Jumping Into Choreography
not as hard as you
think
Facing your first
choreographic project can be really frightening! I remember when I first committed myself
to be the choreographer for a team of dancers --- at the time I knew nothing about
choreography. In fact I hadn't even been a teacher before, only a dancer.
High-stress situations like this can make you doubt your skills, make you question your
ability to lead a team and can make you insecure about your teaching technique. It is so
difficult to be creative and inspirational when nerves and self-doubt set in.
Turn
up the volume and move!
So how do you deal with this, get over the nerves, and get to work? Don't think, just
dance and do what you know! Rather than worry about the role or title that you now have
just forget you're a choreographer and instead become a dancer who wishes to share
creative knowledge. This sounds simple, is simple, and is the best advice I can share with
you.
When getting to work, the first
thing I like to do is to visualize a dance routine from the audience's perspective. View
the big picture instead of individual dance moves. Often as a dancer, one may feel wrong,
but when the team or dance company performs this move, it could look fabulous to the
audience. Thus it is best to focus on the overall effect of what you want to achieve.
Once you have pictured the routine from the audience's perspective, it is time to start
making up a short dance combination. Choose music you are familiar with and dance the last
routine you were taught but make some minor changes to all the moves. This minor
experimentation will help you get started with the routine.
Cha..Cha..Cha..Changes!
For example, change all the moves from flowing to sharp angles with lots of snap
movements. Instead of flowing the moves from count to count, hold each move for a few
counts like poses. Change all the hand movements to be fists or blades. Change the
direction of your movements to diagonals. Perform the routine in reverse. Place a kick in
the routine, the same one you were last taught, change it to a bent knee, flex the foot
and perform to a different angle. Add a step ball change with bent knees and low back and
repeat it with arms in the air and straight back.
You now have your own dance
moves. Add 16 of these moves together and try them out with a friend. This is the start of
choreographing! I'm not suggesting you take your teacher's or choreographer's moves as
your own, but change them to make them your own. You'll build your own library of moves
over time that will eventually define your own choreographic style.
To put these moves to music begin by breaking down the music. Again it helps to use
music that is familiar to you. Write down the counts or beats of the music for each
section like so:
intro 2 x 8 this means the intro
has two sets or measures of 8 beats each
verse 4 x 8
bridge 2 x 8
chorus 4 x 8
etc.
Decide where to place a dance block, canons (moves one after the other), formation
changes (patterns) or prop usage. Don't forget that you are the choreographer so you get
to call the shots! So far we have:
intro 2 x 8 canons
verse 4 x 8 dance block
bridge 2 x 8 change formation
chorus 4 x 8 prop usage
etc.
Place your dance moves into any
of these sections. Start on the section you feel most comfortable with and leave harder
sections for later. Choreography doesn't have to start from the beginning of the music --
you can complete it out of order and then put together later once each section is
finished.
Homework?
Nope, just research...
When inspiration
dries up or you experience a creative block, making it hard to finish the routine,
research other dance routines. I regularly watch the music video TV shows to help generate
new ideas. Other areas to research dance routines are dance videos of competitions,
basketball or football dancers, college or high school dance teams or dance school end of
year concerts.
When researching dance,
remember to use these sources as ideas for inspiration. It is usual to be concerned that
your choreography has sub-consciously been taken from another choreographer. Don't agonize
over it. We are all influenced by someone or something. Remember, no-one owns the
individual steps, so use them and put your own flavor to them. And later, when someone is
influenced by your work, be flattered!
You'll develop
confidence in your choreographic skills over time enabling you to try new and individual
moves. Unusual and innovative work can be very exciting so please don't restrict your
movements to the outlines I have provided. Have fun with choreography -- it can open a
whole new exciting world!
That's
a wrap...
I still remember the first performance of my choreography. I was so nervous! As the
routine progressed I peeled my eyes away from the dancers to sneak a look at the audience.
They seemed to be enjoying the performance and the applause was so lovely! I became so
proud of the dancers and learned that watching what I had created was a thrill even for
me!
Too scared to choreograph?
Nonsense! Just jump in and try it! Even 4 year old 'Baby Spice' students come to me with
routines they have made up. They have no inhibitions and are extremely proud of their
work. You too will be proud of your work.
Now tell me, what music
do you have in mind ...
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