On conquering stage fright, becoming a better performer

When this 26-year-old writer, stage host and young entrepreneur realized that she could quickly memorize and deliver speech pieces at age 8, she then pulled herself out of her shell and actively competed in speech competitions.

It never got into her consciousness that she should strive harder because she came from a public school since kindergarten until high school. Instead, it gave her the advantage to build a strong foundation of academic excellence and be privileged to represent her school in every division or regional inter-school contest in oration, declamation, one-act play, scrabble and Math Olympiads. Her key was a positive mind-set until finishing as a topnotch graduate of her batch in Mass Communication of University of San Jose Recoletos. You see, being low in economic status isn't an impediment to finishing school. "I can do this. I am good. I will win. I will make my family proud." These were lines that lifted this aspirant's spirit.

Looking back, this academic-oriented and principled woman tells of how moral support from family, plus self-motivation sufficed to make any stage performance well-rendered. Money wasn't a requirement to get hold of a talent development opportunity. Unlike in today's generation, there never was any workshop before aimed at uncovering potentials of the youth. At present, workshops cost money which apparently parents do not mind paying for the sake of their children's development.

It was the actual competition that served as the training ground for this risk-taker. Because of sheer guts, she reached the national levels of oration contests, journalistic writing, etc. Trying it out at the Ms. Science and Ms. Press Conference in 1996 was the most daring of it all. There was stage confidence, yes, but there was inferiority complex within. This, believe it or not, tried to pull her self-esteem down while venturing into more interesting stints in life. But because of positive thinking and self-confidence built up due to previous exposures in school affairs, every venture became instrumental to who she is now: professional host, as well as the founder and managing director of Art Dynamics Cebu (ADC) whose vision is to produce better speakers and more confident stage performers who are gifted in the field of communication, arts, music and fashion modeling-that is through workshops and actual stage performances in public venues.

Exposure is the best teacher. Several exposures would make a huge difference in how your kid acts out in public. Fear of facing people is gradually avoided when one has been exposed to trainings, actual mall shows and one-on-one coaching sessions.

Actual speech exercises help a lot. From reciting tongue twisters repeatedly everyday to memorizing speeches to reading news articles aloud or just merely articulating a new word encountered, to acting in stage plays without fear, to dancing in Sinulog with grace-everything this writer used to do has paid off. She has become a better speaker and a goal-driven performer. Hinting the kids and young learners who are currently undertaking ADC's Personality Development Avenue (a combined workshop in public speaking, musical voice lesson, hosting, acting and runway modeling) to do the same exposures she did to develop her speaking ability.

Parents should open doors to uncover the potentials of every kid or young individual. We suppose parents recognize that every kid or young individual has so much promise... so many potentials that should be discovered. This talent molder believes exposure, exposure and exposure is the best teacher. And with the PD Avenue program, ADC is confident about producing more confident performers and better-speaking individuals who may even make it as superstars and pro model in the future. But we don't just go for strict model requirements for as long as you're enthusiastic to develop your totality as a person or you posses the "it" in you, count yourself in. We give you this privilege to grasp larger opportunities.

Think that you are a gifted being. Celebrate and share it with us! Several privileges await you: radio-TV-newspaper exposures, studio and resort pictorials, fashion shows, hosting, speech choir, song and dance showcase, and commercial modeling stints, etc. For sure, you'll create a BETTER-YOU! This is all about developing your strengths and potentials while fine-tuning your weaknesses. You can expect hands-on experiences, yes. What's more exciting? The PDA Grand Night in January will have the two batches of participants combine and showcase all their talents together in a single production featuring a fashion show, acting scenes from "Home Alone" and "Seventh Heaven", musical excerpts from "Sound of Music" and "High School Musical", Dynamic Idols' special participation, dance and PDA Jingle.

Take the challenge. First-of-its-kind Personality Development (PD) Avenue now dares you to just dream, shine and grow to become a better personality. We let you get out of your nail-biting situation through workshops. We want to share the gift of communication and talent among kids, teens, adolescents and everyone else. In our Summer and off-summer weekend workshops (in speech, voice, dance and modeling) since April 2006, we've witnessed how our enrollees have evolved from being introvert-shy-tense-inferior to becoming sociable-confident-composed-enhanced. From learning to smile and mingle-to speaking with emotions-to becoming less afraid to approach the microphone for speech delivery and earning friends, everything has been proven worth-the-take. Not one but many kids approached me saying, "I am not shy anymore, Miss D!" after a series of sessions. Good Lord, that's heart-melting, rewarding and inspiring! Eventually out of inspiration, this visionary woman thought of PDA where kids & youngsters "dare to dream, shine and grow!" You can log on to www.art-dynamics.blogspot.com or call 2616592 to inquire about the Summer Workshops 2007.