“It’s not as simple as having a great song or being a nice person… those things are important, but it’s so much more now; it’s understanding the world because we’re able to. We’re able to log-on to the web. It’s a weird kinda evolution that’s happening. A lot of people grasp onto it but a lot of people are in denial. You can use it to your advantage if that’s what you want to do.”

- Fritz Helder, Performance Coach & Perfomer

Fritz Helder

Fritz Helder is a 3rd Voice guest teacher and stage performance coach, who aids singers and musicians in becoming engaging performers. He helps bring an awareness to a vocalists movement habits by decoding the semiotics of performance body language.

Fritz continues to work closely with international Hit Recording Artist Nelly Furtado as her performance coach, choreographer, dancer and creative consultant including work on her widely acclaimed “Loose” album and “Get Loose” world tour.

Fritz offers a wide range of solutions for performance related issues – from managing/dealing with stage fright to movement coaching and understanding and implementing choreography for singers and musicians. He specializes in coaching beginner to advanced performers to overcome their specific performance related “glitches” or insecurities. His work with clients includes:

• A warm up: a series of simple movements that will release common tension
• Creating an onstage persona to help with stage freight or nerves
• Working with imagery pertaining to the specific song you are singing/writing and portraying that through your body language
• Working with eye focus, intensity, and audience connection
• Simple confidence boosting exercises
• Helping students keep their audience engaged between songs…staying in character when not singing… when relevant to the student.

Fritz Helder is no stranger to the stage and performing. Prior to working with Ms Furtado, Fritz was an accomplished contemporary dancer and choreographer Performing and choreographing with Canada’s strongest talent. Since a young age, he has spent over 17 years on stage dancing, acting and singing in various live and recorded productions from community- theater, the Ffida international Dance Festival and more recently the 2006 and 07 MTV video music awards and the 2006 World Music Awards. Fritz also is also the front man for the electro dance band “Fritz Helder and the Phantoms”

Fritz’s most recent work as choreographer and creative consult can be seen on the Nelly Furtado “Get Loose World Tour” DVD. You can also see fritz in action with his own music project at: www.fritzhelder.com.

I really enjoyed my session with Fritz. We talked about what makes a good performer… He suggested finding a focal point during a song and sticking to that, and also suggested using a mirror to see myself and be comfortable with seeing myself, which has been helpful advice. I definitely want to work with him more and track my progress!

- Austin Headley, Toronto, R&B