When the Curtain Closes: Coping with “Post-Performance Blues”
The stage lights dim, the applause fades, and the final bow is taken. Costumes are packed away, makeup wipes off, and just like that, the dance season is over. For many dancers, this moment can be bittersweet. After months of hard work, anticipation, and passion poured into rehearsals and performances, it’s natural to feel a wave of sadness once it’s all over. This emotional dip is called the post-performance blues, and it’s something nearly every dancer experiences, no matter their age or level.
So, what do you do when the music stops and the adrenaline wears off? Here are a few reflections and tips to help you cope and carry the magic forward.
SDC Dancers after the final show of “Sylvia” 2025
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings
First things first: It’s okay to feel sad. Whether you’re missing the spotlight, your fellow dancers, or the energy of the rehearsal room, those feelings are valid. End-of-the-year performances mark the culmination of a chapter, and with any ending, emotions come with it.
Give yourself space to feel whatever comes up—nostalgia, sadness, even relief. Sometimes, writing in a journal or talking it out with a dance friend can help put those emotions in perspective.
Dancers Makenzie and Magnolia sharing a fun moment after the show.
2. Celebrate the Journey
It’s easy to focus on the fact that it’s over, but take a moment to celebrate that it happened. Look back at videos, photos, or journal entries from the season. Reflect on how you’ve grown, both technically and emotionally. Think of the corrections you’ve taken, the friendships you’ve built, and the courage it took to step onstage. Sometimes even keeping a program, hairpiece, or other small memento lets your achievements live somewhere you can revisit when you need a reminder of how far you’ve come.
3. Shift Your Focus
With an end-of-the-year performance behind you, it’s a great time to shift your focus toward rest, renewal, or even new goals. Summer is often a time for intensives, cross-training, or exploring other creative outlets. You might want to try a different style of dance, choreograph, or designate some time to rest and refresh.
If you’re goal-oriented, ask yourself:
• What’s something I want to improve on next year?
• How do I want to feel walking into the studio in the fall?
Shifting your focus after celebrating what just happened allows you to look forward to the great things that will come.
Fun moments in the dressing room.
4. Stay Connected
One of the hardest parts of post-performance blues is the sudden drop in connection with your dance community. If you’re used to seeing your dance friends multiple times a week, summer can feel lonely. The solution? Reach out. Plan a studio picnic, movie night, or casual meet-up. Connection doesn’t have to end just because classes paused. If your studio offers summer drop-in classes, take advantage. Sometimes just being in the space can lift your spirits.
Remember: Endings Make Space for New Beginnings
The end of performance season isn’t just an ending, it’s also the opening of a new chapter. Trust that the next season will bring new moments to fall in love with dance all over again. In the meantime, let yourself breathe. Soak in the stillness. The curtain may have closed for now, but the stage will always be there—ready when you are.
