We held a mini-showcase last weekend - specifically for our younger students in Reception, Yr1 and Yr2, along with a guest spot with some of our older students (some of whom have been dancing with us for 11 years!)
Preparing for a proper stage performance can induce some anxiety for children and their parents - they may be nervous about actually performing, or about the backstage experience and how they will cope with a new environment.
We completely understand that it's a huge deal for children so young to do a real stage performance, under stage lighting and with the audience in the dark. We totally get it! That's why we do this smaller and shorter version of our normally very large production, so that they can get used to it without it being quite so overwhelming.
Most nerves were calmed when the children came to rehearsal (and it always helps to try on the costumes a few weeks prior!) because the teachers were calm and warm as always. The students got to watch other groups perform, including the senior girls (lots of mouths agape!), and got used to the heat of the lights after waiting in the 'wings'.
Every child who had been a little wobbly ended up having a great experience by the finale. There were tears of joy from their families watching in the audience (maybe some of the teachers too...) and lifetime memories made.
The life skill of facing a fear and realising afterwards that you can do hard things and feel proud of yourself for it? This is priceless, and we are so privileged to give this opportunity to our students.
Here's a few pictures from the day:
If you are looking for children's dance classes in Worthing and would like this sort of positive experience and memory for your child, use the class enquiry button
