A Dancer's Guide to Stage Presence, Storytelling, and Poise

Studies show that around 70% of all professional event speakers are male. This is due to the fact that women are more likely to experience anxiety or aversion related to public speaking, and are generally perceived to be weaker public speakers. As a result, women remain underrepresented in academic and professional environments. Many concepts from dance and performing arts may resonate with some women and allow them to make deliberate choices in how they present themselves, in order to establish strength and confidence in their presentations. The session will teach attendees how to: apply concepts of choreography, gestures, posture, and movement to develop a strong stage presence in order to deliver an engaging presentation or pitch; practice vocal dynamics and expressive communication in order to connect with the audience naturally and authentically; and leverage improvisation techniques to adapt to unexpected challenges, maintain poise, and seamlessly recover from mistakes.