The job market for choreographers looks promising. Statistics show a 5% faster growth than average occupations from 2022 to 2032. This makes it an attractive career path for dancers and movement enthusiasts.
Dance choreography combines creativity with technical skill to create something both thrilling and challenging. Learning to create dance sequences can be an enriching trip. This applies to experienced dancers wanting to expand their repertoire and complete beginners fascinated by movement.
Choreography reaches far beyond traditional dance settings. The art form shows up in eight different areas – cheerleading, ice skating, theatre, and even cinematography. You can think of it as the art of creating and arranging movement, like in how a composer writes music.
This piece breaks down the fundamentals of dance choreography. You’ll learn about core elements of time, energy and space while developing your own signature style. The creative process becomes simple when broken into manageable steps. You can start crafting your own routines whatever your experience level.
Ready to begin your choreographic trip? Let’s move forward together!
PLEASE NOTE: Some of the dance styles mentioned below are not taught at Step by me dance studios, they have been added for internet marketing purposes. WE ONLY TEACH BALLROOM & LATIN. Click here for the types of dance page, to see which dance styles we teach.
What Is Dance Choreography?
The word “choreography” comes from the Greek words “χορεία” (circular dance) and “γραφή” (writing), which means “dance-writing”. American English dictionaries first included this term in the 1950s, but its roots go back hundreds of years. Choreography has grown beyond written dance instructions into an advanced art form with rich history.
Definition and origin of choreography
Choreography is the art of designing and arranging movements into ordered patterns. Artists create sequences of physical movements that specify both motion and form. Dance is its most common association, but choreographic principles show up in theatre productions and films too.
Choreography’s story begins in Renaissance Italy, where dance masters created structured patterns for social dances. These 15th-century choreographers arranged movements for court gatherings. The 17th and 18th centuries saw a clear split between social dancing and theatrical performances.
The meaning of choreography changed during this time. The term first meant written dance records, which we now call dance notation. Later, it evolved to mean what we know today: creating movement sequences for performance. Ballet masters in the 18th century, especially Jean-Georges Noverre, became “arrangers of dance as a theatrical art”. Their work made choreography a respected creative field.
The 20th century brought big changes to choreographic approaches. Modern dance pioneers like Isadora Duncan (1878-1927) brought in more natural styles. Russian choreographer Michel Fokine (1880-1942) expanded artistic possibilities even further. Since then, choreographic styles have moved between realistic and abstract expression.
How it differs from improvisation
Choreography and improvisation share basic elements but take different paths to create dance. Think of it like cooking—choreography follows a recipe exactly, while improvisation adds ingredients by feel.
Here’s what makes them different:
- Structure: Choreography needs exact, planned sequences that dancers perform precisely. Improvisation gives general guidelines (called “scores”) that dancers interpret freely as they perform.
- Creative process: Choreographers select, refine, and set movements before the show. Improvisation creates dance in the moment, leading to unexpected discoveries.
- Performance consistency: A choreographed piece stays mostly the same each time. Each improvised performance creates something new.
Each approach has its strengths. Choreography lets artists express detailed ideas, works well for film and TV, and gives dancers structured practise. Learning choreography helps dancers build new skills and explore ideas deeply.
Improvisation makes a great research tool. Many choreographers use it to create new movements before setting final choreography. Dancers can explore their natural movement style and build confidence before learning specific techniques.
The line between these approaches often blurs. Today’s choreographers mix both methods—they use improvisation to develop movements that become fixed choreography. Dance scholar John Burrows calls this a “cut and paste” approach.
Core Elements of Choreography
Dance choreography works through three basic building blocks that turn movement into meaningful expression. These elements give choreographers their tools and open up endless creative possibilities on stage.
Time: rhythm and tempo
Dance comes alive through time as movements unfold and tell their story. Time elements help turn simple movements into choreographed dance pieces.
Time in choreography includes several connected parts:
- Pulse: The underlying beat or regular pattern that provides structure
- Speed (tempo): The pace of movement, ranging from fast to moderate to slow
- Rhythm patterns: Groupings of long or short beats, accents, and silences
- Natural rhythm: Timing derived from breath, heartbeat, or natural phenomena
- Syncopation: Emphasis on off-beats in musical phrases
Each dancer’s relationship with time changes based on their musical accompaniment. Some dancers follow steady musical pulses, traditionally counted in eights (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) to organise movement phrases. Others might perform to irregular time structures or even silence. They take cues from soundscapes or pace themselves to their own breathing rhythm.
Music and dance don’t always have a simple relationship. Dance phrases can flow with music or exist among it without any direct connection. A dance scholar points out, “The fortunate thing in dancing is that space and time cannot be disconnected, and everyone can see and understand that.”
Energy: quality of movement
Energy shows how movement happens rather than what the movement is. It represents the qualities that give dance its subtle emotional power.
