Competitions are the ultimate test. Dancers train to excel, but pre-performance nerves can hold you back. Discover how to release tension and embrace the stage with confidence.
Any competition is the most crucial part of training, as dancers practice precisely to perform successfully in various contests.
However, in most cases, dancers may experience increased tension, anxiety, and trembling before performances – the classic pre-competition jitters.
It is often believed that choreographers, teachers, and coaches should calm the dancer with words and even sedatives.
But this assumption is wrong.
The nature of this state lies in the psychophysical makeup of humans.
Jitters are a stress response – a mobilization of all bodily resources to overcome a stressful situation.
For a dancer, a tournament or competition is a threat.
And it can be seen as a danger because the dancer might lose, damage their status, harm their image, let down the team, and so on.
For a modern person, especially a creative individual like a dancer, these consequences are psychological trauma, sometimes even more serious than physical injury.
Therefore, the body activates all available resources for maximum concentration to overcome the situation.
When fear arises, stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline surge into the bloodstream.
Simultaneously, the muscular system is highly activated, causing many to tremble before performances.
Under no circumstances should you calm the dancer; using sedatives is completely inadmissible.
The most effective way to channel this surging energy is to express it through various means before the upcoming performance.
Good luck on your dance journey!
The GoDance team crafts articles about dance, technique and inspiring stories from dancers.
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