Why you have to keep smiling and dancing?

So.. the wedding is over, and we have successfully completed one year too. So I think its about time I start posting my articles about the beautiful world of dance and dancers. A dancer has to dance his/her way to the glory with a smile. People say 'Dance like no one is watching.' Agreed, but I, personally, would love to see a beautiful dance. After all its a performing art. My motto is - 'Dance like everyone would love to watch.'

My students performing laavni (indian folk dance)

It is so important how one presents him /herself while performing, be it physically or musically. It does not matter how you dance at a discotheque or in your bathroom. Nobody is judging you there because no one is looking at you (hopefully). But once you are on stage or on a social dancing floor you must have the composure of a dancer, even if you are not a great dancer. A teacher will always emphasize on your posture while dancing, follow it blindly. Unless you practice it in class, you wont have it on stage. Nobody wants to see a dull face with sluggish body posture. 

Dancing is all about emoting with face and expressing with the whole body. Here are some simple but important  dos and donts for the "first time" performers- timid and shy ones.

Dos:

1. Make a check list for performance from eye liner to shoes. Reach on time at the venue. Rehearse the routine if necessary.
2. Keep your costume and props ready with you. Eat one hour before the performance. Eat right, eat light. Hydrate yourself.
3. You know the music, you know the routine. Execute it. Use the whole stage if performing solo, or if in a group, use your dancing area without  coming in others way
4. Keep smiling. Your first dance is never going to be a serious/emotional ballet. Because you are not ready for it yet. It has to be a fun dance. Enjoy it. SMILE !!!
5. Look at the audience. Try to connect with them. Engage them to look at you only, amongst the whole dancing group. Its a skill, but you will eventually get there.



Belly Dancing at a workshop by my students

6. Keep the poise, posture intact. You might not be as graceful as your teacher or senior, but you are on stage, its your time to show off.

Donts:

1. Do not over rehearse on the day of performance. It will be exhausting and you won't be able to give your 100% on stage.
2. Do not overeat. You don't wanna puke on stage or feel stuffed and heavy.
3. Do not stop dancing and show it on your face if you forget a step or two or the whole routine. Keep grooving, look here n there a lil and pick up the steps.
4. Have a healthy chat with co dancers. Don't be scared and isolate yourself. While performing, do not cover other dancers or hide behind them. Do not look down and frown.
5. Do not play with your props, costume or face. You want that intact throughout the performance without having pieces of props or black eyes.
6. Do not blame your partner, teacher, organizers etc. for anything. You are always responsible for your own good or bad.

Following these rules will not only improve your confidence but your performance level too. After crossing these hurdles you will have a clean performance one day, flawless, hassle free. Then you can think of having a higher level course and may be performing professionally too. Rules may get tougher, routine may get difficult, but dancing will always remain beautiful. All you need is a little discipline, faith in what you are doing and patience.

But again, why am I sharing all this? Dance is not something just to talk about. Dance is to dance. So get up and dance and you'll know the reason behind my smile: D (haha...) Trust me, dancing will surely make you happier.

Keep smiling and keep dancing