Feelings of nervousness are common before an upcoming ballet recital. It’s how you react to them that counts. The rush of adrenaline that nervous dancers experience is a sign the body is getting ready for action. Here’s some advice to help subdue nerves about performing.

5 Tips for Overcoming Recital Jitters

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice makes perfect. Putting time and effort into dance routines leads to muscle memory. Steps and movements eventually become easier to perform with repetition. Muscle memory allows dancers to focus more on enjoying a performance and less on remembering steps.

2. Take Time to Relax

Get a good night’s sleep before performances. If you can’t fully relax, draw a bath and soak in the warmth. Giving the body time to wind down is restorative and eases anxiety.

3. Repeat a Comforting Phrase

Words have the power to change mindsets. If you start to feel a little anxious, speak the words from a favorite quote or verse to yourself. Keep repeating them over and over until a sense of calm drives away any doubts.

4. Give Yourself a Pep Talk

Find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and say, “I can do this. Positive reinforcement, which boosts confidence, is necessary for any successful performance.

5. Listen to Music

Create a personal playlist. Listening to music in the hours leading up to a performance is relaxing and motivating. If there’s a musical genre that’s particularly soothing, add it to the mix. Music helps performers block out any distractions.

Give your children opportunities to perform by enrolling them in dance classes at Joan Garrett Dance Arts Studio in Newark, OH. They give each student individualized attention. Classes include jazz, hip-hop, tap, and ballet. Learn more about all this studio has to offer by visiting their website. To register for a class, call (740) 344-8789.