If there is one thing I have learned in my ten years of dancing, it is this: The audience only knows what you tell them. A dancer communicates through their body; every movement portrays a piece of the story. Any problems occurring off-stage do not affect the audience, unless the dancer lets the issues reach their face- this principle applies to problems on-stage as well.

On May 10, 2015, my studio, Cumming Ballet Theatre, performed their last show of the season. The turnout was great, and the show was fabulous; everyone was sure to tell the dancers, including me, how well we did. Little did they know that several of us messed up, and some were even sick.

My mistake was minor on stage, but major for the big picture. My shoe fell off, but I kept dancing and acting. The problem came when I was absent in another dance. Regardless of my absence, the dance went just fine. As the show came to a close, I accepted my “ten year star” with pride. No one in the audience knew what happened, and no one was suspicious. “The show was great.”

I was not the only one to mess up, and I will not be the last, but the level of professionalism in my company preserved our show. The audience only knows what you tell them, and in case of a disaster, dancers must keep going. Dancers have always been told to keep acting through the pain: today is no exception. From drama backstage to torn muscles, the show must go on.