Showtime at the Apollo
The lights dim in the theatre room. Stage lights gradually illuminate. Whispers of people anticipating the show to begin to flutter around. You feel a tightness build up in your body, and you try to run the whole show in your mind to ensure you don't forget anything. It's showtime, and the music begins.
Having many performances and rehearsals, June and July have been some of the busiest times. Summer seems to be short-lived this year. These days have been more performed shows than traveling from one break event to another. Break competition is a performance where you exchange with an opponent. Challenging your skills with peers and being judged by elders in the community often are marks of validation in your progress with training. What about when you perform in a theatre? There is no opponent, just the choreography and the audience. If you are used to having an adversary to exchange energy with to create a performance for judges and audience members to view, you may find performing for a show feels differently.
Nerves and adrenaline build up in anticipation for the show to start. No one wants to make mistakes or miss cues. When sharing the spotlight in a battle, many nerves are shared with opponents. The energy of a stage with no opposition can carry a different type of stress to overcome.
What does it mean to have an outstanding performance?
Execution
The definition to perform is to accomplish and fulfill the task. Execution is the plan of action taken to complete the job to the best of your ability. Planning within the rehearsal and preparation is the recipe to increasing the successful execution of your performance.
Feeling
We cannot replicate moments when a performance of a show is perfect, but leaving space for that intangible feeling to live and exist in ourselves can remind our bodies and mind of how those nostalgic performances felt. With the space available, that feeling can resurface.
Pace
Angst and excitement carry a burden when it is showtime. Out of control adrenaline can tense up the body. Losing clarity will leave you forgetting choreography or parts of a show causing mistakes. Control your internal pace to not lose yourself in your performance.
5 good practices
Breath Control - Calm your body with deep breaths. Let your body relax. Don't let nerves tighten up your muscles. Before performing, close your eyes, take big breaths for 3-5 seconds, and slowly exhale.
Acknowledge - Allow yourself to be nervous. When you recognize you may be stressed or afraid of how you will perform, you become more receptive to being present in the moment and finding calmness.
Positive - Focus and carry positive thoughts about the show to control your adrenaline. Let your adrenaline be your fuel but don't burn all your gas with no control or negative thoughts.
Intent - Rehearse with each movement carrying intention. Use your thoughts and mental fortitude with intense intention to maximize your memory for the show. Each step and move holds weight for the performance.
Believe - Faith in your abilities is trust. in a process. Trust in yourself first to have an audience trust and believe in your performance.
Being present on a stage while peering eyes do not distract you from your best performance. The show's end is here. The lights black out to darkness. All the lights turn on, and you are standing in front of an audience. You made it. Take a bow.
