Help! I've never performed!

[jenibelle]

Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum (well, I've been lurking around for a while and just haven't shown my face) and I think this is the best place to ask my question. A little bit of background info: I've been dancing salsa for only two months but have picked it up incredibly fast...in fact, one of the instructors has just invited me to join his performance group.

I'm to dance my first public performance in just over a month, and I feel amazingly unprepared! I have had NO dance background, and thus have had absolutely no performing experience. What I DO have is a strong MUSIC background and I know that I can pull things off under pressure (from high level sports) but the fact that I haven't grown up as a dancer makes me incredibly nervous. The instructor seems to think I'll be fine...but right now, I don't!

I'd like to know what all those other performers do to sparkle and shine out there. I really don't know anything! Does anyone have any little tricks, tips or advice??

Thanks ever so much!
Jeni

[pygmalion]

Hi Jeni! Welcome to the forums! :D

Like you, I'd never had any dance experience before I started ballroom a couple years ago. But I had more than a decade of musical performance experience. And you know what? A lot of the same things apply to performing, regardless. Things like practice, positive visualization, muscle memory, relating to other members of the team (or performance troupe.) You've already got all those things under your belt with the experience you have.

I'm sure others can add some tips and pointers, so I'll leave it at that for now.

Welcome to the forums. :D Glad you decided to give up lurking! :D 8)

Jenn

[Sagitta]

Welcome to the forums Jeni! Congratulations on joining the dance troupe in two short months! Amazing!!

Pretty cool avatar you got going... :)

I'll let the other DF members who have performed answer your question.

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome to the forums Jeni... and glad to see you've given up lurking! :D

Based on what you say, two things come to mind:

1) Remember that you were invited to join! Trust that you already have whatever quality it was that got you that invitation in the first place!

2) The most important thing in a performance is communicating your enjoyment of the dancing itself. I can forgive any number of technical errors and enjoy a performance that the dancers themselves are clearly enjoying. A technically superb performance, but with little to no spark, leaves me indifferent at best. It sounds like you really love to dance... let that show and you're good to go! :D

[youngsta]

It warms my heart to meet a new salsaholic, welcome to the board Jeni! I think SD hit the nail on the head, you've got to communicate your enthusiasm to the audience. Don't sweat the routine. Now that you're part of a performance group you will put a lot of time in preparing so your two months of experience will leap light years ahead in a very short time.

[SwinginBoo]

Welcome Jeni! I also just got asked to be in a performance group and I'm a relatively new dancer, about a year. Just think of it as being the most fun ever, and it will be. You can display your talents and be proud of how far you've come in such a short time. You obviously have a lot of natural talent if they've asked you to be in it after a few months. Be confident in yourself and shine! :D

[jenibelle]

Wow! Thank you all so much for the warm welcome and quick replies :D I really appreciate it! When I perform in a few weeks, I may not be the "best" one out there but I'll definitely be the one with the biggest smile :lol:

Hehehe...You can definitely call me a salsaholic...just last night I was caught doing the merengue walk down my hallway (the 'rents think I'm nuts).

Jeni

[youngsta]

Hehehe...You can definitely call me a salsaholic...just last night I was caught doing the merengue walk down my hallway (the 'rents think I'm nuts).

Jeni
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! We've got you now Jeni! :wink: