an annual Performing Arts Rehearsal & Party!
Dancers perform their dances for an audience for the first time to test their knowledge and nerves. They go to stations to learn about hair and make-up application, as well as fun things like massage pressure points from Miss Megan, a professional masseuse when not teaching dance! We also had a guest speaker, Jason Reader, discussing injury prevention for dancers.
ABOVE: Our dance assistants model what TO DO & NOT TO DO when preparing for performance!
BELOW: Our dancers are talented in many ways beyond dance! We look forward to sharing some of their musical talents with you during the SHOWCASE on Saturday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to many dancers! We are so thankful you spend your birthday weekend with your PSOD Family! Much love is in this room of dancers!
