It’s always the question, isn’t it?
Post-Show Blues
There is a serious condition that repeatedly afflicts every musical theatre performer in their amateur or professional career. It is very simple to diagnose, although it can be difficult to treat and any cure found is unfortunately only temporary. Symptoms are wide-ranging and will affect everyone differently. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Exhaustion.
- Irritability.
- Hangovers of varying degrees.
- Lack of productivity/dissatisfaction in everyday life.
- Excessive viewing/collecting/posting of photos.
- Unnecessary thought expended on revision of lyrics and choreography.
- Continued belief that rehearsals will be on next week.
- Various feelings of nostalgia, sadness, emptiness, etc.
Various treatments exist to deal with symptoms, however, they differ greatly in effectiveness between individual patients. Common treatments include excessive consumption of caffeine and/or comfort food, copious amounts of sleep and numerous, wistful posts online (for example, on a blog, Facebook or Instagram). The only cure, of course, is being cast in another show, however, it should be noted that this cure is only temporary. This condition (as you may have guessed by the title of this post) is collectively known in musical theatre circles as the post-show blues or PMD- post-musical depression.
I will admit that I am currently suffering from post-show blues. I have spent the past 4 months rehearsing for an amateur production of Hairspray produced by one of my local musical societies. Over the past two weeks, we had our final dress-tech rehearsals and our show week (hence the lack of new blog posts). As far as shows go, this one was particularly insane. We received standing ovations for every one of our 7 shows and were only a few rows shy of a total sellout by the closing show, while rave reviews poured in from audience members and critics alike. I mean, it’s only an amateur production, but as anyone who has done amateur theatre would know, it’s not common for a show like that to be so successful. This didn’t come easily, of course. The choreography itself was incredibly challenging (even for a dancer like me), and was made even more difficult by the singing we had to do simultaneously. Reaching show week was no walk in the park, but in hindsight, it was so incredibly worth it. I couldn’t be any more proud to have been part of such an amazing show.
The problem with having that much fun is that afterwards, nothing else is really quite as good. Everyday life is just so boring without rehearsals and the prospect of a show sometime in the future. You sadly realise that you will no longer see your crazy cast-mates every week and that you’ve now got to prepare for auditions if you want to do another show (which, chances are, you’ll definitely want to do). You will also no longer to be able to use ‘I have rehearsals’ as an excuse for getting out of things you don’t want to do. I also find that unpacking my show kit doesn’t help much either- I often leave it for weeks because I’m in denial that musical is actually over. Post-show blues suck, big time.
On the upside though, the whole show experience is a great way to create awesome memories doing the thing you love most. There’s nothing quite like being stuck in a dressing room like sardines to create bonds between even the most unlikely people, particularly under the stressful circumstances of a performance. Even with all the highs and lows, I wouldn’t change my experience for the world and I’d do it again without a second thought. The challenge for me now is to deal with real life again, despite the soul-crushing nature of post-show blues. As they say, the show must go on.
De-Stressing Done Right
I’ve found that simply taking a day out of your week to relax isn’t always the most effective method of de-stressing. Don’t get me wrong, I am a professional when it comes to sitting and doing literally nothing (which generally works pretty well) but sometimes keeping the mind mildly busy can make your relaxation session that much more effective. Particularly when everything aches after dance class or rehearsals, or when I’ve been doing uni work all week, I really feel the need to chill out but I get restless if I have nothing to occupy myself. Recently, I have made a life-changing discovery on the relaxation front, and that discovery is adult colouring books.
As my mum has been saying, the person who came up with the idea of making colouring books for adults is a genius. There is something about going back to this childhood pastime that does wonders for the stressed-out soul. The one I’ve been currently doing is ‘Paiseys- Colouring For Artists‘ which I bought from Big W for $10, and not going to lie, it’s probably the best $10 I’ve ever spent. Thus far I have only completed one page but I have made an attempt at another two, and it really is a fantastic de-stressing mechanism. Whether you use pencils (great for the really intricate designs) or markers (all the better for bold colour) it’s definitely possible to lose hours to this oddly satisfying activity.
If you don’t like colouring in, then this probably isn’t for you (obviously) but for those who want an artistically-inspired pastime that requires none of the artistic skill, you’ll love this. Depending on the designs in your book, the smaller and more detailed patterns may require a bit of patience and accuracy, however, if tiny details aren’t your thing there is bound to be another colouring book out there that you’ll enjoy. No matter what your preference is though, you’d be surprised at the beautiful artworks you can create with relative ease.
