Dancing Essentials: Mental Training

essentials

September Specials

(Updated: 09.01.03)

“The ultimate goal is to connect fully for the duration of your action, interaction or performance”

- "In Pursuit of Excellence 3rd ed." by Terry Orlick, PhD

   To be the best, it is not enough to simply be stronger, more fit or more knowledgable than the next couple.  You also need to be completely focussed.  When you come home from a competition, disappointed with your result, ask youself, "How was my performance?".  In most competitions, you did not lose because your fellow competitors were better than you.  Rather, you lost because you did not perform to your peak potential. 

   Being mentally prepared for a competition or performance is equally, if not more, important than being physically prepared.  Ultimately, it is your mind that controls how smooth or fast or slow or balanced your body moves.  Is your mind prepared to do this?  Is your mind prepared to do all this while you are on the competition floor?  With other competitors on the same floor?  With judges scrutinzing your every move?  With a screaming audience?  And being in a totally different dance venue?

   The following books are wonderful resources for any dancer to learn more about mental preparation for competition or performance.   More often than not, the mental barriers are what block a dancer's improvement!

   If you want to know more about the following topics and more, read these books!

• Focussed connection

• Confidence

• Positive Imagery

• Distraction Control

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