Backstage Coach®
Informative. Educational. Effective.
PRIVATE COACHING
Private Coaching Services
PRIVATE COACHING SERVICES
Performance and interview coaching for dance team hopefuls and officer candidates.
DANCE/INTERVIEW TRAINING
Forty-Five Minutes: $60 Semi-Private: $40
ONLINE VIDEO CRITIQUE
Up to three minutes: $60
Feedback is in the form of a written dance critique.
What is Performance Coaching?
Performance coaching includes your technique and overall expression of the face and body in performing a high kick, jazz, or contemporary dance style. I will provide you with feedback for your high kicks and a front split, for skills like leaps and turns, or for a solo dance performance. Dancers often train with me leading up to an audition or contest. Officer candidates will be introduced to best practices for “how to” interview.
Your First Lesson
PERFORMANCE
If we are working towards performance goals, come prepared with about thirty seconds of a dance and/or kick routine with the skills you would like to address. This will help me to assess your technique. If you are working on a solo, come prepared with your choreography. Bring a copy of the score sheet for your upcoming event. If applicable, bring scores earned from previous dance auditions and/or contests.
INTERVIEW
If the lesson is for interview coaching, come prepared with your audition application and/or resume.
Performance coaching includes your technique and overall expression of the face and body in performing a high kick, jazz, or contemporary dance style. I will provide you with feedback for your high kicks and a front split, for skills like leaps and turns, or for a solo dance performance. Dancers often train with me leading up to an audition or contest. Officer candidates will be introduced to best practices for “how to” interview.
Your First Lesson
PERFORMANCE
If we are working towards performance goals, come prepared with about thirty seconds of a dance and/or kick routine with the skills you would like to address. This will help me to assess your technique. If you are working on a solo, come prepared with your choreography. Bring a copy of the score sheet for your upcoming event. If applicable, bring scores earned from previous dance auditions and/or contests.
INTERVIEW
If the lesson is for interview coaching, come prepared with your audition application and/or resume.
Types of Dance Training
THE HIGH KICK AND FRONT SPLITS
Kick technique is about increasing the height of the kick through strength, flexibility, and endurance. Kick technique, along with the performance of the front splits, are basic skills required for all precision dance/drill team members.
LEAPS/TURNS
This training focuses on the performer’s ability to correctly execute a variety of leaps and turn skills within your chosen dance style. Addressed in your dance technique are proper alignment, placement, balance, and control.
PERFORMANCE
Performance technique is about the dancer’s awareness of presence. Eye contact (where you are looking), expression (what you are communicating), projection (fulfillment of personal kinesphere in the space), and focus (remaining in the moment consistently) are principle elements of performance.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Instruction for a solo performance includes technique and projection, along with attention to the following:
OFFICER CANDIDATE INTERVIEW
BEST PRACTICES
The interview often determines who will earn the highest leadership positions. Here you will learn how to present the very best “you” for the interview. I will address leadership skills, creative problem solving, and team building. Communication skills address speech and body language. Candidates will practice responding to questions in a “mock” interview format.
AUDITION APPLICATION
How to present “you” on paper makes a lasting impression and provides evidence of your talents. In some cases, this application may be used in the assessment and placement of students for earning scholarships. Receive feedback regarding content, grammar, and format. An organized, clear, and thoughtfully crafted application or essay reflects a candidate’s potential to perform as a valued team member.
Kick technique is about increasing the height of the kick through strength, flexibility, and endurance. Kick technique, along with the performance of the front splits, are basic skills required for all precision dance/drill team members.
LEAPS/TURNS
This training focuses on the performer’s ability to correctly execute a variety of leaps and turn skills within your chosen dance style. Addressed in your dance technique are proper alignment, placement, balance, and control.
PERFORMANCE
Performance technique is about the dancer’s awareness of presence. Eye contact (where you are looking), expression (what you are communicating), projection (fulfillment of personal kinesphere in the space), and focus (remaining in the moment consistently) are principle elements of performance.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Instruction for a solo performance includes technique and projection, along with attention to the following:
- consistent style in the choreography
- the performance of a variety of skills
- weight shifts in and out of skills
- use of levels in and out of the floor vertically and horizontally
- balance in a variety of spatial designs
- movement intention and focused commitment
- musical interpretation in the dancer’s artistry to sense, connect, and interpret the choreography
OFFICER CANDIDATE INTERVIEW
BEST PRACTICES
The interview often determines who will earn the highest leadership positions. Here you will learn how to present the very best “you” for the interview. I will address leadership skills, creative problem solving, and team building. Communication skills address speech and body language. Candidates will practice responding to questions in a “mock” interview format.
AUDITION APPLICATION
How to present “you” on paper makes a lasting impression and provides evidence of your talents. In some cases, this application may be used in the assessment and placement of students for earning scholarships. Receive feedback regarding content, grammar, and format. An organized, clear, and thoughtfully crafted application or essay reflects a candidate’s potential to perform as a valued team member.
BackstageCoach® Clients
Gina Sawyer has personally trained numerous dance/drill team candidates for high school auditions, college auditions, and competitions.
Arlington Martin High School
Clark High School Dickinson High School Irving Girls Cheer Association Kilgore High School Midland High School Plano High School Southlake Carroll High School Tyler Apache Belles Wylie High School |
Athens High School
Crandall High School Frisco High School Irving Nimitz High School Longview High School Mt. Pleasant High School Rockwall High School South Garland High School Tyler Lee High School |
Bishop Lynch High School
The Colony High School Hurst-Euless-Bedford High School J.J. Pearce High School Lufkin High School Naaman Forest High School Sachse High School Trinity Valley Cardettes Wichita Falls High School |
Testimonials
“Thank you again for the coaching you provided for my daughter’s solo. Your influence made a HUGE difference when she performed it at a national dance competition on Friday!!! The emotion in her performance was cranked up by 100%. Her director and others commented that it was the best they’ve ever seen her perform it.” — Dance Parent
“With one-on-one instruction Ms. Sawyer helped me perfect my leaps, turns, and kicks. Through videotaping the session, I was able to see exactly what elements needed more work which in turn made my Apache Belles audition a success!” — Tyler Jr. College Apache Belle
“Thank you again for your instruction. I observed my daughter playing back the video many times reviewing dance technique and interview tips. Your interview book has also been a tremendous source. Not only did she use it for dance/drill team, but also later for the Dallas Mavericks. Thank you again for all of your expertise.” — Dance Parent
“I made CAPTAIN!! Thank you for all your help. You gave me so much confidence and I feel that I did my best job. I can’t thank you enough. I’m so excited! Thank you!” — Officer Candidate
“With one-on-one instruction Ms. Sawyer helped me perfect my leaps, turns, and kicks. Through videotaping the session, I was able to see exactly what elements needed more work which in turn made my Apache Belles audition a success!” — Tyler Jr. College Apache Belle
“Thank you again for your instruction. I observed my daughter playing back the video many times reviewing dance technique and interview tips. Your interview book has also been a tremendous source. Not only did she use it for dance/drill team, but also later for the Dallas Mavericks. Thank you again for all of your expertise.” — Dance Parent
“I made CAPTAIN!! Thank you for all your help. You gave me so much confidence and I feel that I did my best job. I can’t thank you enough. I’m so excited! Thank you!” — Officer Candidate
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