It’s fifteen minutes until showtime, and you can’t keep your knees from shaking. The routine you’ve practiced so often seems to have disappeared from your memory. These feelings of stage fright are common, and many performers experience this anxiety before the show. Use these tips to fight off that stage fright and put on an amazing baton twirling performance!

• Rehearse: Rehearsals are vital to avoiding stage fright. If you know the routine so well that you can do it in your sleep, then you don’t have to worry about forgetting a move on stage. Show up to as many scheduled rehearsals as you can and continue to practice your twirling at home. When it’s finally showtime, you’ll be confident that you can hit the moves.
• Visualize the show: Calm your nerves by imagining the performance in detail. Close your eyes and picture the music, your routine, the stage, and the cheering audience. Don’t think of making a mistake or dropping your baton! If you can imagine a well-executed performance beforehand, it will be easier to believe in yourself on stage.
• Improvise: Everyone makes mistakes on stage, even after extensive rehearsals. Don’t panic if you do the wrong move. The audience doesn’t know the choreography, but they will be able to tell if you pause or look panicked. Keep smiling and act as though your mistake is supposed to be part of the show. The audience will never know.
• Focus your energy: That nervous energy doesn’t have to be paralyzing. Take that sudden rush of adrenaline and direct it toward your performance. If you treat that energy as excitement, you’ll be more focused and put on an energetic show.

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Posted: 6/20/2016

You’ve practiced the choreography so often that you see it in your dreams, and now it’s time to take that routine to the stage. Putting on a dazzling baton twirling performance that will amaze your audience takes more work than knowing the steps. You’ve probably been told to “smile” on stage thousands of times, but there’s more to a performance than a smiling face. Here are some things you can add to your performance that you haven’t thought of.

• Practice without a mirror: Performing on stage is nothing like practicing where you can see yourself. To prepare yourself, practice your routine without a mirror. This will help you learn how the moves feel without having to rely on the mirror for proper placement.
• Your eyes are as important as your smile: Do you remember those photographs where your family forced you to smile? Chances are, it didn’t look as natural as the photo taken when you were laughing at a joke. A stage performance is the same way. Practice an “open” expression by slightly lifting your eyebrows to portray emotion that extends past your smile.
• Dance as part of a group: You’re never alone when you’re on stage. Whether you’re dancing as part of a group or by yourself, interacting with others is important for an engaging show. Make eye contact with group members and your audience to spread your energy to those around you.
• Be confident!: You’ve poured your heart into practicing your routine, so be proud of your effort and hold your head high! The audience doesn’t know the choreography and can’t tell if you make a mistake. When you show confidence in your twirling, you are telling your audience that you are amazing and know how to twirl like a pro.

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Posted: 6/9/2016