Performing on stage with a commanding presence takes plenty of practice and hard work. To develop as a performer, it is essential to strive for growth and improvement. Dedicated practice can help you master your art, whether it be as a dancer, musician or actor. 

There are plenty of ways to grow in the performing arts. First, you’ll need to know what a strong performance entails, how you can prepare for your stage performance and which skills you should strive to cultivate as you learn how to perform on stage.

Before you can improve your performance on stage, you need to understand the attributes of a great performance. Performers generally:^{(See disclaimer 1,2)}

• Project high energy and enthusiasm
• Smile and make eye contact with the audience
• Use confident posture and body language
• Stay in motion on the stage
• Occasionally involve the audience, if appropriate

Making eye contact and addressing the audience (as appropriate) can help you forge a connection with your audience. It’s also essential to project confidence. As a performer, confidence will come from practice and experience. If you lack experience on the stage, then pour your best effort into preparation and practice as much as you can.

One of the first steps in preparing for a performance is to address any performance anxiety you may be experiencing. Performance anxiety can cause emotional and physical symptoms, such as fear of failure, “freezing” during a performance, fast breathing, sweating and tremors.^{(See disclaimer 3 )}

If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, consider talking to a counselor. Other tips can include:^{(See disclaimer 3 )}

• Visualize yourself doing well on stage
• Use positive self-talk
• Confide in a trusted friend
• Avoid caffeine and excessive sugar prior to the performance
• Eat a healthy meal beforehand and get plenty of sleep the night before
• Use deep breathing and meditation
• During the performance, try to focus more on the audience than on yourself

The specific practice and rehearsal strategies you can use depend largely on your craft. Whether you’re a dancer, singer, instrumental musician or stage actor, you can ask your director, conductor or choreographer for performance tips that are specific to your performing art. 

Some general tips can include: 

• Arrive at each rehearsal well-prepared. If you’re an actor, know your lines already.
• Focus on the fundamentals. If you play an instrument, ensure your tone is good.
• Avoid being too scripted. Focus on the story behind the lines or the emotion behind the song. Be flexible and open to change. (This will also help you bounce back from mistakes more easily.)

Frequent practice can help you develop the essential skills and personal characteristics needed for a great stage performance. These include confidence, as confidence is needed to be willing to take risks, try new approaches and techniques on stage and learn from your mistakes. 

Other essential skills and qualities include:^{(See disclaimer 4)}

• Communication skills
• Storytelling
• Emotional resilience
• Self-discipline
• Physical stamina
• Creativity and curiosity
• Analytical reasoning
• Attention to detail
• Versatility and adaptability
• Teamwork and collaboration

Good performers also need to keep an open mind. They must listen to others’ perspectives and opinions, and be willing to embrace new ideas.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

A performing arts degree can help in launching a career as a performer. Skills, experience, connections and many other benefits of a performing arts degree can prepare you for later pursuits by providing plenty of practice and guidance in honing stage performance techniques.

Dance 

A dance education can help dancers improve their performance and become more well-rounded in their knowledge. A Bachelor of Arts in Dance program can teach dancers many aspects of their art and how to apply their newfound awareness to a performing career. Classes in this program focus on various styles of dance and diverse techniques for performing in the dance world. 

Vocal Performance

If you’d like to improve your singing voice, consider earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Voice Performance degree. You’ll explore the fundamentals of voice science, vocal health and the correct performance of different sounds. You’ll take applied lessons, participate in choral performance opportunities and examine the business side of the music industry. 

Theatre

For those interested in drama performance, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama is a worthwhile option to consider. This program teaches you how to perform on stage in plays and how to apply voice and movement techniques. The program also explores the backstage aspects of a stage performance, such as lighting, costume design and playwriting. 

Music

Musicians have many degree options, depending on the instrument and type of music that calls to them. Some students may enjoy specializing in worship arts, for example, which can enable them to give glory to God by integrating creative musical pieces into worship services. 

Other students may want to major in music with an instrumental performance emphasis. This type of program examines a variety of musical instruments, such as piano and wind instruments, as well as vocal performance. Students may also dive into topics such as conducting, orchestration, music history and the business side of the music industry. 

Follow performance tips that encourage continual improvement through frequent practice and performance experimentation. Whether you are a musician, actor or dancer, there are multiple ways to learn something new, push past boundaries and continue to improve your craft.

Growth often stems from experimenting with a different technique or acquiring new knowledge. Progress in the performing arts also depends on a willingness to expand your perspective and be adventurous. Some ways to do this include the following:

Watch a Variety of Performances

Watching performances by a wide range of artists is an effective means of exploring your art. With modern streaming technology, finding a diverse selection of music and performances produced by artists with vastly different styles is relatively easy. By observing such diverse work, you can encounter fresh approaches, learn about various styles, appreciate the talent of other artists and develop new ideas for your own work.

Listening to music can inspire musicians to write music, if they so choose, or to experiment with different ways of playing existing music. Actors can draw interpretive and technical inspiration from performances. For dancers, watching performances may inspire ideas for choreography.

Learn Different Genres and Styles

Although watching performances is a good start, applying lessons from them is even more important to developing as a performer. Some musicians may develop in one or two genres of music while leaving others untouched. Exploration might take the form of trying out other musical genres.

For example, a classical pianist might learn a pop song or dabble in jazz. Such exploration can help musicians discover which genres they like best and want to focus on. It can also influence their approach to a familiar genre.

The same is true for dancers and actors. Actors can learn from watching various types of theatre productions. Dancers can learn about different styles of dance. This varied exposure and experimentation help performers of all kinds integrate different styles and methods into their work.

Leave Your Comfort Zone

Most people have a comfort zone that they are reluctant to leave. This could be because it is familiar or because new experiences and undertakings are daunting at times. For performers, leaving their comfort zones can be a good decision.

Whether it be in writing music, playing an instrument or applying for a performance-related job, leaving one’s comfort zone can be a first step toward greatness as a performing artist. It can generate new insights and perspectives or lead to new skills and connections.

Finding Passion

Finding your passion is an important part of growing as a performer, allowing you to channel more of your time and energy into what you most love to do. There are various ways to find and feed your excitement:

• Let passion develop. As you learn more about your art, you will probably notice that you are primarily attracted to a certain branch of your art or that a specific career path calls to you. Broader exploration is valuable, but so is concentrating on your passion. Growth will come from time spent researching and practicing what you care about.
• Stay connected. Part of being a passionate performer and evolving is finding a community that is supportive of your art. Other performers who have the same interests in performing art as you do can encourage you to grow and motivate you to strive for the next level. You may be able to exchange ideas and tips with each other as you progress in your field.
• Keep growing. No matter how long you've been pursuing your passion, you can always continue growing in your art. Expand your knowledge. Practice something new. Talk to someone in your field. Regardless of how much performance experience you gain over time, you can always benefit from continual practice and new learning opportunities.

Grand Canyon University offers a diverse selection of performing and fine arts degree programs to enable you to pursue your passion and gain practice as a performer. GCU's College of Arts and Media offers numerous performance opportunities for music, theatre and dance students to hone their craft inside and outside the classroom. Explore our student organizations, ensembles and internship programs at GCU.