How do you deal with pre-performance jitters?

 Yvonne Marceau

(British Exhibition Champion)

If there was a big competition coming up I was better if I did something completely different the day before. I found if I went out social dancing and just had fun, I was more relaxed the next day. Also, I truly took the time to warm up my muscles, and I developed a system. The process of repeating that system had a calming effect on me. When events were delayed I didn’t get as nervous — it actually helped me relax. If we were supposed to be out there by 8:00 and we didn’t get on until 8:30, psychologically I just didn’t worry as much because, in my mind, the performance was over so I always danced better.

Maria Manusova

(Amateur Latin Champion)

Breathe!

Lynn Ferguson

(American Smooth Finalist)

Pre-performance jitters are good to a certain extent because when you stop getting them then you need to watch out. You need that little extra to get you going. Someone once told me that before you walk on the floor you take three deep breaths and blow out slowly and go. Another person told me to be completely focused and not talk to anyone before I went on the floor. That was probably my worst performance ever! I need to get out and go walking and do a little bit of exercise, and keep things as normal as possible. Warming up really well helps, and also eating. It’s amazing how many people don’t eat before they dance.

John Swick

(Coach and Adjudicator)

Everybody has to deal with it in their own way. You have to find the ratio of being able to concentrate on the performance enough  so that you don’t have enough energy left for the jitters. Old voice teachers that I’ve had told me to read The Inner Game Of Tennis. It talks about how to find what your enemy is. What is causing your jitters? Your own feelings of insecurity, the insecurity about the performance, or is it about doing something that you think is beyond what you’re ready for. You have to find out what those opposing forces are, then find a way of omitting them out of the process. It’s different for everyone. No two people find it the same way. You have to find your own way to get over it. We naturally short circuit and we don’t even know it, or don’t know why, without going into twenty-five years of therapy.

Randy Ferguson

(American Smooth Finalist)

I think it’s hard not to have some type of jitters when you get out there but it can’t affect you too much. You have to find your own niche. Everybody is different. Through the years I’ve developed different ways. I like to just walk around and talk to people. I don’t stand and think about the performance. If you just go out there and you’re prepared it will happen.

Eugene Katsevman

(Amateur Latin Champion)

Hold in and try to imagine yourself on the floor dancing your best.

Gilbert Wenham

(Adjudicator, Competition Organizer)

That’s hard for me because I never had them. Do breathing exercises and meditation. Don’t eat heavily, don’t take medication. Don’t practice just before you go on because if you make a little mistake that’s the one thing that will be on your mind and you’re bound to screw it up!

John Abrams

(American Rhythm Finalist)

Look into your partner’s eyes, take a deep breath and bend your knees.

Perri Adair

(Coach and Adjudicator)

As a coach I try to take the jitters to me. When I was competing I tried to think of each performance as a show, not a competition. The people are here to see you and enjoy you. The judges are here to critique you and place you. But if you think of it as a show I believe you’ll do a better performance.

Herb Vasquez

(American Rhythm Competitor)

Occupy those moments before you have to go on the floor with other things, like praying, a hobby, or reading. Focus on the things that your coaches have told you that will help you dance your best, not on the negative things that are going to make you mess up.

Originally published in DanceNotes by Christine Zona

About the Author:
A health major in college, Christine Zona has always been interested in physical, emotional and mental wellness. She is currently working on combining her dance expertise and healthy lifestyle knowledge to give dancers a lifestyle program that will increase their energy, enhance their performance and reshape their bodies.

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