Preparing for A Dance Competition? Here Is How to Deal with Pre-Competition Nerves

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We bet you did your best to prepare for the big competition day! No matter whether you are a newbie or a seasoned dancer, almost everyone has experienced pre-competition nerves at one point in their lives.
Even if you have practiced your dance from the most well-known dance training center, it is natural to feel nervous. The truth is that pre-competition nerves can make a great deal of impact on your performance. However, if you take the time to understand what nerves are and know how to use them in your favor, you will see yourself one step ahead of the others.
Once you learn how the nervous process works in your body, you may find it easier to accept that nerves are an integral part of the competition. The trick is to use them to your advantage, though.

What are nerves?

From nervousness, you start feeling anxious and stressed. As a result, your body starts to feel some discomfort, preparing you for something that is about to happen.
Your body does not necessarily know if you are on a dancing stage or if it is your big day. Therefore, when you feel stressed, certain processes and chemical reactions take place in your body to protect you against danger and improve your odds of survival. You may have heard of the process called the fight or flight response.
It is a reaction that takes place in your body in response to a perceived event, threat, attack, or survival. No doubt, as a dancer, we are talking about preparing your body to compete on stage.
Lots of dancers have heavy legs before the competition. This happens because the body redirects the blood to the leg muscles to respond faster. Unfortunately, this causes one to feel like it is impossible to sit still.
All of these fight and flight responses are your body’s natural way to cope with a potentially dangerous situation. So instead of considering nerves an unpleasant feeling, learn to use them in your favor.

Acceptance

Accepting the fact that nerves will come is the first step towards overcoming your fear of competition. On competition day, try eating a whole food breakfast. It would be helpful to opt for easy-to-digest foods like fruits and liquids. As you are going to lose more fluids than usual, it is recommended to sip on sports drinks throughout the day to prevent dehydration and reduce the odds of pre-competition cramps.
It is essential that you do not let your nerves take the best out of you. Find your own pre-performance routine. Once you know what works best for you, it will be easier to calm your nerves. Remember, competition is a time when you show your friends and family that you have worked hard to achieve your goals. At Towson Dance Studio, we provide professional dancing lessons. If you find it interesting to join our class, please get in touch.