How did you get that shot?!?

Photographing dance performances in the theater is one of my absolute favorite things to do. It's completely immersive and exciting to watch and to capture the perfect moment in a photo. 

Sometimes people ask me: "How did you get that shot?!? How did you know it was coming and how did you react so quickly?" 

Here's my answer: 
• The number one thing is to listen to the music. It's will often tell you when something big is coming. You'll feel it coming - when the phrasing is building towards a big chord (all of my years studying music performance in college have paid off!).  
• The second thing I do is watch the choreography as it also tells you when something big is coming. After you watch enough performances you can see the movements that prepare for a big jump.  
• The third thing I do is anticipate the moment (thanks to the clues in the music and choreography). I press the shutter button on my camera ever-so-slightly before I see the peak of the jump. If you press the button when you see the jump it's too late. I feel that taking a single shot carefully timed for the peak moment gives better results than using a “spray and pray” strategy of firing off a burst of shots throughout the whole move.
• The fourth thing I do is take the photos at dress rehearsal, because sometimes they run it twice. The second time around I can anticipate even more after having seen it once before. 

So to sum it up in a not-so-catchy mantra: Prepare, listen, watch, anticipate, shoot and shoot again if you get the chance.