Not everyone’s Irish dancing journey starts with feis’ in their childhood years. Many dancers decide to try it later in life as a hobby or to reconnect with Irish culture. Because of this, performance may not be second nature to them like it is for many competitive dancers.
As a dancer, there is nothing more rewarding than entertaining an enthusiastic audience. But learning the art of performance can be challenging when you don’t have the experience of performing to audiences at competitions.
Dancing for fun is what our school, The New York Studio of Irish Step Dance, is all about. Whether you are learning how to point your toe for the first time or getting back into the game following a decade-long hiatus, we’ve put together some tips to help you perform to live audiences, whether it’s on stage, at a wedding or even live on television.
Stage presence is everything
You are the one performing, not just your feet. Connecting with your audience is key, and that means using eye contact, maintaining your smile, and using your whole body. The way you conduct yourself from the moment you enter a venue is also considered part of the performance. That means be professional as you wait your turn to dance, whether it’s in the stage wings or on the side of a wedding dance floor. The times your feet aren’t moving are just as important as when they are.
Head up, shoulders back, chest out
Not only does using your upper body show confidence, but it also helps maintain good posture. Focusing on abdominal and back workouts can help maintain good posture. And don’t look at your feet while dancing – it only makes you look unsure!
Be precise from head to toe
Precision and accuracy can’t be overlooked just because your audience isn’t familiar with Irish dancing. In fact, ensuring arch strength and turnout are of the utmost importance for TV performances when cameras focus on your feet. Similarly, don’t forget to perform with your whole body. Cameras sometimes record from the chest up, so you need to show that Irish dancing is a full body performance, even if your arms are by your side. The accuracy and sharpness of your arm and hand movements are also essential to fit in with a lineup. Even a non-dancer will notice if one person is clapping in front of their face while another is clapping by their chest.
Be ready to speak
Dancing is half the battle – but some performances may also include interactive audience Q&As. Try not to overthink things, but also do your homework in advance. Think about your audience and what questions may come your way. Try to have fun with it and don’t take it too seriously. News anchors in particular are always there to have fun and usually looking to banter with the dancers.
Rehearse for twice as long and a for mock audience
If you are dancing a three minute group routine, practice it twice with only a two minute break in between. Television performances could last for four hours with only short breaks scattered throughout. While dancers may only need to prepare a 30 second segment, they may need to dance it 10 times. You could be waiting for hours and then be asked to dance the same thing over and over again. The end product is an amalgamation of performances as the camera crew captures different angles, but your heart rate is off the charts. Focusing on increasing stamina is critical. You should also get used to dancing in front of an audience and not use a mirror as a crutch. Friends and family are usually happy to be a practice audience.
Prepare to dance on different floors and at varying sizes
Dancing on concrete? Stretch to prevent injury. Dancing on slippery tiles? Tape the bottoms of your shoes including the heels. Dreaming of a bigger dance floor? Make the most of it and travel with your skips, spins and jumps. Crammed in a tiny pub? This is where your charm engages an audience, but also keep those hard shoe beats as precise as possible as you can’t win anyone over with big jumps. Performing is all about being versatile and adaptable, and working with what you’re given.
Details matter
Your audience will notice the details. Everything down to the shade of tights worn needs to be consistent across dancers. Let the focus be on your dancing and not your mismatched wardrobe. It will make everything look more professional and keep the troupe cohesive.
Keep dancing
Irish dancers are perfectionists by nature, but don’t let mistakes in performances get to you. The real mistake is letting the blissfully unaware audience in on your little secret. Keep dancing and make something up if you need to before finding your place back in the routine. Stopping not only makes the audience aware of a mishap, but could also confuse fellow dancers who may not know whether to continue. Practice dancing nonstop in class – regardless of mistakes – to make a habit of doing so at performances.
And the most important part is to land that ending. No one remembers half the steps you danced, but they always remember how it ended. Keep smiling, point and bow, and walk off that stage with your head high before guzzling a bottle of water backstage. It is amazing what we are capable of with the right mindset.
Never forget that fun is key – if the audience thinks you’re stressed then that takes away from the fun. Dance your heart out and share that passion with the world. Your audience will only have as much fun as you do!
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