If you are a bit of a perfectionist, though, it can sometimes be difficult not to over-think something simple like colouring in. I think the best way to overcome that is just to colour first, ask questions later. Don’t worry too much about the colours or how the thing is going to look as a whole, otherwise you’ll stress yourself out even more and completely defeat the purpose of de-stressing. Even if you’re picky about staying inside the lines and are not 100% successful with that, don’t worry yourself about it. If you really want to get all deep with it, you can see it as consciously contradicting your urge to make it perfect. Living on the edge, pushing the boundaries, whatever. Regardless, you’re not an artist, you’re just colouring in. Chill out and enjoy yourself.
As I said, it’s not everyone’s idea of a relaxing activity but I personally am loving the current trend of adult colouring books, and hopefully I can add several more to my bookshelf. I’d recommend jumping on the bandwagon if you have’t already- inject a bit of colour into your stressful adult life. You might make an artist of yourself yet.
Some Love for the Ensemble
It’s no secret that musical theatre productions revolve around the lead characters. They’re the subject of the story (obviously) and so chances are they’ll be the focus of the show. Sure, they get the lines and the big songs and the spotlight, but what about everyone else on the stage? The crowds that filter in and out, breaking into song and dance every now and again? They may not command the same attention as the leads but they’re just as important to the show. Call them what you will- ensemble, chorus, crowd- but the awesome dance numbers and shiver-inducing harmonies just wouldn’t be the same without them. In fact, if I had a choice between playing a lead character or being in the ensemble for any given show, I’d probably go for the latter. There’s so much more to the ensemble than being background noise, and there’s no other role I’d rather have.
When I tell people about my musical theatre obsession, it’s only a matter of time before they ask about the role I’m playing in whatever production I’m currently a part of. Having always been a theatre nerd, I often get caught by surprise when someone doesn’t understand what the ensemble is. I generally explain it as ‘everyone who isn’t a lead character’ and when asked what we do, I usually say ‘everything.’ That’s the cool thing about musical theatre, you need to be a triple threat, even if you’re in the ‘background.’ There’s numerous dance numbers to learn, harmonies to remember, tracks to memorise and quick-changes to master, all the while supporting the leads as they do the same. You also may end up being a whole bunch of different characters in the space of a show, and let me tell you, switching between them is an art form. It’s also likely that you’ll spend an almost absurd amount of time rehearsing all these aspects, and consequently you’ll improve substantially. Being in the ensemble is undoubtedly hard work, but it’s also ridiculously fun (and a great way to improve your show-skills).
One of the best things about being in the ensemble is the amount of time you get on stage. As I mentioned before, you have a lot to learn, but the upshot of that is you’ll be in quite a few scenes, and what thespian can resist showing off to an audience? It’s got to be one of performing’s great joys- the spotlight may not be on you but that doesn’t mean you won’t be seen. Your hard work won’t go unnoticed and unvalidated. For someone like me, who finds performing solo terrifying, it’s a great way to build the skills, confidence and experience that might one day help me to become a leading lady. I mean, everyone has to start somewhere and the ensemble is generally the way to go. Then again, it’s also a brilliant release for any attention-seeking tendencies you may have. You know, whatever works for you.
Anyone who has ever been in a show (amateur or otherwise) will know that there is no better way to bond with cast-mates than being stuck together in a dressing room for show after show. Sure, you spend a few months rehearsing together, but there’s nothing like being in close-dressing-room-quarters during the fatigue, adrenaline and stress of performance week to bring you all closer. For those who aren’t professional performers, that’s why we do what we do- we love performing and we want to hang out with other people who do too. My musical friends are nothing like any other people I’ve ever met, they work pretty hard but they party harder. If you don’t believe me, ask any thespian you know about closing night parties (they’ll have some killer stories, I bet). What’s even stranger is that if you hadn’t met these people through musical, you probably wouldn’t be friends. Regardless of your role, the trials and tribulations of performing together (particularly in the ensemble) can forge friendships like nothing else, and that itself is worth the effort.
So next time you go see a show, take a moment to drag your gaze away from the mesmerising leads and check out the ensemble for a bit. They work just as hard (if not harder) to be up on that stage- show them some love and appreciation too.
