Lauren Kay published this great article in the Pointe Magazine's July issue. It is an insight for dancers when the unthinkable happens - you take a spill onstage.
Falling in the middle of your variation can be humiliating. But know that you’re in good company down there. Achieving success in ballet requires pushing the body to daring extremes. If you dance full out, you’re likely to lose your balance at some point.
Move On
Move On
Washington Ballet artistic director Septime Webre, a frequent judge. “Just get back on the horse,” he says. “Don’t acknowledge the fall with a face or sigh. Don’t cry, leave the stage or give up. When someone falls, they leave the variation for a moment. So getting back to it with as much enthusiasm as possible is the first priority.” Stay focused, and then bow with elegance and modesty after you finish.
Don’t Lose Your Artistry
Staying in character is essential. “If you’re Kitri, stay fiery as you get up,” says Webre. “If you’re Giselle, remain soft. Even when there’s a lapse in movement, there should be no lapse in artistry or character.” Laughing out of nerves only further disrupts the mood you’ve worked so hard to create onstage.
The Viewers Are on Your Side
“Judges and audiences appreciate the heroism of a good recovery,” says Webre. Judges understand how easy it is to fall, since most were dancers themselves. Nancy Raffa, a recent Prix de Lausanne juror, remembers her own worst fall. “It was my first solo with American Ballet Theatre, and Mikhail Baryshnikov was in the wings. I went to the center, got ready for turns in à la seconde with a dégagé to the side, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor,” she says with a chuckle. “I thought the universe had exploded. But when I got into the wings, Misha laughed and asked me if I’d had a nice trip down! Then he told me, ‘It happens. We fall.’ I realized, if Misha has fallen, we all do.”
Be Proactive
Bruce Marks, chair of the jury for the 4th Beijing International Ballet Invitational for Dance Schools, adds that, if there’s time between variations, it’s completely acceptable to ask for the stage to be mopped—especially if you notice the floor has become slick or sweaty. “If a dancer before you did floorwork with bare skin, requesting a sweep is worthwhile,” he says. “The worst they can do is say no.”
Don’t Ignore an Injury
Marks recommends assessing your physical condition quickly. “There’s no shame in stopping if you’re hurt,” he says. “Don’t dance injured just because you can do so from adrenaline. Consider your entire career, not just that one competition.” If you can walk, go offstage to ask for medical help. If you can’t, motion to the stage manager to bring the curtain or lights down.
Be Daring
Difficult technique and expansive artistry require pushing yourself beyond your limits. Don’t let fear make you tentative. “Some of my favorite dancers fell all the time,” says Marks. “There are falls that happen when you dance fully…and that’s worth it.”
The Viewers Are on Your Side
“Judges and audiences appreciate the heroism of a good recovery,” says Webre. Judges understand how easy it is to fall, since most were dancers themselves. Nancy Raffa, a recent Prix de Lausanne juror, remembers her own worst fall. “It was my first solo with American Ballet Theatre, and Mikhail Baryshnikov was in the wings. I went to the center, got ready for turns in à la seconde with a dégagé to the side, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor,” she says with a chuckle. “I thought the universe had exploded. But when I got into the wings, Misha laughed and asked me if I’d had a nice trip down! Then he told me, ‘It happens. We fall.’ I realized, if Misha has fallen, we all do.”
Be Proactive
Bruce Marks, chair of the jury for the 4th Beijing International Ballet Invitational for Dance Schools, adds that, if there’s time between variations, it’s completely acceptable to ask for the stage to be mopped—especially if you notice the floor has become slick or sweaty. “If a dancer before you did floorwork with bare skin, requesting a sweep is worthwhile,” he says. “The worst they can do is say no.”
Don’t Ignore an Injury
Marks recommends assessing your physical condition quickly. “There’s no shame in stopping if you’re hurt,” he says. “Don’t dance injured just because you can do so from adrenaline. Consider your entire career, not just that one competition.” If you can walk, go offstage to ask for medical help. If you can’t, motion to the stage manager to bring the curtain or lights down.
Be Daring
Difficult technique and expansive artistry require pushing yourself beyond your limits. Don’t let fear make you tentative. “Some of my favorite dancers fell all the time,” says Marks. “There are falls that happen when you dance fully…and that’s worth it.”
