Performance Tips

First published Taqasim Winter 2004, Issue 48

The night before pack your bag so you know that you have everything you need - if necessary make a list a few days before.
Always have spare safety pins for your costume with you and an emergency sewing kit.
Be aware that your make-up requirements will differ according to your performance set up – daytime makeup will not work for haflah settings and you will be amazed at how much you need for a stage. Ask a dance friend to check you at the technical rehearsal before you perform.
Provide your music as a single track on a CD ( or at least on an audio cassette) or if using an original CD then make sure that your track is clearly labeled and so is the name of yourself or your group as it appears on the programme. This ensures no onstage music glitches.
It is less likely to happen as most music is on CD these days but different decks may slow or quicken your music when playing it. Only you may notice but be aware so that you can adapt your choreography should the need arise.
Make sure that the technical people know if you are starting on or off stage and whether the music has any surprise stops. They might think it's over before it is and then you either have to stop without your carefully planned finale or wait for the music to restart.
If you are wearing bedlah or a costume that reveals your lower abdominal area please make sure that your daytime clothes don’t leave red marks – jeans are very good at this. Wear baggy waisted clothes, or remember and loosen your jeans, roll down tights, remove socks etc at least an hour before you are due to go onstage.
If you are on stage be aware of where unlit areas are – especially important for groups. Stay well within the light zones.
Make sure you are ready backstage at least two acts before you. This gives you time to mentally prepare, complete your warm up, make any final costume fiddles and check your make up one last time.
Smile – as you go onstage. Let your audience know that you are looking forward to dancing for them and try and continue to smile throughout. This is probably the hardest part as it’s the bit we don’t practise often in rehearsals – but we should. Lack of obvious dancer enjoyment mars many a beautiful performance.