Initial findings from my PhD 📚

The first study of my PhD looked at how dance students and teachers in UK dance training institutions handle the pressure of performing, focusing on what they pay attention to during stressful moments. In the world of dance, “choking” happens when pressure negatively impacts performance. This study aimed to find out how dancers can avoid choking by using the right kind of focus during their rehearsals and performances.

What is "Choking" and How Can Focus Help?

Choking is when pressure causes a performer to make mistakes or not perform at their best. Researchers believe that where a dancer focuses their attention can make a big difference. Evidence suggests that an external focus - paying attention to how your movements impact your surroundings -leads to better results than an internal focus, where you concentrate on your own body movements.

For example, dancers who think about the lines their arms are creating in the space around them (external focus) tend to perform better under pressure compared to those focusing on the position of their arms (internal focus).

Who Took Part in the Study?

The study involved 29 dance students, with an average age of 20, and 8 dance teachers, with an average age of 46. They came from six different professional dance schools across the UK. Participants were interviewed about their experiences performing under pressure, and students were also asked to fill out surveys on how they cope with performance anxiety.

What Did the Dancers Say?

Most students and teachers said they tend to use an internal focus when learning dance techniques in class. However, when it’s time to perform on stage, they shift to an external focus. Interestingly, many participants felt that focusing externally during a performance could help them handle pressure better - even though they hadn’t been taught about this concept before the study.

Key Findings

Quantitative findings suggest that students who use coping skills - like relaxation techniques or positive self-talk - experience lower levels of performance anxiety. Additionally, students who use an external focus, both in class and on stage, had the lowest anxiety scores overall.

What Does This Mean for Dance Training?

These findings suggest that using coping strategies and adopting an external focus can significantly reduce performance anxiety in dance students. This has important implications for dance schools, indicating that teaching students about attentional focus and helping them develop coping skills could improve their performance under pressure. This approach could be a valuable addition to dance training, helping students perform at their best even when the stakes are high.