June 9, 2008

This entry, while written for anyone attending our show TransforMotion this weekend, is actually written for the 127 dancers participating in this event.  Not to exclude the 17 choreographers, Bubba, Tim, Paulina, Michael, Marni, Rick nor the many volunteers involved, as I move through these days - performing my role in this production, my thoughts constantly gravitate to the dancers - especially those making their performance debut as well as those relatively new to this experience. 

Maybe I am empathically picking up the energy: I can't possibly be the ONLY one not sleeping so well at night.  In the week leading up to the show, thoughts of your performance will consume you.  Like a new love: it will be the last thing on your mind when you fall asleep and the first thing you will think of when you wake up.  Anxiety may be your companion as you run through every variation of what might happen to you on stage.  Here's what you might be wondering: 

1. will I forget the choreography?

2. will I fall?

3. will I embarrass myself?

4. will I get stage fright?

5. do I look bad/silly in my costume?

6. aren't I too old for this?

7. will the pros make me look bad?

So I thought maybe I could address some of these concerns.  While I cannot tell you with certainty that none of these things will happen (except #5 - that is a certainty), let me give you some assurances with supporting data.

1. You will not forget the choreography.  Believe me, by now you know it in your sleep and most certainly have done it in your sleep many times.  Repetition takes the mind out of the equation.  Your body knows what to do and with the adrenaline on high, it will shut down your thoughts and draw you into the moment where nothing but the present exists.  The light show, the music, the experience will so overwhelm your senses that for the few minutes this goes on, you will be carried by it.  The downside here is that your recollection of the actual performance may not be sharp - which is why we are video tapping the show for you.

2. The likelyhood of you falling is very very very small - unless you are tired - and even then, it's not likely.  Please get plenty of rest and sleep on Thursday and Friday nights. The good news is that if you do fall, there is a high probability the audience will not perceive it.  They may think it's part of the choreography.  No kidding.  I dislocated my knee and snapped  my ACL on stage in 1999 and nobody noticed it.  Not even the dancers onstage next to me - some of which didn't notice I was missing! I was performing in a state of fatigue - don't make this mistake!  Rest!!!

3. You can only look silly if what you are doing is out of place, out of context.  There is no movement in the show that hasn't already been carefully pre-meditated and applied.  However, if you decide to ditch the choreography you've learned in favor of making your own choreographic debut, all bets are off.  If there was any chance of you looking silly, your choreographer would have corrected it.  So cross this off your list.

4. No, no and no.  You will not get stage fright before these performances.  Let me tell you why:  you won't get that far.  If you are so inclined, you will experience it during tech and dress rehearsal - before opening night.  And if you do, you will not be capable of performing in the show.  Consider this:  On stage you will not be able to see the audience for the most part.  You will feel them and hear them, but hardly see them.  When you run through your piece during dress rehearsal, it will feel almost exactly as how it's actually going to feel.  If you don't get stage fright then, chances are highly highly likely you won't experience it at all.

5. I guaranteed your costume looks good and is appropriate for your piece.

6. On stage you are ageless.  No one, other than those that know you, will have any idea how old or young you are nor will they spend anytime trying to figure that out. 

7. I could write a book on this one.  First of all, your choreographer does not have you doing anything you are not suited to do by training.  The pros will make you look good.  They will help keep the choreography clean, sharp and on point and their energy will spill over onto you (as yours will spill onto them).

Bottomline: unless it's a matter of survival, anxiety is a non productive waste of time (easy for me to say, right?).  It's going to be an amazing show.  The video backdrops, lighting, costumes, movement and sound are so powerful, it's going to be a surreal experience for you, one you will never forget.  Savor this moment in time, be present and enjoy.  This experience will transform you.  Ofelia