Energy connects a dancer’s inner feelings with outer expression. This allows audiences to understand the meaning behind each movement. Dancers work with several aspects of energy:
Weight: Light movements seem to defy gravity while heavy ones surrender to it
Attack: Movements can appear smooth and sustained or sharp and sudden
Flow: Movements feel fluid and continuous or restricted and contained
Every dance uses energy differently. One source explains, “Saying that a dance ‘has a lot of energy’ is misleading. ALL dances use the element of energy, though in some instances it may be slow, supple, indirect energy – not the punchy, high-speed energy of a fast tempo dance.”
Space: levels, direction, and patterns
Dancers work with space in countless ways, making it almost like another partner in the dance. The spatial element answers the question of where movement happens.
Choreographers think about:
Personal vs. general space: The area right around a dancer’s body (kinesphere) versus the entire performance area
Levels: Movement heights relative to the floor—high (jumps, lifts), middle (standing), or low (floor work)
Directions: Movement facing and pathways—forward, backward, sideways, diagonal
Formations: Patterns created by dancers’ positions relative to each other, which can be symmetrical or asymmetrical
Pathways: Lines traced on the floor as dancers move—straight, curved, circular, spiral, zigzag
Good choreographers see space like an architect. They look at both positive space (where dancers are) and negative space (empty areas). One choreographer suggests, “Use space as a painter uses a canvas. As a carefully structured expression of his or her deepest artistic self with respect to the dimensions provided.”
Time, energy, and space work together as one unit. Changes in tempo affect energy quality, and different spatial arrangements influence timing. These elements create the basic language of movement that all dance composition builds upon.
Choreographic Tools and Techniques
Choreographic devices are the building blocks that create expressive dance pieces that connect with audiences. These practical tools help dancers work with movement to boost visual appeal and share meaning. Anyone can develop sophisticated choreography by becoming skilled at these techniques.
Mirroring and unison
Dancers create mirroring when they face each other and perform similar movements at the same time, which creates a reflexion effect. One dancer performs movements while the other copies them in reverse, just like a mirror reflexion. This technique creates visual symmetry and shows relationships between dancers beautifully.
Unison happens when two or more dancers perform the exact same movements at the same time. This powerful technique brings unity and adds dramatic emphasis to choreography. You can use unison anywhere in a performance with any movements – from travelling steps to stationary gestures and falls. “Riverdance” shows unison perfectly with its impressive line of dancers who tap together in perfect sync.
Canon and retrograde
Canon works like a round in music. Dancers perform the same sequence one after another at different times. It’s like a choreographic game of follow-the-leader. The technique adds visual texture and highlights important motifs through repetition. You can structure canons in many ways – from simple two-group sequences to complex arrangements where sixty students move in succession.
Retrograde flips a movement phrase backwards by reversing the sequence. A “kick, step, turn” becomes “turn, step, kick.” This technique surprises audiences and keeps them interested while showing different ways to interpret the same movements.
Levels and formations
Levels show how high or low movements happen compared to the floor. Choreographers usually work with three main levels:
- Low level: Movements close to the ground (rolling, crawling, sitting)
- Medium level: Movements at standing or waist height (walking, stepping, balancing)
- High level: Movements with elevation (jumping, leaping, reaching upward)
Formations create patterns through dancers’ positions relative to each other. These spatial arrangements can be symmetrical (matching on both sides) or asymmetrical (different on each side). Lines, circles, clusters, and scattered positions are common formations. Using formations well helps choreographers create visual interest and show how dancers relate to each other.
These choreographic devices add structure and variety that turn simple movements into compelling dance sequences.
The Creative Process of Choreographing
A dance piece starts as an idea and becomes physical movement through a creative process. This transformation from concept to choreography happens in stages that help creators bring their unique vision to life.
Gathering movement ideas
The first vital step in choreography is finding inspiration. Choreographers draw ideas from many sources:
- Observation: People, animals, and nature can give us fresh movement concepts. Simple everyday activities turn into unique dance sequences when you look at them with a choreographer’s eye.
- Action words: Words like jump, turn, walk, or contraction build the foundation for original phrases. These words naturally contain dance elements of time, space, and energy that give us a starting point to explore movement.
- Improvisation: This method helps us find new movement patterns and fresh ideas. Recording improv sessions lets choreographers spot promising movements to work with later. As one expert notes, “Playing with improv can transform how they like to move,” which makes choreography feel natural to dancers.
Digital resources now play a big role in inspiration. Dance videos help build a personal movement style (without copying full sequences). Art forms like poetry, visual art, or music can spark unique choreographic ideas.
Developing phrases with flow
The next step connects individual movements into meaningful phrases. Think of a dance phrase like a sentence – it needs a beginning, middle, and end. Here’s how to create phrases that flow:
- Try different transitions to connect movements smoothly
- Give counts to each movement for clarity
- Make sure weight moves naturally between positions
- Repeat the phrase to find and fix any awkward spots
Movements in a phrase should connect naturally or through clear transition steps. One source puts it well: “Make sure the transitions between words and their associated movements are smooth.” Good transitions make the difference between a polished sequence and a choppy one.
