The Art of Stage Presence

What does it mean to have stage presence? At our recent Salon Session, hosted by Manjira Mazumdar, two performers shared their journeys:

Both reminded us that presence is not about perfection. It’s about connection.

Victor Arcturus – Dominican-born actor and physical theatre artist.

Marco explained how he prepares with makeup, warm-ups, and even moments of release before stepping on stage: “I stretch, cry a little, then use that energy. I’m not scared to feel anymore, I channel it.”

Gian Marco – Italian drag queen and storyteller

Victor described presence as an ongoing practice: “Improvisation starts with listening. The best acting comes from presence, not perfection.”

Beyond talent, they highlighted skills every artist must learn: self-motivation, adaptability, and community building. Stage presence is not limited to theatre or drag.

The qualities that allow a performer to hold an audience's focus, authenticity, listening, and emotional awareness are equally valuable in other areas of life.

Leaders need presence to inspire trust and guide their teams. Teachers use presence to engage a classroom and create safe spaces for learning. Even in everyday interactions, presence allows us to connect more deeply with others, to listen actively, and to respond with clarity and empathy.

In this way, stage presence becomes a universal skill, not about commanding attention, but about cultivating awareness and connection wherever we are.

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As Victor concluded:

“The best thing in acting is that it’s an ongoing process. It’s not going to stop.” We think it refers to everyday life. Stage presence, then, is not about commanding attention; it’s about being fully present with yourself and others.