✨ After the Curtain Falls: What Performers Feel — and How We Rise Into What’s Next

✨ A Note From Miss Natasha

Before anything else, I want to say this:

Weehawken’s Cinderella Tech Meeting 2022

I am profoundly proud of every single person who made this show possible.

Our dancers.
Our aerialists.
Our teachers.
Our staff.
Our parents.
Our volunteers.
Our sponsors.
Our entire community.

It truly takes a village — and you showed up with joy, grit, heart, and generosity.
Every rehearsal.
Every costume piece.
Every drive to and from the studio.
Every moment of patience, encouragement, and care.

We created something beautiful together.
I am immensely grateful for all of you, and so incredibly proud of what you achieved.

Bravo

✨ After the Curtain Falls: What Performers Feel — and How We Rise Into What’s Next

A Post-Show Reflection from Miss Natasha

When the final performance of a production ends, something magical — and emotional — happens inside our studios in Montrose, Ridgway, and Ouray County.

The applause fades.

The lights dim.
The stage empties.
And suddenly… everything feels still.

And as the stage empties and the last bits of glitter are washed from the sink, what remains is the heart your performer poured into this show.

For dancers and aerialists who’ve worked for months in our Weehawken Dance classes and aerial silks program, that stillness can feel strange and overwhelming.

But it’s also one of the most beautiful and important moments in a performer’s entire year.

I want to help our families understand this moment — so you can support your performer and also see why coming back in January, when classes begin again, is the perfect way to build on everything they’ve gained.

🌫️ The Post-Show Low: Why Performers Feel So Much

After a big show, performers often experience what psychologists call a post-event comedown — a temporary emotional dip after a huge high. Researchers have studied this in both sports and performing arts settings, and it’s something performers of all ages experience.

This can show up as:

• tears (happy or sad)
• restlessness
• missing the cast
• wanting to watch the show again
• craving movement
• intense pride
• sudden quiet or introspection

And it truly has nothing to do with age.

Our tiniest Pre-Ballet dancers feel it.
Our advanced teens feel it.
Even our teachers feel it.

It’s not drama — it’s biology + artistry.
And it means they poured their whole heart into the performance.

🌟 Why This Moment Matters for Next Semester’s Success

Here’s something most parents don’t always realize:

The weeks immediately after a show are the most powerful time for a dancer or aerialist to grow.

Psychology tells us that right after achieving a meaningful goal, the brain becomes:

• inspired
• motivated
• open to new challenges
• eager to set new goals
• ready to build on momentum

This is why performers are especially ready and excited to continue in:

• Spring dance classes in Montrose
•  Aerial silks classes in Montrose and Ridgway
• Hip hop, jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap
• Spring training for Cinderella

This isn’t about rushing — it’s about staying committed to the full year of training.

Our program is designed as a year-long journey:
Fall builds into winter.
Winter prepares performers for spring shows like Cinderella.

When dancers and aerialists return in January, they don’t just keep their momentum —
they deepen it.

Year-round consistency is what creates confident performers, strong technique, and meaningful, lasting growth.

✨ A Simple Question That Helps Every Performer

Parents often ask:

“How do I support my child after the show?”

You don’t need a long conversation.
You don’t need a big plan.
You don’t need to push them one bit.

Just ask:

“What inspired you this show?”

You will hear things like:

• “I want to try aerial silks.”
• “That hip-hop number was so cool.”
• “I want to get better at ballet.”
• “I want to be strong enough to do that trick.”
• “I want to be in the Cinderella Show!”

This is called internal motivation, and it’s the #1 predictor of long-term success in the arts.

By listening to what inspired them, you’re not steering them —
you’re following their spark.

If your child felt inspired by something in the show, January is the perfect time to explore a new class.

💃 The Benefits of Dance

Dance is one of the most beneficial activities for children and teens. It builds:

• confidence
• emotional expression
• executive function
• social connection
• discipline
• strength & flexibility
• musicality
• resilience
• leadership
• self-regulation

And our dancers in Montrose and Ridgway grow most when they take weekly classes year-round, not just one semester.

🤸‍♀️ Why Aerial Silks Is Transformative

Aerial arts — especially in our thoughtfully designed youth program — create a kind of confidence no other activity produces.

Aerialists develop:

• bravery
• upper-body and core strength
• problem-solving
• trust
• body awareness
• perseverance
• a healthy relationship with fear

Learning new aerial skills creates a “confidence loop” that affects everything — school, friendships, self-belief, and resilience.

This is why so many parents tell us aerial silks changed the way their kids see themselves.

👑 A Personal Story: Why Cinderella and I Go Way Back

Cinderella was my favorite Disney princess.

I carried the book everywhere.

I watched the movie endlessly.
I dressed up as her for Halloween more than once — my mom sewed the costume.

My dad helped us build the set pieces for our Girl Scout Cinderella skit (where my mom was, of course, the troop leader).
My mom also sewed my first professional tutu when I was 17, when I was cast as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.

And in classic Dad humor, he used to tell me the prince found Cinderella because her shoes “smelled so bad” that he followed the aroma.
He called her “Smell-a-rella”.
(For the record — absolutely not. She smells like soap. We’ve all seen the soap bubble scene in the Disney movie)

I dreamed of dancing Cinderella.
And yet… I never did.

At 17, I was cast as the Fairy Godmother — a role I adored — but I never danced Cinderella herself.

Maybe that’s why producing Weehawken’s Cinderella this spring feels like such a full circle moment. 

I first created this version for our 10th spring show — and now this will be our 19th.

My dad built that pumpkin coach, and it lived in their garage for years — right next to the Polar Express train pieces.
My parents didn’t park cars in their four-car garage… because it was full of Weehawken set pieces.

