No matter how many times you’ve rehearsed a dance in the studio, getting onstage can feel like the air has suddenly become thinner. Between the nerves and adrenaline likely boosting your heart rate and the size of the stage demanding you to travel further than you’re used to, it’s normal to find yourself huffing and puffing by the time the curtain closes.

Ranee Ramaswamy, Youth America Grand Prix artistic director Larissa Saveliev and choreographer Marc Kimelman offer tips to ensure your eyes are conveying exactly what you want them to say.

Dancers of nearly every genre need fleet feet for dazzling, pyrotechnic­ footwork. But complex, quick footwork tests almost all the technical skills that dancers strive for—balance, coordination, speed, strength—and can also be a mental game, requiring intense­ focus and the right combination of freedom and precision.

Dancers who can balance forever—whether on pointe, on a partner’s shoulders or in impossibly challenging positions—can seem like magicians, effortlessly mocking the laws of physics. Though balancing comes easier to some dancers than others, the elements that make for long, strong balances are less mysterious than they may seem

Choreographed falls are part of performing—whether it’s Odette jumping to her death in Swan Lake, a contemporary dancer melting into the floor or a breaker dramatically exiting a headstand. A convincing, safe onstage fall takes both bravery and control—and can be as much a psychological challenge as a physical one.

Dancing with a prop can be intimidating, and when the choreography is already complex, adding an object to the mix can feel, frankly, overwhelming. But with the right approach, props can be an exciting opportunity for growth in artistry, storytelling and performance technique.

Rather than thinking of long lines as an aesthetic ideal, aim for finding stretch and elasticity in your line—as yet another tool in your toolbox.

A dancer’s spine has its own expressive power. Use these tips to unlock your spine for both movement and expression.