Originally from Barbados, Crystal Nicholls obtained a BFA in Performance Dance from the Ryerson School of Performance in Toronto, Canada. She has previously performed across the high seas as a mainstage dancer with Princess Cruises. She currently lives in London, UK, where she performs as an ensemble dancer in Disney's The Lion King. (Headshot by Chris Crocker.)
I am a dancer in a successful West End showand a year ago I nearly quit.
My anxiety came suddenly and without warning. We were in the middle of a stressful cast change and tensions were high as everyone wanted to prove their value to the production.
I felt as though someone flipped a switch in my brain. I started to feel pressure about perfecting my performances and suddenly felt unworthy of being there. My mind became consumed with negative images about what I was doing wrong, or what could go wrong.
