Follow Kirsten DeAlmeida on Instagram @cheer.kir

Photo G2 Expressions

At a dance competition or audition, one of the most important things we can do is to dance with confidence. Confident dancers are always the ones that win! But how do we dance with more confidence? Especially if we are nervous or unsure on the inside? Here are some tips for overcoming those nerves and dancing with more confidence:

First, put as much time into practicing at your studio as possible. This may seem like a given, but it's worth mentioning. The more practice you put in, the more naturally confident you will be on stage!

Next, for those few minutes that you are on stage in front of the judges, fully commit to playing the character from your dance. For me, being able to play someone else on stage also really helps calm my nerves. But how do you play someone else effectively? I like to listen to my music over and over and create a complete story in my head. What is the character from the music feeling, thinking, and doing? Then I use facials, movements, and mood to bring that character to life on stage. This is one of the best ways to boost your score and captivate your audience.

And finally, remember that although technique is important, there really is no right or wrong in dance. Dance is about expression through movement, and if you fully commit to your own style of movement, that will shine through as pure confidence on stage!

BE ORIGINAL! BE YOU! And SLAY!

Kristen