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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Post Performance Strategies

The performance run has come to a close for the dance company at Towson University. I was so impressed with the sense of dedication, professionalism, and a positive presence both on stage and off. Everyone supported each other when the going got tough and that helped us all get through those stressful two weeks. Along with the great amount of stress and injuries also came fun, excitement, and a true passion for dance that emerged in the atmosphere of the theatre. This performance really taught me to be aware of my surroundings and savor every moment. We would have a warm up class before every stage rehearsal and performance and the teacher always told us starting from the very first barre exercise to open our eyes and really look at everything around us. Not only does this help you gain awareness of the space so you can perform in it better, but it lets you take everything in and be grateful for where you are. This is a concept that should be taken with you and applied in every situation in life.

It is typical that after a performance a dancer may feel some slight sadness or disappointment because there was all this build up of energy and excitement before the show and now it is suddenly over. Being on stage in front of an audience is a thrill and your mood may decline once you know you may not be on stage again for a little while. For others, it may be a sense of relief because even though you had fun, you now have a chance to relax and breathe a little bit. Either way, these reactions are normal and both your mind and your body need some time to recuperate.

After a performance, your body needs lots and lots of fluids. It is recommended that we drink 6-8 glasses of water a day (even though I personally don’t reach that number), so that means that after a performance you should be drinking even more! You should also increase your water intake during the performance since you are exerting a lot of energy all at once and your body needs to stay hydrated to perform all of this physical activity. You should also be making healthy food choices especially around this time. When you bring snacks for the dressing room, choose something that will fill you up and also give you energy rather than make you feel sluggish for the show.

Smile and breathe. If you practice a genuine smile at every chance you get, you will be more likely to have this smile on stage and you will seem relateable to the audience. You want to show that you have a love for dance and what you’re doing. The audience reacts to this in a positive way because you seem happy and at peace. This changes if you’re given a piece that is supposed to show anger or sadness, of course, but whatever dance you are doing, try to make your expressions and emotions seem real. Even after a performance, one little smile can help fight off the sadness or fatigue you may feel. If you’re feeling tired and drained from a show, take the time to sit down in silence and just focus on your breath. This is surprisingly calming yet invigorating for the body and it could do you a lot of good in your life.

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