Competition season is upon us and for a lot of, which means elevated stress — stress to carry out, stress to win, even stress to not disappoint or let down coaches and teammates. While we can not count on to eradicate the anxiousness that always comes from this stress, we will discover methods to handle it, handle it and proactively are inclined to it.
First, we will handle the anticipatory anxiousness, the anxiousness that comes from an absence of uncertainty with regard to the longer term. We can encourage college students to voice their issues and whereas we can not plan for each circumstance, we will ease some anxieties, like a damaged strap or a busted seam, with additional supplies, emergency stitching kits, and so forth. More importantly, we will handle that whereas not the whole lot will be managed, deliberate or mounted, the present can nonetheless go on. And this isn’t to reduce or invalidate the anxieties, however to assist college students see that “perfection” is an phantasm and that after we give attention to the expertise relatively than the efficiency or final result, there’s a lot alternative for development, studying, software and neighborhood.
Second, we can assist construct resilient dancers, who can handle the uncertainty, the surprising, and even the frustration or unhappiness that may come throughout a contest. Here are some options and issues you’ll be able to observe all through the competitors season.
#1. Practice transferring in new and unfamiliar methods to construct emotional resilience.
We can construct a sturdy motion vocabulary that helps flexibility of thoughts and physique. Moving in unfamiliar and generally uncomfortable methods turns into a metaphor for transferring by way of challenges and uncomfortable emotions. This will be educating a brand new mixture, exploring improvisation and even some genuine motion.
#2. Bring consideration to the current second.
When we’re within the current, we can not dwell on the previous or anticipate the longer term. Encouraging college students to give attention to sensations like odor, style, contact, sight or sound invitations them to note what is occurring round them in order to not fixate on the efficiency or final result alone. There are some ways to help mindfulness and bodyfulness which in the end create extra connection and grounding to the current.
#3. Create area and time to speak about issues, worries or fears round competing.
Giving college students a devoted time and place to voice issues permits an applicable outlet and might reduce the potential for these worries and fears to pop up at unexpected or inconvenient occasions, like proper earlier than occurring stage. When we observe expressing our feelings, they don’t want to cover. They are allowed to exist and transfer by way of us.
#4. Validate and help the individual, not simply the dancer.
So a lot of a scholar’s identification will be tied to their efficiency, talent or expertise. When the scholar doesn’t carry out to expectations, this could take an enormous toll on their shallowness and confidence. Provide alternatives to attach with the one that is dancing, not simply the dancer. Encourage college students to share their likes, dislikes, hobbies, even issues like household or faculty. This exhibits college students that we respect them for who they’re, not simply what they’ll do.
With regard to supporting college students’ emotional well-being total and never simply anxiousness, right here’s an acronym to assist A.C.E. your psychological well being within the studio.
Awareness. Invite college students to turn out to be extra conscious of their actions and sensations of their our bodies.
Challenge. Support college students in exploring these unfamiliar methods of transferring to help transferring by way of emotional challenges.
Expand. Give college students the chance to extend their repertoire, together with making an attempt types of dance that they could not excel or compete in.
Anxiety is a actuality for a lot of dancers through the competitors season, and it doesn’t must be a motive to depart the competitors. Normalizing the anxiousness that comes with competitors is a step in the precise course, but it surely must be supported and addressed, not brushed to the aspect. I don’t consider there’s anybody who hasn’t skilled worry or fear round a efficiency or competitors. While ignoring it occurs, it isn’t the optimum wholesome technique to work with and thru it. Teaching our dancers to determine, categorical and handle their anxieties will assist them not solely throughout competitors season however in all features of their lives.
By Erica Hornthal, LCPC, BC-DMT, Dance/Movement Therapist, Chicago Dance Therapy.
Erica Hornthal is a licensed skilled scientific counselor and board licensed dance/motion therapist primarily based in Chicago, IL. She acquired her MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College Chicago and her BS in Psychology from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Erica is the founder and CEO of Chicago Dance Therapy, the premier dance remedy and counseling observe in Chicago, IL. As a body-centered psychotherapist, Erica assists purchasers of all ages and skills in harnessing the ability of the mind-body connection to create higher consciousness and understanding of emotional and psychological well being. For extra, go to www.chicagodancetherapy.com.
Photo courtesy of Leap! National Dance Competition
