TIPS FOR CREATING AND REMEMBERING CHOREOGRAPHY

 Some dancers have a knack for creating, analyzing and remembering choreographies; others…well, not so much!  I've been getting a lot of emails asking for tips on self-creating dances and  also retaining the steps in choreographies that others have written...so here are some tricks that will help you work on your own, train yourself to remember sequencing and remember all the information in the dances that others have created.

 Creating Your Own Choreographies:

 TRUST YOUR SUBCONCIOUS TO HELP YOU VISUALIZE MOVEMENT

Before making a set choreography to a piece of music, let your “inner dancer” take over. Play the music you want to work with and just improvise to it a few times.  Chances are, your right brain will take over and create lovely movement appropriate for the music you are hearing. The right or artistic side of the brain is associated with expressing emotion, listening to or creating music, recognizing faces, colors and images.

LOOK FOR THE PATTERNS

Once you’ve done some improvisation with the music you’ve chosen to choreograph, you’ll probably start to see patterns in your movement, so write them down and hone them into “natural” combinations.  Choreography is never just a string of unrelated movements, so by working organically, you will definitely see the relationship of each movement, which will help with the flow and transitions. Take notes on what steps you’re using, so you will remember them- you can always add on to them or embellish upon them later.

BREAK IT UP

Evaluate the structure of your song, breaking it into segments such as Introduction, Verses, Choruses, Bridge and Finale. If you’re working with a drum solo, do the same thing with repeating patterns and rhythmic changes.  One you’ve divided the piece into segments, you’ll have a clear picture of what needs to be repeated, or where you can add in variations. This way, you’ll also have bite-sized chunks of the full song, and can work on each section individually until it gets fully ingrained mentally and in your muscle memory.

 Memorizing Choreographies Created By Others:

REPETITION IS YOUR FRIEND

Don’t be shy about asking your teacher, troupe director or the person who created a solo piece for you to repeat sections as much as is necessary. Repetition will help you remember the choreography physically and mentally. Drill the piece endlessly facing the mirror, and away from it, so that your muscle memory takes over.

CREATE  NICKNAMES FOR MOVEMENT

 This seems a little wacky, but when we nickname a person, it means we’re feeling comfortable and getting to know them. Same goes for choreographies- calling each movement or section by an unforgettable and visual name will actually help you become more familiar with it! Instead of something like “sixteen counts of turning hip drops”, use a crazy title for the section like “Slutty Genie”, "Weird Horror Movie Sequence" or “Michael Jackson Saidi”.  It’s a trick that is actually a treat for the mind’s eye, and will help you to remember each section.

USE EYE CONTACT AND BODY AWARENESS

Both of these techniques will help you to know where you need to be at any particular point in your group choreography. Catch the eye of a troupe mate; be aware of distance and placement as you form different patterns within the group.

For Any Type Of Choreography, Group Or Solo:

Write everything down on the spot, then type up the notes after you get home. This will not only give you something to refer to, but the writing and copying will also help your brain adapt to everything your body does.

Focus on just one aspect of the choreography each time you dance it. The first time through concentrate on the footwork only, the second, third or fourth time give attention to the arms, hips, upper body or whatever.

Once you feel comfortable with the choreography, videotape yourself doing it, facing towards the camera and away from it. You can also ask your teacher or choreographer to do the same. Seeing the dance performed both ways will help you remember it fully, and you’ll also be able to follow along exactly to the version done with the performer’s back to the camera.

 Last but not least, trust yourself. By relying too much on your teacher, choreographer or troupe mates, you run the risk of being unable to perform the piece by yourself!

  You can do it!