They built everything, and then they lovingly (and patiently) stored everything.

About four years ago, Weehawken finally bought a shipping container so they could have their garage back.
I’m fairly sure that was the happiest day of their lives.

And yes — I absolutely forced my mom to make the Disney-style tear-away dress.
(They don’t do it in the ballet… and honestly, they’re missing out!)

My mom passed away just a few months after the last time we produced Cinderella.
It will be bittersweet and beautiful to pull out the costumes she worked so hard on — some of the last things she worked on before she died.

How has it been almost four years already?

I want your performers to have a fairy-tale moment.
I want them to find themselves in this story.
I want them to feel the magic, the courage, and the transformation.

✨ Cinderella auditions will be January 18th.
Rehearsals and casting begin in February.

And remember — everyone performs.
Auditions are only for featured and lead roles.
Every dancer and aerialist will have a place in this production and a moment to shine.

And even if they don’t get cast as Cinderella?
It might sting for a minute — and then we help them turn it into grit.

Because honestly? There are so many great roles in Cinderella — funny ones, powerful ones, sparkling ones, and total scene-stealers.

I’m grateful for the grit the Fairy Godmother gave me every day of the week.

🏡 Staying Fit at Home Over the Holidays

Why Holiday Movement Is More Important Than You Think

One of the best things dancers and aerialists can do over winter break is keep moving, even a little.

It doesn’t have to be a full workout.
Just small reminders to the body:

“I’m still a performer.”
“I’m strong.”
“I remember these pathways.”
“I’m preparing for next semester’s choreography.”

Even 10–15 minutes a few times a week helps maintain:

• core strength
  • flexibility
  • turnout
  • ankle and foot strength
  • grip and shoulder pathways (for aerialists)

Movement also supports:

• mood
  • energy
  • emotional stability
  • sleep
  • confidence

It keeps performers connected to their artistry and prepares them for auditions and choreography in January.

✨ Simple Holiday Workouts for Home

⭐ For All Performers

• gentle warm-up
  • planks
  • hollow holds
  • relevés
  • splits & mobility

⭐ For Dancers

• Theraband foot strengthening
  • port de bras
  • balances
  • turns in parallel

⭐ For Aerialists

• grip training (sock squeezes)
  • Y/T/W shoulder activation
  • tuck-ups
  • hollow body conditioning

❄️ Join Our Winter Break Challenge!

This year, many of our Level 3+ students are participating in the Weehawken Winter Break Challenge, designed to help dancers and aerialists stay strong, flexible, and confident over the holidays. It’s a simple, structured way to keep the body engaged — and to return to class in January feeling prepared instead of “starting over.”

And don’t forget — many of our teachers came together to create fun, dancer-friendly workouts just for this challenge! Complete it and you’ll be entered for a chance to win $50 in Weehawken swag.

👉 If you’re in Level 3 or ages 10+, you can learn about the full challenge HERE!
Even if dancers choose not to complete the full challenge, just a few small sessions each week make a noticeable difference.

🎁 Holiday Gifts That Help

Here are some great holiday gift ideas that support strength, flexibility, and recovery — all perfect for dancers and aerialists working toward January momentum:

• Resistance Bands (affordable & versatile)
• Foot Stretcher for Dancers (great for arches & turnout)
• Foam Roller (budget recovery option)
• Flexistretcher (these are really cool for working arabesque — hello summer intensive audition photos in 1st arabesque coming up soon!)
• Grip strength trainer for aerialists
• Extra-cushioned yoga mats (so much more comfortable to work out on)
• Dance MasterClass (this is a really fun subscription that Miss Pang, Miss Rachel and I love)
• Dance Sneakers (these are awesome for long rehearsal days)

  • Bonus “Natasha backstage” recovery tool:
    I recently bought a fancy new Bluetooth TENS unit for myself — you might’ve seen me backstage sticking it on lead dancers… ha ha. 😄

    They come in a wide range of prices. I splurged on a nicer one from Chirp (they make all kinds of really cool recovery tools), but you can absolutely find cheaper options that work just as well.

    A TENS unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a small, battery-powered device that sends mild electrical pulses through pads placed on the skin. It usually feels like a gentle tingle or vibration, and many people use it as a drug-free, non-invasive way to help with temporary muscle soreness by interrupting pain signals and encouraging the body’s natural “feel-good” response.

    Here’s a link to Amazon with lots of more affordable options: TENS units on Amazon

✨ Don’t Be Sad the Polar Express Is Over — Step Into What’s Next

If your performer is emotional the next couple weeks — that’s normal.

If they’re inspired — that’s perfect.
If they’re dreaming — that’s the moment to act.

This is not the end.
This is momentum.
A new semester is beginning.
A beautiful Cinderella world is waiting.

And your performer — whether in dance or aerial — has a place in it.

Thank you for sharing your dancers and aerialists with us.
Thank you for supporting their art.

Here’s to the next chapter.
It’s going to be magical.

— Miss Natasha ✨
Artistic Director
Weehawken Dance & Aerial
Montrose • Ridgway • Ouray County

If you ever have questions about classes, auditions, growth, or what’s best for your performer, I’m always here for you. Please reach out anytime — I love hearing from you. natasha@weehawkenarts.org

📚 If You’d Like to Learn More

Podcast Episodes That Inspired This Blog

For parents who love understanding the “why” behind what their kids feel — or for anyone who loves the Huberman Lab as much as I do (I listen all the time, especially on long drives between studios!) — these resources offer wonderful insight into motivation, emotional cycles, and the benefits of movement.

🎧 Huberman Lab Podcast Episodes

• Controlling Your Dopamine for Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction
• Leverage Dopamine to Overcome Procrastination & Optimize Effort
• How to Use Exercise to Improve Your Brain’s Health, Longevity & Performance