Combating Stage Fright

Your heart is racing, your palms are sweating, the stage lights are blinding and all of a sudden you are overcome with a paralysing fear. Stage fright hits. Stage fright or nervousness prior to a performance is completely normal! Many dancers feel it, but pushing past that fear helps you grow not only as a dancer but also as a person. Here are 6 Tips to help you move past the fear.

Breathe
This might sound obvious and I’m sure you know that you need to breathe, but sometimes when that fear overwhelms us we forget to breathe. I have found choreographing breathing into my number (especially a fast paced solo, or free exercises) can help me to remember to breathe and calm myself.

Visualise
Before you go out onto the stage visualise yourself completing your routine flawlessly. Visualise yourself on the stage with the lights and the audience, imagine yourself doing your routine in this setting. This can help you prepare for the actual moment you step onto that stage.

Face your fears
Sometimes stage fright can be a case of practicing. Take every opportunity you can to get on that stage. The more you practice and the more you actually perform in the setting that scares you the more acclimatised you will be and hopefully the fear reaction will lessen.