Thread: I froze last night

Last night, I was a guest performer for a show. I had a two song set that I had practiced for a few weeks. I felt very confident walking into the show. My music started and I froze. I could not remember any of the moves! ..cr.:..cr.:

In all my years of dancing (ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Bellydance) - this has never happened to me! I just danced - not doing any of the cool tricks I had come up with. For the second song, it all came back to me but I was so flustered about the first song that the second song performance was not that great.

I am so disappointed and sad. Why did this happen? I was so looking forward to this? I was not nervous..

Has this happened to anyone else? I feel so icky about this!! ..cr.:..cr.:..cr.:

That stinks

Unfortunately, I go through that every performance. It's like my brain just vanishes any time some one starts watching me dance. I've been working on it and it seems to be getting better. The biggest thing you have to work on now is just assume that it was a fluke. If you keep agonizing over it, you're likely to do the same thing next time cause you're worrying so much about not doing it. It's amazing how easy it is to psych yourself out over something.

Oh jeeze... I read the title and just thought about the temperatures outside. It's been really warm but got cold last night and I had to turn on my little radiator in my bedroom....

No advice, ravena... and I know it's not funny, but I had to laugh at the filter I was looking through when I clicked on this thread...

I was there last night and saw Ravena perform. I had to come on and mention how lovely she looked, and her solo was fabulous.

If you froze, no one knew it because you looked completely comfortable up there. Just goes to show you how well you work under pressure and to totally improvise on the spot like that is awesome.

major props Ravena!

Just treat it as a learning experience. The fact that that happened and no one could tell means you are truly a professional. I think it's been mentioned on the boards a few times that doing a basic move well and completely can be much more impressive than tricks.

I was so surprised to see that Ravena wrote this post!!!!!!!

You might have *thought* you froze, but you didn't. I LOVED your fan veils-I was sitting there trying to decide if I should just throw mine away or if I needed to see you for a lesson.

I know what it is like to not do the cool stuff, but, your show wasn't lacking anything.

Now, if you want to talk about screw ups, how about near the end when I couldn't figure out why no one else was zilling??? Duh, they weren't supposed to, and neither was I!!! ..l;,

Originally Posted by sweetie_1916

If you keep agonizing over it, you're likely to do the same thing next time cause you're worrying so much about not doing it. It's amazing how easy it is to psych yourself out over something.

You are so right. It is over and done with. Time to move on. Gonna do my best to wipe it away as a "lesson learned". And the positive thing is that I kept on dancing. ..g.:

Originally Posted by ayperi_dances

I was there last night and saw Ravena perform. I had to come on and mention how lovely she looked, and her solo was fabulous.

If you froze, no one knew it because you looked completely comfortable up there. Just goes to show you how well you work under pressure and to totally improvise on the spot like that is awesome.

major props Ravena!

You are so sweet - I could just eat you up ..l;,..l;,

Originally Posted by wayauwohali

Just treat it as a learning experience. The fact that that happened and no one could tell means you are truly a professional. I think it's been mentioned on the boards a few times that doing a basic move well and completely can be much more impressive than tricks.

thank you...

Originally Posted by SandraDances

I was so surprised to see that Ravena wrote this post!!!!!!!

You might have *thought* you froze, but you didn't. I LOVED your fan veils-I was sitting there trying to decide if I should just throw mine away or if I needed to see you for a lesson.

I know what it is like to not do the cool stuff, but, your show wasn't lacking anything.

Now, if you want to talk about screw ups, how about near the end when I couldn't figure out why no one else was zilling??? Duh, they weren't supposed to, and neither was I!!! ..l;,

Oh Sandra - thank you so much. You are so wonderful

I guess we all had our "moments". That is just part of performing.

Just wanna give you a big BIG hug

I think something like this happens to all performers at some time, but it sounds like you handled it well.

Actors have prompters to feed them their lines. Musicians sometimes have sheet music to look at if they forget. At least you weren't doing choreography with another dancer, then it might have been obvious, lol.

As the comments by people who were there show, a great deal of the time no one even knows if you've messed up! I've been on both sides of the situation, and I have to say as long as I/they keep moving, no one is often the wiser that a choreography has gone all pear-shaped.

I had a client who I was Coaching for a while who is a professional musician. He told me that, even after performing for 10 years, he still throws up every time before he goes on stage.

We worked on that!

{{{{HUGS}}}

Im sure you were great!!!! You are the only person who knew the dance. Ill bet the audience had no idea you froze :) They would have thought it was part of the dance :) Ive fumbled my way through a few dances and from feedback I have gotten no one even knew. Just keep smiling and keep going :)

Originally Posted by laura 2

As the comments by people who were there show, a great deal of the time no one even knows if you've messed up! I've been on both sides of the situation, and I have to say as long as I/they keep moving, no one is often the wiser that a choreography has gone all pear-shaped.

Ya and I agree. A good example of this that I experienced was when I competed at the Lillies of the Valley Competition. My first performance was only about 5 percent choreo and the rest improv. for the pro challenge it was all improv. What was funny was I got comments from some who liked my choreo'd piece over my improv. Other enjoyed the improv over the choreo. Funny thing was that both were Improv and they did not notice the difference.

So no worries, You did wonderful from the sound of things. As my instructor told me. We drill and drill to create that muscle memory. So when we dance if we just let it. Our bodies already know what to do, we don't have to think about that next move. All we really need to do is listen to the music.

ya'll are wonderful. Thank you :-)

It's all right. I'm sure your dance soul knew what it was suppose to do after the logical side of your brain left. .w.: ( I can allows hear the logical side of my brain say, "If you insist on doing this I'm out of here." The sound of heels walking away & the door slamming.)

This is when your ability to feel the music & creative personality comes into play. There were compliments this time and there will be compliments the next time. Hang in there.