Dubai Diaries: Getting over stage fright

Recently an old memory of being on stage in school coupled with moments of anxiety that had preceded the performance, popped into my head. I couldn’t remember what I’d done to dispel the feeling that particular time, but I do know I found it liberating being up on stage and singing It’s a small world after all with fellow middle-schoolers at The Indian High School in Dubai.

Former students may recall that long before the impressive Sheikh Rashid Auditorium was built as part of the school, stage performances, competitions, prize giveaways and other indoor school events were held in a smaller auditorium/hall — and this is where most of my stage memories spring from. Not all performances (whether at school, or college back in India) were preceded (or marred) by a sense of nervousness.

But yes, the occasional ‘stage fright’ did occur, and I would forget or mix up my lines or dance moves (haha); on rare occasions even lose my voice completely, like the time I attempted singing Jason Donovan’s part in an Especially For You duet with a hostel friend who (as a spunky Kylie Minogue) luckily made up for the fiasco. Seeing my hostel-mates cheering in the audience gave me a boost, and I laughed off the experience after a couple of weeks.