Using motif and variation
A motif works as the heart of any dance piece – it’s a short movement phrase that captures the main idea. You can then shape and develop this motif throughout the piece to create unity and interest.
Here’s how to work with motif and variation:
- Create a clear, unique motif that shows your concept
- Build variations using techniques like:
- Retrograde (doing the phrase backwards)
- Fragmentation (using parts of the phrase)
- Instrumentation (same movement on different body parts)
- Changing dynamics, levels, or directions
These variations help one motif create lots of movement material without getting boring. This approach brings unity with variety – audiences can spot familiar elements while seeing them in new ways throughout the dance.
Structuring a Complete Dance Piece
The final significant step comes after gathering movement ideas and developing phrases. You need to structure these elements into a cohesive dance piece. A good structure will reshape the scene by turning isolated movement phrases into a compelling whole that appeals to audiences.
Beginning, middle, and end
Every dance piece needs a clear developmental framework, whatever style or length you choose. The beginning sets your theme and grabs the audience’s attention. Your middle section develops this theme through exploration and elaboration. The ending wraps everything up with resolution and closure. This B-M-E framework serves as the foundation that all dances build upon.
A dance educator points out, “B-M-E keeps dances on track to make their point and then finish.” Complex choreography with multiple sections needs its own beginning-middle-end for each segment. These segments contribute to the overall framework. Dances might feel unfinished or disjointed without this foundation.
Lining up with music or narrative
Your choreography’s structure often weaves together with music or storytelling. Music gives natural signposts to organise movement. The intros, verses, choruses, and bridges create ready-made sections. Breaking down your music track first helps you plan how different dance segments will line up with each musical section.
Plot dictates structural decisions in narrative dances. Characters develop in a logical order, with dramatic moments placed strategically. Abstract choreography benefits from narrative thinking too. This creates emotional trips that flow naturally between different states.
Balancing repetition and surprise
Repetition works as a powerful choreographic tool. Movement motifs create coherence when repeated. This gives audiences familiar elements to connect with throughout the piece. Too much repetition becomes boring quickly.
Variation provides the answer. You need enough surprise to keep interest while maintaining thematic consistency. Repetition of movements can develop ideas, build dramatic tension, or create hypnotic effects. In spite of that, each repeat should add something new. Changes in levels, directions, or dynamics help involve the audience throughout the performance.
Dance choreography is a chance to blend technical skill with artistic expression
This piece explores everything in choreography from its historical roots to practical techniques for beginners. You just need to understand three core elements—time, energy, and space. These are the foundations for all movement creation.
Learning choreographic tools like mirroring, unison, canon, and retrograde helps new choreographers create compelling sequences with visual interest. The creative process takes patience. You need to gather inspiration, develop flowing phrases, and build variations around central motifs. This step-by-step approach helps turn scattered movement ideas into cohesive dance pieces with clear structure.
Structure is a vital part of successful choreography. A well-laid-out beginning, middle, and end creates the framework for your creative vision. So your dance gains purpose and direction that guides audiences through an intentional experience rather than random movements.
Starting choreography might seem scary at first. Note that every professional choreographer started from scratch. Here’s my advice: start small with short phrases, try new things freely, and record your work to see your progress. You’ll find choreography becomes easier and more rewarding with regular practise. To learn more about Dance Choreography lessons at Step By Me Dance Studios in London, contact us now for customised guidance to speed up your choreographic growth.
The magic of choreography ended up being in its endless possibilities. Each dance you create becomes your unique artistic voice, shaped by your experiences and creative choices. You should approach this art form with both discipline and playfulness. Honour the technical principles but let your imagination soar. Your choreographic experience starts with one step, then another, and another—until you’re dancing.
FAQs
Q1. How do I start creating dance choreography as a beginner? Begin by finding inspiration from various sources like nature, everyday movements, or other art forms. Choose a dance style and music that resonates with you. Listen to the music repeatedly to understand its structure. Start with simple movements and gradually build them into phrases. Remember to record your progress and practise regularly.
Q2. What are the core elements of dance choreography? The three core elements of dance choreography are time (rhythm and tempo), energy (quality of movement), and space (levels, direction, and patterns). Understanding and manipulating these elements allows choreographers to create expressive and engaging dance pieces.
Q3. How can I develop my own unique dance style? To develop your own style, take classes in various dance forms to broaden your movement vocabulary. Practise regularly to refine your skills. Experiment with combining elements from different dance styles. Allow your personal experiences and creative choices to influence your choreography, creating a unique artistic voice.
Q4. What are some effective choreographic tools for beginners? Some useful choreographic tools for beginners include mirroring (dancers facing each other performing identical movements), unison (multiple dancers performing the same movements simultaneously), canon (dancers performing the same sequence at different times), and retrograde (performing a movement phrase backwards).
Q5. How do I structure a complete dance piece? Structure your dance piece with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Align your choreography with the music or narrative, using musical sections or plot points as guides. Balance repetition of movement motifs with variations to maintain audience interest while preserving thematic consistency throughout the piece.
