Ready to take the stage

It’s that time of year.

For guitarists, dancers and singers alike. You’ve practised until your fingers are sore, your feet are pounding, and your throat is dry.

But the question is, are you ready to take the stage?

For many flamenco students, the end of year show is the chance to invite family and friends to see what you’ve been learning all year long. Perhaps they don’t understand or maybe have never seen flamenco and you want them to experience it. But most of all, you want to give them the best performance you can.

There is no doubt that practice helps you to polish your performance. Even though professional flamencos go on stage and improvise without having practised together, their performance is still underpinned by hours of studio time, refining and perfecting their work. And likewise the work that you have been doing throughout the year has lead you to this point.

Performing can be a nervous business and everybody reacts to situations of pressure differently. Some people prefer to run through the steps or the chords immediately prior to going on stage. Others prefer to leave the last minute practice aside. Whatever your approach, you can trust that you are doing the best thing for you.

There are countless tips about preparing for a show. But by far greatest tip I’ve learnt is to trust. Trust yourself, trust the music, trust your body to know what it has to do and trust the moment. All that is left after that is to enjoy the show!

To all the flamenco students and teachers around the country performing over the next few weeks, break a leg! And don’t forget to share your photos and videos on the Flamenco Australia Magazine Facebook Page.

And if you’re not performing? Get in the audience! Check out the Flamenco Australia Magazine Calendar to find out about events near you.