“I have a daughter, Harper, who participates in many Upstage shows, and she is now competing in gymnastics. That’s right, I’ve become a gymnastics dad! She has so far won overall gold in three consecutive meets, and the other parents have commented on her main standout quality: poise.
So what is the definition of poise? I looked it up and got this: ‘A dignified, self-confident manner or bearing, composure, and self-possession.’
On reflection, poise might be the single most important quality a theater education can give a young student. You know that old expression, ‘it’s not what you say but the way that you say it’? It might be more true now than ever before in this media-savvy world.
The ability to walk and talk with balance, grace, ease, and confidence opens a lot of doors in life. It’s the way of the world, always has been, and we’ve recently been talking to our highly qualified directors, choreographers, and musical directors to teach the vital quality of poise in all our spring and summer programs.”
