Randomthoughtshappen

What is Choreography?

For many choreographers, especially those just starting, it becomes difficult to constantly create new works of art. Creating and producing a piece does not come naturally to many dancers. Choreographing and dancing are completely different for many people. To dance is to be able to express emotion and art through the movements, and choreography is the process of creating a dance and setting the steps for others, or yourself, to do. After doing this process for many years some would get what writers would call, “writers block,” but in dancer form.

Where to get inspiration?

There are many ways to get inspired as a choreographer:

• Music:
  Listening to music is a great way to get inspired as a choreographer. Choreographing to the sounds or the beats is a great way to create movement and presents many opportunities to use different elements of dance such as speed, dimension, and timing.
• Improvisation:
  Improving music and not having set choreography is a great way to get ideas for choreography. By allowing yourself to move freely to music and create movement on the spot will allow you as a choreographer to discover how you interpret and connect with the music. Recording yourself as you improv and then watching the video after, can give you the opportunity to take chunks that you like and be able to use and set in your piece.
• Images and media.
  Using photographs, movies, poems, literature and artwork is a great way to gain inspiration when choreographing. Looking at a photo and choreographing based on how the image makes you feel or how you view the image can create many possibilities for choreography. Using poems, books and literature is also a great source of inspiration. Taking the meaning of a literary work and creating a work based on it also helps direct the narrative of the piece and can create a clear story for the audience to enjoy.
• Personal Experience.
  Creating a piece based on your own personal experience, or a universal experience can help choreography flow and help your dancers connect with your movement. Displaying your own emotions and response towards a situation is a great source of inspiration to draw from.
• Sight Specific:
  Creating movement based on everyday mundane life is an overlooked method when choreographing a piece. Something as simple as traffic, or the way the leaves blow in the wind can be a great source of inspiration. Watching leaves fall from trees can lead to movement the is slow moving and changes in levels. Viewing traffic can inspire you to create a piece that is fast paced and full of ordered chaos.

Some more great sources to get more tips on choreographing!

Dance Insight: Write down choreography.

Pointe Magazine: Choreography Tips!