Kevin Dowsett
Artistic Director of Theatretrain writes
Many parents know the value of being confident in public. There are moments in all our lives where the ability to speak up in front of others is important. This could be a job interview or making a speech at a wedding. Being able to express yourself and being at ease is not a skill we are automatically born with. But if you sing, dance or act when you are young you begin to find your space, your voice, your sense of yourself in what you do.
At Theatretrain performance is one of the essential tools to teach our students about confidence. By rehearsing material, you become familiar with it. You learn how to fit in with the team and without realising it your confidence grows. As a by-product you also learn to be very supportive of the people around you as they are of you.
Acting classes, singing lessons and dance classes have to lead to that time where you face an audience. If you have prepared well you begin to feel nervous. Even the top performers in the world have these feelings. In fact, it is that very nervousness that makes you good at stepping before people. It indicates that you care about what you are doing. If you just breeze through everything in life without a bother you are more likely to be an arrogant, self-centred person. If you face up to nerves as you wait at the side of the stage you are dealing with a vital life skill – the ability to be calm in a stressful situation.
Every performing arts teacher knows that it is all about developing good habits. There is real benefit from facing fear when you perform and conquering the butterflies in the tummy. It becomes easier the more you do it and as every performer knows, the nerves disappear when you step onto the stage. That’s because you have more important things to think about. So, the stress is before the event with the 101 things that crowd into your head. The act, dance, sing thing gives you endless opportunities to overcome the main thing that can hold you back – YOU!
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