Testimonials

Own The Stage is 100% a skill I’ll use for the rest of my life.

It’s helped me not just focus and build confidence, but it’s also shaped me into the performer and person I am today.

Before every performance—whether it was playing Young Simba in the Mirvish production of The Lion King or competing with the MIMPA Competition Team—I always used grounding, focus mode, and power mode. These tools helped me stay present, calm my nerves, and bring my best to the stage without getting distracted or overwhelmed.

I’m so grateful I got to learn these techniques from Ms. Elina. I still get anxious or lose focus sometimes, but now I know how to bring myself back and stay confident, no matter the pressure.

Thank you, Ms. Elina, for being such an amazing mentor and for giving me skills I’ll carry with me forever!

I like that Own the Stage gives you a safe space to talk about what’s bothering you and what’s going on. I also like that it lets you understand what’s going on with your peers and connect with them. Own the Stage helped me reflect on my performance and my time with the team.

Own the Stage made me calm and feel open! Thank you Miss Elina!

Own the Stage gave me bonding time with my teammates, made me understand myself better and brought my reasons (“why”) back to the forefront of my mind, which helped with burnout.

I had the opportunity to attend a small session of Own the Stage with Elina Bagshaw, and it was truly eye-opening. I learned practical strategies to focus my mind and calm my nerves, which gave me the know-how to partake in a pre-performance routine. While the nerves didn’t disappear completely, I felt far more grounded and capable, and I was better able to manage them when it mattered most.

One of the most valuable aspects was understanding the why—the background of how we think and feel under pressure—and learning concrete ways to manage those emotions. These strategies have not only helped me on stage but have also proven useful in everyday life when facing stressful situations.

I’ve also had the privilege of learning alongside my daughter, who has been part of the Own the Stage program as well. I’ve seen her use her training and “focus mode” techniques to prepare herself before performing, and I’ve watched her rely on grounding exercises to stay calm and centered under pressure. It’s incredible to see these tools work in real time for both of us.

I would absolutely recommend Own the Stage to any performer looking to strengthen their mindset, master their emotions, and step on stage with confidence.

Performing on stage can be daunting — there are so many emotions and levels of energy you need to bring to your audience. I was given the role of a lifetime as Mrs. Shinn in The Music Man, but during our first rehearsals on stage, I felt unsure of myself and wasn’t confident I could fill the theatre with this character.

Thanks to Miss Elina, who introduced me to grounding and breathing exercises, I found the tools I needed to prepare mentally and emotionally. Your guidance and support, both leading up to and during the performance, made all the difference. Your coaching helped me tap into clarity, confidence, and presence exactly when I needed it most.

I walked onto that stage feeling centered and ready — and I have you to thank for that. I’m truly grateful for your role in my journey.

I had a history of “choking” at high pressure moments when I was younger during sports or presentations. That made me very nervous about even trying out for AMT. (a pre-professional level performance) Own the Stage played a big part in not just overcoming that, but being able to really enjoy the whole experience rather than dwelling on what could go wrong.

What I liked about Own the Stage is when you taught us the different things and I loved when we talk together and the knot game. Thank you for being my teacher. You are the best!

I liked being able to talk and understand our feelings. I liked the movie reel –helped me to feel everything authentically. I learned that I am not alone, helped me understand proper communication, and helped us grow as a group.

I became more connected to myself through Own the Stage and work with myself better

Own the Stage helped me be more focused on and off stage.

Own the Stage helped me to openly discuss my issues with my peer and see how others were feeling I think helped to deepen our connection and the methods for focus and grounding help me both at (the studio) and at aschool and my personal life.

I liked having a space to unpack my thoughts and feelings with someone I trust. I found OTS taught me how to connect with my team as a whole and make us more unified.

OTS gave me tools to use and help me stay on track. It helped me gain some more confidence that I was ready for competition.

OTS helped me to work on time management, with my nerves and learning boundaries with myself and others.

Own the Stage helped build my confidence, learned that it’s ok to not be perfect and keep organized!

I liked how Miss Elina gives us suggestions and writes down everything we say. (I also love how calm she is).

I really like that you let me just express myself. I learned that I can change my anger when I am tired.

I like how we talk about how we feel and what we have accomplished this year. I also like how talk about how to fix things. The last thing I’ll say is that I love how you gave us tips and tricks for performing like breathing, grounding, power pose, connection etc.

Elina has been a valued member of our wellness team since 2022. Through her thoughtful guidance, she has equipped our students with practical tools for performance preparation that enrich not only their performances but also their daily lives. Her work has really helped with team building and team connection, and we have seen positive change in our students’ overall confidence.

She creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment where students feel genuinely comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, and goals. We deeply appreciate Elina’s expertise and the positive impact she has on our community.