Great advice

Years ago, when I was just starting out in stripping I was constantly looking for new pieces of music to be inspired by and trying to put together new routines on the fly because I thought I needed something new to showcase each time I stepped on stage. I was riddled with anxiety constantly trying to create new movements and aesthetics. My work suffered along with my mental health. After a while I burned myself out and looked at the successful queens to see how they do it. I noticed that they only travel with 2- 4 rotating routines per year. Their movements were always on point. They always knew their mark on stage and could travel through the crowd without missing a beat. I eventually realized that I do much better when I choose music that I know by heart. Often times music from my childhood that I would fantasize about dancing to or songs that inspired me to movement. Now I embraced only music that I know in my sleep, while on stage and I only showcase 2-4 routines a year. Now when I approach the stage I have much less fear of forgetting my choreography and I allow the music to move me instead of forcing myself to remember lyrics and bars of music. If I lose my place now…. Well… I guess I never do lose my place now. I just allow myself to be inspired by the music. I do notice that my movements are never tightly choreographed anymore, instead I know the music so well that I know exactly how much time I have left in my routine and can play with my audience more and interact more on a personal level instead of micromanaging my movements. That is my tip for the day. For performers who find themselves struggling to remember choreography to new music, do your best to stick with 2-4 routines per year and dance to music that you know inside and out and allow yourself more freedom of movement as opposed to tight choreography. Each stage is different and every club or theater has a different environment and a different clientele. Some theaters and stages you may feel more comfortable, keeping your routine on stage while more intimate clubs, it’s fun to get out in the audience and in order to do that you can’t have super tightly choreographed routines. I have to allow myself the ability to move freely through the club and be fluid with my movement so it helps to know my music by heart and even better, to be in love with my music. If I don’t feel it deep in my bones I won’t dance to it. And when I fall out of love with music, I scrap it and choose some thing that I am in love with. Just my 2 cents. Now get out there and dance!