Thread: ~~The Shakes~~

I know that most of you out there are very seasoned bellydancers and probably don't have this problem, but if you ever did I'd be interested in hearing if there is any magic cure to "shakin it" (pun intended) ..l;, . My problem is I usually get the shakes when performing on a STAGE. It's most noticeable in my hands and I attribute it to nerves. The thing is I don't usually experience it when performing at parties (on the same level as the guests). I think it has something to do with ALL eyes being on me as opposed to just some eyes (at parties people are sometimes having their own conversations, etc).

All I know is we have our 3rd Student Showcase next Saturday and I don't want to shake!!!! Is there a trick? jumping up and down before? deep breaths? (tried this). Or is it all about experience and more of it? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Kim

I've been performing for just under 2 years and *still* get a little shaky sometimes. I just read a great quote, I think from Ozzy Osbourne, about how he still gets stage fright and sees it as a reminder that he still cares.

There's a few ways you can go with your shakes. When I'm hanging out in the dressing room, just before I'm ready to go on, I like do a soft, gentle shimmy for a minute or two, just to shake all the tension out.

Breathing deeply is also key. Ranya of NYC often emphasizes the importance of breathing. She says it's what keeps you looking approachable and receptive to your audience. Makes sense, because you tense up if you stop breathing normally.

If I'm STILL shaky, I try to channel it into my performance. Maybe do some extra shimmies and freezes, since you're already headed in that direction

I used to get this all the time. I would keep telling myself I'm not nervous then it would all come out on stage. Now I "let" myself get nervous instead of pushing that feeling away. By the time I get to the stage I am calm. Does this make any sense?
I have a student performance group, they chase away nervousness by joking. Recently we danced at a performance and I hear tell that one of my students (I LOVE her!) turned to her fellow student and declared "This dance is our B*@%&!" they all laughed and started feeling better.
I also try not to focous on "OMG what are all the other dancers going to think of my dancing". MUCH harder to dance for other dancers than for a gig!

Talk to your doctor about this.

I have a benign heart arrhythmia that makes my resting heart rate fast and also makes my heart race even faster and my hands and body shake with even small amounts of anxiety. (this condition is not uncommon and actually a common underlying factor in many people with "anxiety disorders").

Anyway, I have lived with this all my life without taking medications, but recently the shaking began bothering me badly, especially when dancing. I would visibly shake, feel unbalanced, and have poor concentration, even when mentally I did not feel much performance pressure. It was like my body was feeling 10X the amount of stage fright that my mind was feeling.

My doctor gave me a very small dose of beta blocker -- propranolol. She told me I could take it every day, or just when I felt nervous or before performances. It works like a charm for me!

It is not a tranquilizer and not habit forming. It has a very long history of being used by musicians and other performers to stop the shaking. You could ask your doctor if this would help you.

I used to get shaky legs - to the point where it looked like I was shimmying. I was so nervous I would find it hard to stand up.

I think it goes away with experience, but breathing deeply before the show while thinking "positive thoughts" is a good start to getting those nerves away.

I battle with nerves, too. One thing I find that is helpful to me is to crank up the radio in the car on the way and sing at the top of my lungs. I hold a lot of tension in the muscles I use for breathing, and I can do "deep breathing" without really relaxing them much or even really realizing the amount of tension I am holding there... Really belting it out with the radio does get that tension out! Plus it distracts me from thinking about performing, and getting myself worked up. I'm sure this would not at all be appreciated backstage, however, LOL.
I have been playing with my music selections also... I tried to find music that was "grounding", which didn't help a bit. Now I'm thinking I will try music that starts with a big bang of energy then mellows out, and giving myself permission to do just a bit of the nervous-energy-running thing before trying to pull it in. Though honestly I am at this point desperate enough to try picturing all of the audience members in pink flowered underwear, so maybe I should start with some light, fun, "smiling" music in case it works.

I had problems with what Jim Boz calls "adrenalin induced temporal anomaly" until I started practicing running in place really fast and pumping my arms before going on stage and doing progressive relaxation where you tighten your toes, relax them, then tighten ankles and release, calves and release, working up your body one body part at a time.

That helps get rid of the excess adrenalin before you hit the stage.

Souzan

I used to shake SO bad. It would start *days* before I knew I had do perform.

I still sometimes get really wierd, but only right before I go on. The whole idea of the 'stage' still creeps me out. Im much more comforable in low key hafla type settings.

What helped? Allowing myself to be nervous, and then centering myself before going on stage.

Thank you all for the tips! I think it is definitely adrenaline related. I'm going to try Souzan's advice and see what happens. I should probably tell the other dancers that I will be doing this (so they don't think I've lost my mind) ;)

Wish me luck!

Thanks again everyone.

Kimberly

hi kimberly -
since you think you need to go the eliminate-excess-adrenaline route, another thing to try after running in place is to do something really physical and also really silly and not bellydance related - like, jumping jacks, or can-can kicks, or flapping your arms like a chicken. the jumping around will help dispel the adranaline, and the shake-your-sillies-out part will help relax your mind and help you keep from stressing out about your set. the first time I tried this was with a troupe, and we all hit the stage totally ready to go, warmed up, relaxed and "on" and ready to have fun. it's a great trick. :)