Last week I was part of my school dance show, and I know this is only a small scale show but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. However, as will all shows not everything went according to plan, so I have come up with a few tips to help you make sure your shows don't include any last minute panics!
1. Be organised- it is sooooo important to make sure that you have everything you need before you leave the house to go to a show. You don't want to be forgetting any pieces of your costume or makeup as this can ruin the night. You also need to remember the little things, like mirrors and makeup wipes because these are essentials that sometimes go forgotten.
2. Stretch- dance is very demanding on your muscles and most dances contain boatloads of kicks, leaps and tricks that require your muscles to be stretched and warm. I would recommend stretching before the show and then doing little stretches in between dances, as I know that I can get stiff pretty quickly!3. Check the schedule for quick changes- This year was the first year I have had a quick change in my school dance show, with my solo being the 3rd last dance, then having one dance to change before the big finale. It is essential to check for quick changes, otherwise there will be huge amounts of panic and running backwards and forwards to your dressing room because your next costume isn't back stage waiting for you. It is also important, particularly if you are in a mixed show, that you have some friends to stand around you as it is pretty hard to do a quick change without having to stand in your underwear for a bit.
4. Be confident- Even if you are terrified whilst on stage, be confident. If you walk onto the stage and perform like your a professional dancer, you will feel so much more confident and the audience/ judges will feel it too. I found it very daunting to perform my solo this year as I had my parents and friends in the audience, some of which had never seen me dance solo before. But the key to a great performance is confidence.
Hope you found these useful, and I can't wait till next week where I will be telling you about what's in my dance bag!
*Photo Credits to the Jackie Palmer Stage School*
