Performance Tips for Young Dancers

With our Junior Company’s performance of Alice in Wonderland just a few months away, this seems a perfect time to provide some performance pointers.

Practice is the Key

There is no substitute for practice.  First you learn the steps, then you learn to move in sync with the other dancers, and finally you master the choreography, artistry and musicality.  This all takes time, which is why we start rehearsing months in advance of the performance.  If you attend rehearsals on a consistent basis and work hard at those rehearsals, you can feel confident that you will be ready to perform come showtime.

Nerves

All dancers feel nervous before a performance, so don’t fret about the butterflies in your stomach on the day of the show.  You’ve rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed, which means your body knows what to do on stage.  Before you make your entrance, think about the initial steps of the piece and the rest will flow.

Invite Others to Watch

It can be unnerving to dance in front of people other than your dance instructors and fellow students.  To accustom yourself to dancing for an audience, invite your family and friends to watch you perform.  You might ask one of them to record your dancing – often times you can learn a lot by watching yourself on video.

Eat Well and Stay Hydrated on Performance Day

Although nerves may make it hard to eat on the day of the performance, it’s important that you eat so you’ll have the energy you need for a dress rehearsal plus performance.  Avoid fried foods and foods high in salt or sugar.  The focus should be on complex carbs with some proteins and healthy fats. Eating foods such as fresh fruit, oatmeal, or whole grain toast and peanut butter will help you perform better.

Smile and Keep Dancing

Audiences tend to watch a dancer’s face, so it’s important to smile.  If you practice smiling during rehearsals, it’s likely you’ll remember to smile during the performance.  And if you make a mistake during the performance, just keep smiling and dancing.  The audience doesn’t know the choreography and is unlikely to even notice a mistake so long as you continue dancing.

Have Fun

Performing in front of friends and family is truly a magical thing.  You’ve rehearsed and worked hard for months, and now it’s time to enjoy yourself on stage.  So have fun!