Stage Presence Tweet Tips

 

Last month, I did a series of daily “tweet tips” on stage presence for belly dancers.

I got some great feedback on it, so I thought I’d share the full series in one place.
 
 
 

The tips:

1) Use “up and over” eye contact to reach the whole room. (Learn more)

2) Imagine your chest is full of energy, flowing through your arms, and out your fingertips.

3) Breathe with the music (h/t to ‪@AliaThabit‬)

4) Breathe with your movements: inhale when lifting/expanding, exhale when lowering/contracting.

5) Don’t worry about smiling – just separate your teeth. (Learn more) ‬

6) Not getting the love you need from the audience? Picture an imaginary friend. (Mine’s a clapping 4-year-old.)

7) Inhabit a persona – stately queen, earthy village girl, mysterious stranger…

8) Visualize your best self: how does she feel/stand/move? Next time you dance, put her on like a coat.

9) The audience is not waiting for you to fail. They WANT to enjoy your show.

10) Focus on how the dance FEELS, not how it looks. ‪(Learn more) ‬

11) Your eyebrows transmit your expression to the back of the room. Use eyebrow pencil.

12) Stop worrying about what the audience will think. Just connect with them.

13) Be *amazed* by everything you do (h/t ‪@AzizaShimmy‬)

14) If you mess up, remember: you meant to do that, and it was AWESOME!

15) Don’t fight your safety moves. Spend that attention on your stage presence. ‪(Learn more)

16) Hum along with the music as you dance (nobody will hear).

17) If you choreograph, write lyrics to “sing” along – keeps you engaged with the music as you dance.

18) Think about technique in the studio, not on stage.

19) If your fingers droop, imagine you’re wearing thai dance nails (or practice in them) ‪ ‬

20) Your dancing may need more kitty. ‪(Learn more) ‬

21) Or your dancing may need more puppy. ‪(Learn more)

22) Be thankful for the joy of movement. The audience will be too.

23) “Don’t just do something, stand there!” – Martha Graham

24) When you pause, tell the audience “wait for it…”

25) Make your pauses *delicious* (‪@RosaNoreen‬ can help)

26) Always pause in a pose. (This takes practice.)

27) Look at CD covers for posing ideas.

28) Don’t rely on mirrors: learn what “lift”, “tuck”, and “extend” FEEL like.

29) Talk to the audience in your head while you dance. (Learn more)

30) Just smile and GO FOR IT!
 

Reader-submitted tips:

@AliaThabit: Regard the audience with love and compassion

AmySmith: And do it again!
(Re: “If you mess up, remember: you meant to do that, and it was AWESOME!”)

Alia Thabit: I taught myself to laugh when I make “mistakes.” It was a lot easier than i thought it would be. I just decided and started doing it.
(Re: “Think about technique in the studio, not on stage.”)
 

Your turn

What are your favorite stage presence tips?

Share your thoughts in the comments.
 

How to get more

I’ll be doing another set of daily tips this month too, on another topic. December’s topic will be must-know music for belly dancers.

To get those, you can follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or search for the #MustKnowMusic tag on Twitter.