My Current Obsesson: Broadway Backstage Vlogs
So like many people on the internet these days, I simply can’t get enough of vlogs. Getting a glimpse into someone else’s interesting life has a weird and unshakeable appeal that I don’t quite understand, but thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, I’ve always got someone cool to follow around. I have a whole list of vlogs that I watch frequently, but at the moment, I have been spending way too much time watching Broadway.com’s Broadway backstage vlogs. If you’re a theatre lover of any kind and you haven’t checked them out already, what have you been doing with your life?
If you don’t know already, I live in Australia. It is indeed a wonderful place to live, however the musical theatre scene is nothing like it is in America. Like many theatre nuts, I one day dream of going to New York for the sole purpose of seeing as many Broadway shows as I can afford. In the meantime, when my inner thespian is not out to play at rehearsals, these vlogs are like a gift from the gods. I’m able to follow the awesome lives of my favourite Broadway stars without leaving the couch. I can’t promise that you won’t be jealous, but I can promise that it will satisfy your musical cravings for a while (a pretty long while at that).
There are so many reasons that I love these vlogs. Apart from the obvious (stalking Broadway stars), it’s interesting to see exactly what goes on behind the scenes of all these wonderful shows. You’d also be surprised at the tips you can pick up about the performing life, auditions, etc. For the vlogs running currently, the actors also often have Twitter Q & A’s where you can send them whatever questions you may have. It’s pretty much a VIP tour from your laptop. Need I say more?
There are tonnes of vlogs for different shows on the site, and while I watch most of them on the Broadway.com YouTube channel, the older ones can be a bit tricky to find there. For those, I’d recommend going to the actual website and using the search bar. Some of my personal favourite vlogs are:
- Heidi Blickenstaff’s ‘Renaissance Woman’ (backstage at Something Rotten- my current favourite).
- Lesli Margarita’s ‘Look Not Books’ (backstage at Matilda).
- James Snyder’s ‘Hey Kid’ (backstage at If/Then).
- Lindsay Mendez’s ‘Fly Girl’ (backstage at Wicked).
So to all you raging thespians out there, do yourself a favour and watch some of these vlogs. If you don’t become instantly obsessed (even more than you already are) then I just don’t know what to tell you.
You’re welcome.
A Dancer’s Tool Kit
The dance bag is the sacred black hole in which every dancer stores his or her tools of the trade. It holds anything and everything that you could ever need for class, rehearsals and performances, and at some point its contents probably saved you from some kind of disaster. No matter what level you’re at, no dancer could survive without their trusty dance bag.
The Bag
There are no rules when it comes to choosing your dance bag. It could be big enough to store your entire bedroom or small enough to fit a few pairs of dance shoes and a jumper, it could be ridiculously colourful or just plain black. It could be a backpack, a gym bag, a duffel bag, a tote bag, a handbag- you get the idea. The possibilities really are endless, so go for whatever strikes your fancy.
My dance bag is a simple, medium size purple and black specimen that I bought from Australian dance wear retailer Energetiks. It cost about $40, has 3 pockets and is the perfect size to carry everything I need for a class or rehearsals. If, however, I’m going to a performance, I take a hell of a lot more stuff and therefore require an additional bag (or three).
Your dance bag, of course, doesn’t have to be from a dance wear brand (like Capezio, Energetiks or Bloch). It can be any bag that you dig out from the back of your wardrobe, as long as it serves your purpose. It’s not the bag that’s important anyway, it’s what’s inside it that counts, as we shall soon see.
What’s Inside
So now that you’ve got yourself a bag, you need to fill it with all of your wonderful dance-related paraphernalia. What precisely should you have in there? To give you an idea, here’s what I keep inside mine.
Shoes
Hopefully this one is fairly self-explanatory. Some dancers will stuff every pair of dance shoes they own in their bag (if the bag is big enough, that is) but others- like me- prefer only to take the one’s we’ll need for the specific class we’re taking. I also like to take a pair of socks and/or foot thongs in case I don’t feel like wearing shoes. My dance school has a very relaxed uniform policy so I’m allowed to do this, but if your school has a uniform code, it’s best to follow that first.
Dance-wear/Clothes
As with the dance shoes, what you wear to class depends on the style and the uniform code of your dance school. For ballet, a leotard and pink tights are fairly standard. For jazz/contemporary/modern/hip-hop, it could be any combination of crop top, t-shirt, singlet, leggings, shorts, pants, etc. Essentially, just take with you something that you feel comfortable in and that allows you to move. I also like to take warm-ups for cooler days and a spare pair of socks or tights if I think I’ll need them.
