What is the best way to stop nerves?

Question

I have a dancing exam on Sunday, and for the past 3 exams i have felt incredibley nervous causing me to forget my dance and my body turns to jelly.

If i'm stressed or worried about something else, then i can dance fine (ballroom and latin dancing), but as soon as i realise this, i turn back to dancing craply again.

My teacher finds it very hard to dance with me if this happens.

Could anybody give me any ideas or tips on how to calm these nerves?

Also i was wondering if anyone could give me any tips on how to stand up properly as apparently i "slouch"! lol

any tips would be helpful for me to improve my mark- i wanna pass my exam with a higher mark!!!

I am dancing the girls part (following) however with my other partner i i dance the boy's part (lead).

On sunday i am following and will be dancing foxtrot, tango and quickstep. I have been dancing since i was 5 (now 16)and i am at Silver level (if that means anything to you! lol) but because of my age and my experience they always add higher graded steps.

I have alot of experience and was invovled in competitions with my partner which i did ok in.

Hope this extra info is of any help! =) thnx for ur answers so far!

Answer 1

Try to pretend you're just practicing when you're doing it and it should come at ease. Or get in a mind set where you feel you're the best. If you act nervous, you're dance nervous. If you act your best, you'll dance your best. I know it seems easier to say than do, but just try to get it in your head, and see what happens. As far as slouching, chin up! Keep your chin up, it'll help you with your posture. Arch your shoulders back.

Answer 2

The worst thing that is screwing you up is you are nervous beforehand, like even now. Instead of telling yourself all this stuff like your body turns to jelly, tell yourself that you are standing up straight. Every time this "jelly" thought comes to your mind, stand up straight, or at least sit straight in your chair. If you think you forget all your steps - well just keep repeating the steps on your spare time, at all times. This really helps, because this way you know that you are doing everything you can to succeed; anything that is beyond that is beyond your control, there is nothing more you can do to make yourself dance better at this point in time, therefore, there is no point in worrying.

As for good posture - that develops with time and practice. I don't know how much you know, and what is your level. You didn't specify what is more troublesome - Latin or Standard (Standard is more likely), but it would help if you said exactly when do you slouch. Maybe ask your teacher that question - exactly when do you slouch? In general, good posture in ballroom starts with forward poise (except Tango). That is, you should be able to lift your heels off the ground when you are taking your dance stance. Every movement should originate from your center (abdominal area). Stand on your own legs, don't rely on your teahcer/partner. Add more details if you want to hear more from me.

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For following in Standard I'd recommend not being afraid to be vertical. We all want to produce big pictures and tend to arch the back - well don't do that, I'm sure you know it's bad. It slows you down.

For swing dances (W/Q/F) The way to check your posture is to stand 2 inches away from the wall facing the wall (better yet - punching bag because it is shaped like a body), and touch your lower and upper ribs to the wall. Then add a little rotation to it - head to the left, body to the right.
A good image for posture is to pretend you are embracing a nice backet by your right arm and you are pulling silk scarf out of the backet with your left hand and and throwing them to the left of your head. Make it into a nice picture - and you have the best ballroom posture ever.

For Tango - you have to be really back-weighted. You should be standing on our heels. This makes Tango look like Tango - grounded, with stops and goes, as opposed to ballroom swing dances.

Answer 3

I think best thing to do is tell yourself that you will do fantastic and not worry about how bad you might end up doing.

Think of how well you're going to do and how everyone will enjoy watching how well you're doing.

The more you stress, the worse you'll do. Think of all your accomplishments so far and go with that positive thought and you'll do well.

Answer 4

a small glass of sherry cures all nerves