The Competent and Confident Performer

Nothing comes easy. This is not a negative thought but a challenge. Whenever we are doing something difficult those three words should be an incentive to continue. We should all have a commitment to learn new things. By understanding why they are important we grow in knowledge and effectiveness as people. Learning is graduated. Knowledge is also acquired over time and not at a particular moment. Therefore when we see a competent and confident performer as a dancer or musician we are experiencing the result of many hours of positive preparation. The word preparation is very important because each new effort to become competent is a higher stage of preparation.

Competence can be attained at different levels. A beginner dancer will learn basic work. Within the range of that work he/she can be assessed on a competence scale. When teachers are dealing with such dancers they have to develop improvement strategies to extend the level of competence of each dancer. It is important therefore to consider what stage each dancer is at within the grade in which they have learned steps or elements of steps. In fact this is very important to the establishment of the correct foundation to dancing for a beginner. It is also important perhaps to stress that being in a hurry is not a successful route to being a competent dancer. It takes time to move towards perfection.  While we never get there the challenge is to go as far as you can in developing technique and ability. It is the outcome of both of these that we experience in the performance by a dancer.
Competence also means that we can acquire the techniques and ability to learn steps and figure dances that are more difficult. The programme for grading examinations is a good indicator of the kind of progression that can be achieved. So let us ask ourselves some basic question about you as a  dancer:

•        How is your carriage when you are dancing? Are there particular aspects that can be improved?
If so how do you plan to improve them? Or put another way do you know how to correct these
faults? By asking these questions and then taking the appropriate action you will have brought
your dancing technique to a higher level of competence.

•        Is your dance rhythm perfect? Is not what is wrong with it? Do you know how to develop better
dance rhythm? What do you notice about dancers who you think have better rhythm
than you?

•        How much variety do you have in your solo steps? To go a little further, how many different
elements do you have in your most difficult steps? Have you ever counted the number of elements
other dancers have in some of their steps?

•        From looking at other dancers performing is their carriage presented in vertical position? Are
their hands by the sides and in line with their shoulders?

•        Can you name elements of reels, slip jigs, double jigs and hornpipes that you do not have in
your steps? Look at other dancers and develop your curiosity on this

•        Do you choreography your steps? Movement on stage in solo dancing should have a purpose
and therefore be part of a plan about how you propose to use the stage and why?

•        How many different elements of steps do you know in the reel? e.g. cuts/leaps/points/cross
keys/rocks etc. Your competence is also measurable by the actual number of elements you
could perform in a step. Is that number 6,8,10 or even more?

•        Do you remain relaxed in every performance? If not, what actually happens? Do you get so
excited that your make mistakes? How can you change this experience? The main factor in
making mistakes is concentration and positive thinking? If my mind is tuned into wondering about
how my memory will perform you are having doubts. This is movement in the pathway of losing
concentration. If my thinking is about not having enjoyment at the prospect of performing you
are expecting a poor performance. Replace this negative thinking by reminding yourself that you
want to perform because you are happy that you can dance. Make no comparison with others
just perform and feel good.

Confidence is visual as well as a feeling. The improvements that you are aware of whether, as a beginner or a more experienced dancer will always give you confidence in performance. You can grow in confidence when you focus on your own performance. Do not compare with others. Your positive thoughts about yourself will always help. You can be a competent and confident dancer by appreciating the gift you have been given.

Donagh Corcoran ADCRG