For Muscles/Feet
Aching muscles and sore feet are an everyday occurrence for dancers, so I like keep a few things in my dance bag to help with that.
- Therabands/Resistance bands- I first started using these recovering from an ankle injury, but a lot of dancers use them to stretch and strengthen their feet. They come in a variety of strengths, work incredibly well and are generally pretty cheap. Dance-wear retailers often stock them, but I got mine from my physio. A definite must-have.
- Metsal cream- I discovered this one day after a particularly strenuous rehearsal and it’s helped me dozens of times since then. It’s basically a menthol cream that soothes sore muscles and joints, although I’ve noticed it works best on bigger muscles like quads, hamstrings and calves. It does have a very strong smell, but what I love about it is that it’s not oily and soaks into the skin super quickly. I generally put it on before I go to bed (even though the scent transfers to the sheets a little bit) and by morning my muscles feel so much better. It’s a life saver.
- A tennis ball- The humble tennis ball is actually a wonderful tool for rolling out the muscles in your feet. I have fairly big feet so for me, the size of the tennis ball works well to get rid of the bigger muscle knots. I never knew just how cramped the muscles in my feet were until I tried it. Again, life saver.
Other Bits and Pieces
To an outsider, the typical dance bag may appear to contain a great deal of useless junk, but these extra little things more often than not are fairly important.
- A small hair kit- including things such as hair elastics, bobby pins, hair nets, brushes and hairspray. It’s important to keep your hair under control during class, and you never know when you (or someone else) might need a spare.
- A small first aid kit- band-aids, sports tape, tissues, panadol, cotton buds/balls. You’d be surprised how often you need them.
- Deodorant- speaks for itself.
- Water bottle- at least 600mL, more if you can fit it.
- Small sewing kit- particularly handy for those that dance en pointe, but even if you don’t, ribbons/elastics sometimes need fixing. Better safe than sorry, right?
- Snacks- particularly for longer classes/rehearsals.
- Plastic bags- whether you need to isolate dirty shoes or prevent water spillage, you can never have too many.
Since my dance bag often accompanies me to musical rehearsals, I personally need some extra things that relate more specifically to that (such as my script/music and throat lozenges) because rehearsals obviously involve singing as well as dancing. Basically, if you need it, it should go in your dance bag.
That’s what I have inside my tool kit, what’s inside yours?
A Balancing Act
Last week I started my second semester of university, and consequently I’ve had to rise to the challenge of re-organising my life according to my new timetable. I learned from my rookie mistakes of last semester and decided to tweak a few things in my weekly routine, then to try them out and see where it got me. Funnily enough, the tiny changes made quite a difference. I ended up with more benefits than I’d expected- more sleep, extra motivation, less procrastination, more energy- and yet I’ve still got the same busy schedule that drained me last semester.
You may be wondering how this, though wonderful it may be, fits into my blog here. As any fellow theatre kid would know, activities such as dancing and musical theatre take up a lot of time. It’s not easy to factor rehearsals several times a week into study, work, social life, personal life and family life. It’s a balancing act, and sometimes the scales don’t always stay level.
Fear not, however, because there are tonnes of ways to get your life sorted. The only catch is that you and you alone are the only one who has the power to do this. Consider this post is your wakeup call, your call to action. I challenge you to stop procrastinating and give it a try. Get organised and watch your life change as balance is restored, with tips from a chronic procrastinator who’s been there and done that.
Sidestep Your Anxiety About Change
I will be the first to admit that I am a routine person. I exist for my routines, and absolutely hate when they get messed up or changed. It’s probably one of the biggest stress factors in my life. If, for example, I miss my train of a morning, I seem to convince myself that the day is ruined and that I will have bad luck until tomorrow, when my routine is restored. Ridiculous, I know, but- like many people- I don’t particularly like change.
That said, sometimes it’s best to act first and over-think later, and that’s exactly how I convinced myself to shake things up and try something new. Instead of waking up and debating with myself whether or not I should sleep for another 10 minutes, I force myself to get straight out of bed and start my day. Sure, later I might regret losing the extra sleep, but being relaxed in the morning instead of flustered and late definitely has its merits. If you throw caution to the wind, you’ll spend less time worrying and more time doing.
