Lack of confidence before showcase

[HopefulNaiive]

I will be dancing a solo at my studio showcase in 2 weeks and I am getting really nervous. I did showcases before (dancing smooth) , but this time my teacher convinced me to try something new – it’s a freestyle. Choreography is quite complex with lifts, tricks, and requires lots of flexibility from me. If done right, it should look very elegant and beautiful, but if not done properly, it could look very silly… that’s what I’m afraid of… looking silly in front of my dancing peers, family, even few co-workers plan to attend. So far, few people who saw us practicing told me it looks nice, but are they honest?

I need some words of encouragement and tips on how to deal with this lack of confidence. I just have this horrible feeling that I will trip, fall, of do something very stupid at the showcase. Help, please.

[fascination]

welcome to DF...I think the most important thing is to keep it all in perspective...who you are as a decent human soul on the Earth has nothing to do with how that 2 minutes progresses...having been there and flubbed it up unmercifully at least twice then dealt with it ungraciously...all I can say is that it takes courage and humility to be a good dancer....and folks who don't try aren't folks about whom you should worry...if dance is your passion, go out and do it as best you can...no great crisis will come as a result of whatever mistakes you make...but you owe it to yourself and your pocketbook to enjoy it...hug

[etp777]

Fasc covered it well. And I can say from experience, that even when you make mistakes, it's still worth every minute of it. Not a bad idea to have a drink ready though. For AFTER you're done, not b efore. :)

[samina]

Envision nothing but success, Hopeful... Visualize yourself exactly as you want to execute every single move, and refuse to indulge in visualizing or anticipating the possible mistakes. Repeatedly visualize yourself out there beautiful and happy...

You'll be great!

[Standarddancer]

I agree with Sam, envision yourself beautiful, capable and elegant. Also 2 weeks seem to be quite a lot of time, so book extra lessons to increase the rehearsal time with your teacher. Everything will be fine. Your teacher must have a lot of confidence in you, otherwise he won't give you a difficult and challenge choreo:)

[HopefulNaiive]

Thanks everyone. I need to start doing my "visualize success" meditation sessions as soon as today.

I do hope my teacher knows what he is doing. I trust him 100%. Just the dance is so unusual for this studio, we have been experiencing a lot of stares recently (like that: :shock:) and that made me a bit uncomfortable. But maybe I should take those stares as compliments?

[flashdance]

Lack of confidence and you can dance in front of others on a stage already? ;) There are lots of people who could never do that, let alone dance as well!

You'll be fine, now go and show them what you're made of in 2 weeks and practice practice practice - that way you can nail the entire performance and your confidence will be far greater if you put in the extra work (i know it worked for me when I did a dance exam earlier on in the year).

Good luck :D

[newbie]

So far, few people who saw us practicing told me it looks nice, but are they honest?


Post a vid and we'll tell you. We're honest here. :)

[Chiron]

Good luck with you showcase. The only helpful advice I can give you is practice, practice, and practice. The more I practice the more confident I become. Some advice that may help long term is the more you do things which push you really outside your comfort zone the more confident you will become. It has taken me a lot of experiences being really uncomfortable and not very confident to be able to turn confidence on when I need to.

Oh and as far as stares go, as long as the person isn't grimmacing when they are staring take it as a compliment. People don't normall watch things they find ascetically unappealing, unless it is really bad in which case they will usually have a pretty obvious facial expression.

[Chiron]

Oh and I'm slow yet again... Welcome to DF.

[gracie]

Can you video your routine so you can watch and practice at home? That really helps me! Good Luck!

[emeralddancer]

You will do well ... and often those stares are stares of general appreciation!