Last year Dance Australia ran an article called "Five minute call", by dance psychologist Gene Moyle (now Head of the Dance Department at Queensland University of Technology), in which she spoke to six dancers about how they prepare themselves mentally in the last few minutes before stepping on stage. We’ll be publishing the uncut interviews over the next few months.
This week we bring you Ty-King Wall, who was recently promoted to Principal Artist of the Australian Ballet:
Nerves are an important part of a successful performance…in moderation. They help focus you, as long as you can keep them under control. I get nervous before every show, whether it’s a principal role in a three act ballet or a walk on – it’s live theatre, and you’re aware that anything can happen.
Having a set routine before the show helps keep the nerves in check, as it not only makes you feel prepared, but also provides a distraction for your mind, so your thoughts don’t dwell on the performance ahead. Mine usually goes something like this: makeup, warm-up barre, costume, a bottle of water (and if it’s a particularly challenging ballet in terms of stamina, some gu [energy] gel, which is a carbohydrate shot for sustained energy). I’m not particularly superstitious, but I always like to get onto stage and practice something just before curtain up – I feel uncomfortable when I don’t get the chance to do this.
If it’s a ballet or role that I’m particularly stressed about, I like to remind myself of all the performances that I’ve done which were high pressure situations – I tell myself ‘you got through that, so this should be a breeze’.
I also remind myself of all the times I’ve been injured and unable to perform, when I’ve been at home whingeing about being off. ‘All you wanted then was to be back on stage: well now you’ve gotten what you asked for, so suck it up, get out there and get on with it!’
- Ty-King Wall as told to Gene Moyle.
Don't forget you can ensure you never miss an issue of Dance Australia by subscribing here.