Plan Out as Much as You Can
Sit back and think about the things you do when you get up every morning. Chances are, you have a specific order in which you do everything. This routine, however, is probably not something you put a lot of thought into creating, it just happened subconsciously. As a result of this, it’s likely that your current way of doing things may not be the most efficient.
The obvious answer here is to go out of your way to make your routine efficient- plan it. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like a nice new diary or calendar to get me in the mood for some well organised efficiency. Obvious though it may seem, planning is the key to balancing a busy life. In this modern day and age, there’s a plethora of methods for keeping your life organised, and it pays off to utilise whichever ones will work best for you. While I could easily write an entire post on planning tools, here’s a summary of the usual ones:
Electronic planners/calendars
Very modern and very useful, with practically endless benefits. Electronic planners are easy to use, easy to organise, will send you reminder notifications and can be synced across several devices. The only downside is that batteries run out and devices can break, leaving you to forget all the meticulous planning you did.
Diaries
For some people (like myself), it’s easier to remember things when they’re written down. You’re also free to be as neat, messy or colourful as you like, however, diaries can sometimes be a little bulky and the only way you’ll know you’ve got an appointment is if you look (I’m sure you can see the potential for forgetfulness there).
Calendars
Another, more old-fashioned organisational tool, the humble calendar is great for visual people. Put it somewhere that you’ll see regularly and notice a reduction in the amount of times you double-book yourself.
To-do lists
There are few things as satisfying as checking tasks off a list. See your progress and feel suitably accomplished- it’s wonderfully motivating.
Planning is not merely limited to physical tools, either. Mental planning and thinking ahead are just as effective and work wonders for revitalising an old daily routine. Plan outfits, pack bags and set out items you’ll need the night before; check for travel delays; keep to a mental schedule as you get ready in the morning. Even the small things make a difference.
Multi-task Wherever Possible
By this I don’t mean listening to music as you’re scanning your Facebook feed and messaging your friends, all while you try to study (let’s be real, that never works). I’m talking about utilising your otherwise wasted time. Here’s a few ways that I do this:
- Incidental exercise. Make the effort to walk wherever you can. Walking between classes, walking to the bus stop or getting lunch from a little further away will help. Believe it not, this counts as exercise. It may not quite compare to an intense gym session, but it makes all the difference if you try and keep yourself moving. You’re both exercising and getting somewhere, talk about 2 birds with one stone.
- Use travel time wisely. If you commute anywhere, particularly on public transport, you’ll know how much time can be wasted travelling. Instead, use your travel time for something when you can. Check your social media (instead of doing while you’re trying to get ready), wake yourself up further with some good music, finish off that homework you forgot about. The choice is yours.
- Never wait idly. Instead of staring blankly at the coffee machine as your wonderful caffeinated beverage is being brought to life, make and eat your breakfast while you wait. Little things like this might seem obvious, but morning-zombie-you may not think of them at the time. Get into the habit, and be amazed at how those 5 minutes you saved add up.
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
Let’s face it, an overhaul of your daily habits is a daunting prospect and unfortunately, it may not work the first time around. In fact, it may not work the first few times around. Personally, it took me numerous failed attempts over about 7 or 8 months to establish a routine that worked for me, but now that I’m not stressing over the small things, life is that little bit more manageable- I actually have more time than I thought and it’s fantastic. The old trial-and-error method can take time, but in the long run, it’ll help you see the results and get your busy lifestyle under control.
Happy organising!
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The Shoes of the Trade- Chorus Shoes
During the chaos of final rehearsals for a musical I was recently in, there were lots of queries about the shoes we were supposed to wear. Of course, shoe requirements are different for every costume and every show, but one of the most common styles required is the ever-versatile chorus shoe.
What are Chorus Shoes?
The chorus shoe is a very basic women’s stage shoe. Made of leather or a similar synthetic material, these shoes are designed to be worn onstage and danced in. They have leather soles, a strap secured by a buckle and a heel that is typically between 1 and 3 inches high. Generally, they are sold in black and tan only, however, I’m sure you could find coloured pairs online somewhere. Essentially, your typical chorus shoe looks like this:
You can find these shoes at most dance wear and dance shoe retailers (Bloch and Capezio are two fairly common brands) and depending on where you are in the world, the price can range from about $70 to $130. They’re not cheap, however, most good quality dance shoes aren’t cheap anyway, but they will last if you look after them well.
