Emotional Freedom Technique to reduce stress for performing and practicing

Performance stress, rehearsal anxiety, choreography learning can all lead to an increase in anxiety for dancers or performers. One of the best tools to reduce this stress is “Tapping”. You can find out more about it at www.thetappingsolution.com with videos and phrasing to use. But, the best way I have found to use it for performers is to use the following phrase while tapping:
“I easily and joyfully perform in any situation, in any direction, in front of any audience.”
Repeat this phrase while you gently tap the following points for about 10 seconds each:
Outside corner of the eyebrow
Between the eyebrows on the bridge of the nose
Under the eye on the cheek bone
Above the top lip
Below the bottom lip
At the collar bone in the center
On the side of the body on the ribs
On the top of the head – anterior fontanel

If when saying the phrase there seems to be a little tension still felt, then continue to repeat the phrase and tap through the sequence again.

Sometimes the performer is bothered by the lights, by the stage, by looking into a dark space, by the wing curtains, by the stairs. If there is something that stands out, begin the whole sequence by first tapping the “psychological reversal point” at the last joint of the pinky finger where it joins the hand – tapping both points on each hand together and repeating the phrase…”Despite my anxiety with the…..(lights…stage…stairs…curtains), I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself. Tap and repeat this phrase at least 3 times clearly, and then move to the tapping sequence listed above.

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