Mental skills

Question 1

What is commitment and why is it important?

Answer 1

Dedication to your performance

-Commitment will improve the accuracy of the performance and make it appear more confident.
-Lack of commitment could have a health and safety implication and lead to injury, especially in contact work

Question 2

How can you improve your commitment?

Answer 2

-Systematic repetition
-Film, watch back & evaluate commitment
-Get feedback from a teacher or peer on commitment

Question 3

What is confidence and why is it important?

Answer 3

The belief in your ability

-Performing with confidence aids the dancer’s ability to communicate the choreographic intent and use expressive skills effectively
Increases the impact and power of the performance

Question 4

How can you improve your confidence?

Answer 4

-Systematic repetition
-Film, watch back & evaluate confidence
-Get feedback from a teacher or peer on confidence

Question 5

What is concentration and why is it important?

Answer 5

Not being distracted, being totally immersed in your performance.

-Lack of concentration could have a health and safety implication and lead to injury, especially in contact work.
-Concentration makes a dance more accurate and refined.

Question 6

How can you improve your concentration?

Answer 6

-Systematic repetition
-Mental rehearsal
-Rehearsal discipline

Question 7

What is movement memory and why is it important?

Answer 7

How well the movement content is retained in the body

-increases your confidence and commitment to performance
-Lack of movement memory could have a health and safety implication and lead to injury, especially in contact work

Question 8

How can you improve your movement memory?

Answer 8

-Systematic repetition
-Mental rehearsal
-Rehearsal discipline
-Recording performances movement phrases and watching footage in-between rehearsals