2026 Theses Doctoral

Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Breathing Interventions on Anxiety and Dance Performance in Highly Skilled Adolescent Dancers

Lupinacci, Anna Angela

Dancers often experience performance anxiety in high-stakes contexts requiring optimal performance, such as dance competitions.

This study assessed the feasibility of measuring performance anxiety and dance performance errors and engaging in a breathing intervention in adolescent dancers (N = 11, average age 16.9 years, SD = 1.04) in natural rehearsal and competition contexts. The STAI5-S measured behavioral anxiety, and salivary cortisol and alpha amylase were utilized as markers of physiological anxiety pre- (20 minutes before performing), immediately after, and post-performance (20 minutes after performing).

The researcher evaluated whether dancers could engage in 2 minutes of breathing interventions 2 times pre- and 3 times post-performance during rehearsals and competitions. Feasibility was assessed through semi-structured questionnaires and researcher-created surveys. Lastly, the researcher examined the effect of competitive conditions on performance anxiety and dance performance as well as the preliminary effectiveness of the breathing intervention to reduce anxiety and dance performance errors.

Results showed that it was feasible to measure performance anxiety, and dancers and coaches felt it was possible to engage in breathing interventions before and after performance in a natural context. Behavioral anxiety decreased over time, cortisol markedly increased in competitions immediately after and post-performance, whereas alpha amylase was significantly higher in rehearsals immediately after and post-performance. No associations were found between anxiety and performance errors in either rehearsals or competitions.

Once the intervention was introduced, behavioral anxiety was higher in rehearsals and decreased over time, but there was no significant intervention effect. There was no intervention effect on cortisol levels, which rose substantially in competitions from pre- to immediately after and remained elevated post-performance. Salivary alpha amylase was not impacted overall by the intervention, however; there was an interaction effect in rehearsals when the intervention occurred such that alpha amylase levels were significantly lower post-performance compared to the no-intervention condition. Breathwork did not produce any differences in alignment, timing, and spacing errors across phases and conditions. Dancers and coaches had favorable feasibility ratings for the measurement tools and intervention.

It appears as though behavioral anxiety decreases over time, and there is a mismatch between reported anxiety and physiological anxiety. Cortisol rises in competitions and remains elevated. Alpha amylase is higher in rehearsals compared to competitions and is altered post-performance by breathwork. Anxiety does not seem to be impacting these highly skilled dancers; however, elevated anxiety is known to be detrimental to health and impact career longevity. Therefore, it is important to offer dancers a quick-in-the-moment tool to help mitigate performance anxiety.