I’ve also noticed that a few people tend to confuse chorus shoes with character shoes. These are two totally different styles (both of which are designed for dancing) although they look very much alike. Character shoes are a black canvas shoe with a small heel (about 1 inch or so), secured by a strip of pink elastic just below the ankle. These shoes are actually designed for ‘character’ style dance, which is actually part of classical ballet repertoire and is also taught for the RAD ballet syllabus. Character shoes look something like this:
As you can see, they are quite different from chorus shoes, however, either can be worn as a stage shoe. Whichever shoe you chose to wear, check with your production team or costume coordinator about what shoes they want you to wear. It will save you quite a bit of time and money, I promise.
Styles of Chorus Shoe
The cool thing about chorus shoes is that they come in a wide variety of styles. The style doesn’t really affect the the functionality of the shoe but rather the way it fits the dancer. Different styles of chorus shoe will suit different shapes of feet, and like any shoe, the only way to know what works for you is the old trial-and-error method. That said, here’s a few common styles. (Note- all these examples are Bloch shoes which can be found on their website).
The Standard Chorus Shoe
This type of chorus shoe has a tonne of variations and is available with many different sizes, heights and heel/toes shapes. The only rule is to pick a shoe that suits your personal needs. For example, I personally wear Bloch Broadway Hi with a 3 inch heel. This style slims my wide feet, emphasises my low arches and the higher heel lengthens and extends my lines. As I said, chose what works best for you.
The Split Chorus Shoe:
A style of chorus shoe designed for more experienced dancers. It has a gap between the heel and toe of the upper, allowing for greater articulation of the feet and extension of lines. This type of shoe also has a higher heel and best suits a slimmer, stronger foot.
The T-Bar Chorus Shoe:
A standard shape chorus shoe with a strap that sits vertically over the arch, going from the front of the shoe and connecting to the ankle strap. Again, these come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with the T-bar adding some extra stability and a slimming, elongating effect on the leg line.
When Do You Wear Chorus Shoes?
Chorus shoes can be worn for a number of different things. They are most commonly worn as rehearsal or costume shoes for dance routines and in musical theatre shows (both amateur and professional). While some professional performers may have shoes made specifically for their costumes, they sometimes also wear regular chorus shoes as opposed to flats when they are rehearsing. Chorus heels can also be worn for character, or tap plates can be attached to transform them into tap shoes. They can even be worn as street shoes! They are definitely one of the most versatile dance shoes out there.
Dancing in Chorus Shoes
When I first started dancing in chorus shoes, it took me quite a while to adjust to them. Unsurprisingly, dancing in heels is a very different experience to dancing in flats, and there is definitely a bit of a knack to it. Here’s a few tips on getting used to your new shoes.
1. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet.
The main difference between normal dance shoes and chorus shoes is the heel. Having a heel on the shoe will change your centre of gravity, affecting your balance and therefore your ability to do things like turn, kick and hold extensions. Like wearing normal heels, keeping your weight forward on the balls of your feet (as if you were standing on demi-pointe without shoes) will give you more control over your balance and make it much easier for you to dance.
2. Rehearse as much as possible in chorus shoes.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. I have made the mistake of only practicing in my chorus heels a week before opening a show, and I can tell you it really affected my performance. Rehearsing in your shoes will not only help you adjust to them but it will also break them in, making them more flexible and comfortable for you come performance time.
3. Scuff the soles for extra grip.
The leather soles of some chorus shoes can be incredibly slippery when they’re new. This problem is easily solved by slightly scuffing the sole of the shoe for a bit more grip. This can be done with a piece of sandpaper or simply by walking on a rough surface (e.g. asphalt, pavement, etc). Be careful when scuffing the soles not to damage the shoe or it may shorten the life of your chorus shoes.
And there you have it, the chorus shoe explained. Now you’re ready to go out and own the stage!
Mind Over Matter
The human mind is an incredibly powerful thing. Thanks to your mind, you can read these words right now. For a dancer, the mind is no less important than it is for anyone else. Sure, the body is the dancer’s main tool, but without the mind, the body cannot function. So how exactly can you harness the mind’s power to improve your dancing? Here are my tips.
Think. Positive. Thoughts.
I’ll be the first to admit I’m a pessimist, but even I’ll admit positivity has a lot going for it, particularly for a dancer. Dancers are trained to endlessly critique themselves. They do this to understand their mistakes and shortcomings in order to improve as much as possible the next time around. This kind of thinking, however, is a bit of a double-edged sword. It may help you improve, but it can also build a barrier between you and your potential.
