Ever see a performer who just draws you in? Maybe it’s the costume, the choreography, their movement style that just makes your jaw drop. Maybe it’s how they look at you and it feels like they just connect with only your gaze. Perhaps their name alone is enough to make you stop whatever you were in the middle of and rush to get a mere glimpse of them and their magic.
It’s just SOMETHING about them….
And while you’re mesmerized by their show, and you appreciate their performance; you also feel this slight drop in the pit of your stomach…. That feeling that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try or how many hours you practice, you will just never be able to do whatever it is that they do.
You can buy the same costume, recreate the hair and makeup, memorize every single movement in their choreography, but your attempt to emulate their work just falls flat. Like those cakes on Nailed It! It’s the paradox of Instagram fantasy vs Reality.
We’ve been there, friend. If fact, at times, we still catch ourselves drawing comparisons to others in our field. We wish we had the stillness of one dancer, or the perfect technique of another. We wish curves curved elsewhere or that we had that one opportunity that another dancer regularly gets. Ugh.
If only… if only… if only…
While we can choose to sit and let this feeling fester into something ugly and toxic, or perhaps wallow in our pit of self-loathing and despair, it doesn’t help us in the long run.
You’re probably going “How do I fix this when I feel like I’ve tried all the things already?”
It takes some time, some internal work, and just a bit of fine-tuning. We’re going to share just a few nuggets of information which can hopefully get you jumpstarted on your path and get you focused on what your goals are.
Here’s 3 Secrets We’ve Learned in the Entertainment Industry that ALL Performers Experience (but will never share)
- ANXIETY IS REAL (AND IT’S A B***H).
We all have some sort of anxiety – stage fright, performance, or even just some sort of general anxiety, even if we never openly express it. In fact, many performers identify as also being introverted or an ambivert. Yep! Celebrities like Emma Watson, Tom Hanks and Glenn Close consider themselves introverts and have reported having different levels of anxiety both on and off the stage. The key is doing more internal work in preparing for their performance, acknowledging when they need time to recharge their energy, and having other means to express their anxiety outside of their work. We try finding ways in which we can take that anxious energy and transfer it into our work as art.
- We Recognize Our Quirks and Display that as A Strength.
The next time you watch a performer and you become mesmerized, we challenge you to ask yourself: “WHY do I enjoy watching them?” Dig deeper than “they’re pretty/fun/gorgeous/etc.” Artists are known for being little quirky and those quirks are exactly the reason they’re memorable. Perhaps that performer has the best expressions, or they make a certain face with a specific move. Maybe there’s a part of their onstage personality that you would NEVER see when they’re out and about (i.e., they’re flirtatious onstage and completely the opposite off). Or their personality is EXACTLY who they are offstage but exaggerated! We’re not known for keeping a fake smile on our faces the entire time – we’re human. Which is ultimately why we connect as audience members.
- About 90% of the time, we have NO IDEA WTF WE’RE DOING!!
This is NOT meant to be confused with being unprepared. An old theater professor Stina studied under used to say “Conscious Preparation for an Unconscious Result.” He meant that as artists, we are always training, studying, rehearsing, and planning for our upcoming performances. There’s so much thought and work that goes into a 5-minute dance. Imagine rehearsing for months to only give one weekend of shows if you’re lucky. Yes, we prepare for any and everything. But that work starts in the studio on Day 1. It starts the day we create the concept. It’s a continual practice in our everyday life. We don’t turn it off entirely. We do this so that on show day, we can allow ourselves the freedom to fully put our hearts into our work. To allow ourselves and our audience to experience everything we envisioned. Sometimes, that means we accidentally forget a section of choreography. We acknowledge that things will change, but our training allows for those changes to be made. We trust our work and the process. We just GO and there’s no time to plan or think.
And those are always the best treat – it’s raw talent, passion, and feeling. It’s knowing that anything can happen but we’re all in it together. It’s confirming to yourself that ultimately… YOU’VE GOT THIS! And no one can do what YOU do in the way that YOU do it.
That’s why we’re here – to share not just technique, but also share new ways to approach it. We also share the general knowledge that every performer should know or will hear at some point in their journey. We want to help you see that what you bring to the table is valuable. There’s plenty of space for everyone to have a chance at shining.
So, what’s stopping you from unlocking your confiDANCE? Let us know – We’re here to help!