Special Performing Opportunities at Dance Unlimited
Author: Kathy Miller
Hearts are pounding faster than usual… a few butterflies flit in stomachs. “What if we forget what we’re supposed to do?!”
Performing for an audience adds an extra layer of excitement and suspense to dance. Dance, like other art forms, is a communicative act. We can study the technique and enjoy the exercise, but dance is truly a mode of expression— a way for us to use our bodies to communicate to our audience like verse on a page, paint on a canvas, or notes provoking feelings through vibrations floating across a space. What it is we are communicating is up to the choreography, but, to be able to communicate effectively through movement takes a great deal of practice and confidence.
“Performance” is actually a skill that needs to be practiced and refined, similarly to a new leap or pattern across the studio. Practicing to perform requires students to focus on learning choreography, which also helps improve memory function. Dancers have to be quick thinkers and be able to recover from mistakes with resiliency while maintaining composure— these are excellent skills for many aspects of life, including academics and work projects. So many things can (and do) happen unexpectedly on stage and in life, and this resiliency and adaptability are quite beneficial.
Anxiety on stage and in life
Another significant way performing strengthens us is by helping us cope with our anxiety. We have to brave our stage fright and, when we have success in the face of this anxiety, we gain confidence that will help us be less fearful of the next challenge.
There are so many great reasons that performing is great for students! The difficulty with this is that, especially for young and aspiring dancers, there are typically limited opportunities to practice performing. It is up to teachers and studios to create occasions for our students to hone these valuable skills.
Dance Unlimited performance opportunities
Dance Unlimited in Tiffin Ohio offers several opportunities for performance for various groups of dancers. We are all very aware of the annual year-end production at the beautiful Ritz Theater. But there are opportunities some of us may not realize, and we will highlight those here:
Our youngest students have monthly “family watching days” so students can show family members what they’ve been working on in class. Families with students in sports often have many chances to see their children participate. Without these kinds of options for dance families, we are left wondering how our children are doing and the kind of progress they are making. These class watching days enable families to support their children and see the incremental growth as the year progresses.The students also love being able to show what they’ve learned and even getting mom, dad, grandma, or anyone they can onto the dance floor with them!
Our older, more advanced ballet students present their annual Winter Showcase performances each December. The students have fun working on exercises set to festive holiday music that culminates in a special performance for family with a celebratory reception afterward. Additionally, Advanced Ballet performs a special event called “Frosty and Friends,” highlighting some of their holiday favorites for younger students and community children. This event helps the advanced students push themselves to work harder in the first semester. They must be dedicated and attend class regularly and practice rigorously to be prepared. This showcase fosters leadership and role modeling in our studio. The older dancers set the example of effort and fulfillment, and it inspires younger dancers to see where their journey could lead if they continue their efforts.
New this year, Dance Unlimited “treated” the Tiffin community to a “Spook and Groove” Halloween-themed showcase at the downtown amphitheater in October. This performance was a great way for teachers and students to jump-start the year with a fun challenge to create a presentation in a condensed time frame. The dancers had the additional challenge of performing in a unique outdoor atmosphere, which teaches us versatility and maintaining composure when the conditions are unexpected.
Performing isn’t just fun— it is a great way for children to gain valuable skills within a skill. By working to develop the various aspects needed to be effective and confident performers, we cultivate so many helpful attributes that will follow us for life, and we see the support watching us from the audience.