Last term in dance class, I found myself warning my teacher before everything I did, telling her that I either couldn’t do it or that I was going to mess it up. I was right, and I did mess up most of the time. It got to the point where I was saying things like this so often that my teacher had to tell me to stop. I was not allowed to voice my negative thoughts about my abilities, and she challenged me to keep it up over the next term of class. I raised an eyebrow but said I’d try it anyway.
Funnily enough, it worked. Though my skills are far from perfect, I was at least giving things a try and I regularly surprised myself with what I can really do. Self-critiquing is still important of course, but next time you’re faced with a trick or skill you’re not sure about, try it anyway. You may also be surprised.
Perfection is unachievable. Accept it.
Sorry fellow perfectionists, but it’s true. If you’re anything like me, you spend hours staring at pictures on the internet of professional dancers, drooling over their lines, flexibility, turnout, feet, bodies, everything. They’re stunningly beautiful, but even they’re not perfect. They still have to go to class every day, they still get corrected during rehearsals, they still make mistakes. If they deal with that every day, its perfectly normal for you to be dealing with it too.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be working towards something. In fact, creating and working towards certain goals (which I will talk about in a minute) is one of the most effective ways to become a better dancer. Goals, however, generally work a whole lot better if they’re achievable. Just about every dancer will count perfection as a legitimate and reachable objective, but thanks to our ability to endlessly analyse and criticise ourselves, we will always find something new to work on. We’ll never really get there.
In the end, perfection will be no closer than it was before, and that’s the problem. It may feel like you’re going nowhere, or that you’re overwhelmed by this enormous task you’ve set yourself, or that you’re always, always inadequate. It’s incredibly demoralising, but it’s not true. You’re perfectly capable. It’s just sometimes a little hard to see when you’re blinded by the light of perfection a fair way off in the distance.
Make goals. Revel in your progress as you achieve them.
Do you remember your first ever dance class? Rehearsal? Performance? If you do, chances are, you had no clue what you were doing at the time. Even if you did, you were probably more focused on enjoying the experience rather than critiquing yourself. Ever stopped to think just how far you’ve come since that day?
You’ve grown, your skills have improved, you’ve learned, and that’s the point. You could have been born with all the talent in the world, but you’re always going to have more to learn, and that’s completely okay, but every now and again it helps to sit back and appreciate your progress. Goals are a dancer’s most useful tool for this. The trick to effective goal-setting is making them challenging yet achievable, and to keep setting more goals once you achieve them.
Once you do reach a goal, however, celebrate it. Celebrate in whatever way you want to. Indulge in a treat, have a small rest, tell a friend, take a photo. Whatever you do, revel your progress. You did it, you set out to achieve something and you did it. If that’s not worth celebrating, then I don’t know what is.
I’m A Dancer
“I’m a dancer.”
Regardless of why I’m speaking or to whom I’m speaking, I quite often find myself answering questions with that same little phrase.
“So what do you do for fun?”
“I’m a dancer.”
“Why can’t you come out this weekend?”
“I’m a dancer.”
“Why don’t you play sport?”
“I’m a dancer.”
“How can you wear heels that high?”
“I’m a dancer.”
I say it as a reflex now, and when I sit back and think about it, that really does say a lot about me. To quote a cliche, dance is not a hobby but a lifestyle, and its a lifestyle I’m definitely proud to live. The thing is though, I’m not a professional and I don’t think I ever will be. I’m really just another teenager with a laptop, an internet connection and way too much time on my hands. That said, I still have some good knowledge about all things performance, and so it occurred to me, why not share it?
I’ve been doing a fair bit of dancing and performing for about 10 years now, and in that time I’ve had many a vital question. The ever-reliable internet helped me answer some of these but many went unanswered, leaving me to wander vaguely along on my journey to find the answers for myself. The pearls of wisdom that have helped me along the way have come from a lot of unlikely places- advice from a friend, a tip from a teacher, an improvised solution to a present problem, a spontaneous idea weaving through the words and choreography in my head. However they come, I’m grateful for them, and they’ve definitely helped me out a lot.
In essence, that’s why I started this little blog. To be your pearl of wisdom, helping you along on your journey and to find the elusive answers to your dance and performance questions. So I invite you to join me on my adventures from the studio to the stage and back again, as I share with you what I know and encourage you to do the same!
If there’s one thing I’ve always known, it’s that I am and alway will be a dancer.
Are you?
The Dressing Room Mirror 