On Stage

The last time I was on stage I was a dancing Pirate in Le Corsaire. It was quite fun and stress free. Now, 7 years later, I’ll be on stage for a considerably shorter period of time but I feel much more nervous. It’s likely the passage of time and change in mindset. I haven’t performed in many years so to do it again after such a long absence gives me butterflies.

It’s a short routine with 3 other dancers. The music is lovely. I know the steps. But imagining the performance is triggering my old fears of failure and the possibility of drawing a blank while on stage.

It’s helpful that I’m experiencing these little anxieties since I am currently writing a book about performance preparation for dancers. My hope is that the guidance provided in the book will be beneficial because it is based on personal experience.

I’m sharing a lot of my experiences in the book to demonstrate what not to do. I thought it would be discouraging to dwell on the past but it’s actually a bit cathartic. I hope my experiences can be used as a tool to help others overcome the challenges of performing on stage.

Passion filled hobbies can become great avenues for self-improvement. Dance has impacted the way I think in a positive manner. I imagine your hobbies have impacted you in many ways as well. I encourage you to take some time to think on the benefits or the possible detriments of the activities that are filling your time.

Theater - Photo by Charlie Foster via unsplash.com