We Irish dancers spend so much time and effort perfecting technique on stage, making sure our feet are turned out, crossed, toes pointed, so we can finish those last eight bars just as strongly as we started. But what about our faces? You may have heard the term “stage presence” or been told to smile, but does it actually matter? How important is our face to the overall performance? The Irish Dance Globe decided to find out.
We collected answers from anonymous TCRGs and ADCRGs to find out what they tell their students to do, and how important the face is from a judge’s perspective. We heard from 11 experts and, though they used different words, their answers were fairly consistent. Here are the top tips they shared with us.
Exude energy — not a look
Rather than having an exact goal for what a dancer must do with their face, it is more about the energy you exude. A dancer should look confident, comfortable, and pleasant, like they want to be there and are sure of what they are doing. When a dancer lacks confidence and it shows on their face, the audience picks up on their energy, and it becomes nerve-wracking to watch. Like any part of dancing, stage presence takes practice. A dancer needs to balance the fine line between appearing comfortable and confident without seeming arrogant or forced. So, how does a dancer actually achieve that confident look?
Confidence should look effortless
There was a consensus among the judges and teachers I spoke to that, though smiling is nice, it is not mandatory. A neutral expression is OK and preferable to an uncomfortable grimace or forced smile. But how does a dancer achieve this effortless, confident look? According to our aforementioned experts, a dancer should lengthen their neck, keep their eyes and head steady, and maintain a natural-looking smile if possible. It can be quite difficult to maintain a smile while dancing full-out on stage, so a dancer should at least smile when they first enter the stage. A little bit of eye contact with the judges is fine but not necessary (it can be intimidating for many!) Confidence comes across in the eyes.
Try not to overexert
Keeping all of these things in mind while also dealing with the physical exhaustion and nervousness that comes with dancing on stage can be difficult. It takes practice, just as dancing itself does, but dancers often make a few common mistakes when trying to achieve the right stage look. One is pushing the chin up too high. You want to portray confidence, not look like you are straining your neck and looking up at the ceiling. On the other end is looking down. It affects a dancer’s posture and can make them look like they lack confidence.
Steady heads and no faces
The head should look straight forward and move with the dancing. When a dancer moves their head either before or after a turn, it makes them look unsteady and out of control.
As for faces, dancers should absolutely avoid an overly cheesy, obviously forced smile or pained grimace. If you can see the effort the dancer is making to keep that smile, it does not look natural. Dancers should also try to avoid looking like they are angry (no “murder face”, as one dance teacher called it).
Let’s be honest, a dancer who looks like they are in pain while dancing is a little unsettling to watch! Another teacher added of dancing on injuries: “If you look like you are in pain because you are in so much pain it shows on your face, go see a doctor. You shouldn’t be dancing on it.” A few of the judges interviewed also strongly discouraged kissy faces and pouty lips.
Neutral is OK – a blank expression is not
Many dancers are told to smile. Yes, smiling is ideal, but not mandatory. A neutral expression is totally fine. The key is to look engaged and present during your performance. A serious or neutral expression can still exude the confidence a dancer hopes to present. However, dancers should avoid a blank expression, as if their mind is elsewhere and they are not truly present with their performance.
A few more pointers
Judges and teachers prefer to see dancers enjoying themselves, but there is room for a dancer’s unique personality to come through, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all approach to what a dancer should be doing with their face. A few things should definitely be avoided, though, because they distract from the performance. These include eyes wandering around, up or down. This can make a dancer look unconfident. Also, try to avoid sticking your tongue out (it is easy for dancers to do it without noticing because they are focusing so hard!). Dancers who wear glasses on stage should ensure they are fully secure. Pushing or adjusting glasses on stage was noted as a distracting behavior.
Dancing comes first
At the end of the day, the dancing is what’s most important. The facial expression is just one piece of the overall presentation. One judge noted that they don’t pay attention to a dancer’s face unless they are doing something extreme or unusual (such as the above-mentioned kissy face, murder face, over-the-top strained smile, or look of great pain). If you struggle to find the right on-stage face, you’re not alone. As silly as it may feel, practising your facial expression even when dancing at home or in the studio will help you feel comfortable and confident on stage. As performers, dancers should practice every aspect of performance, which includes facial expressions.
