Are you a new dancer? Participating in creating the choreography for a dance can be one of the most exciting aspects of the art form. Learning how to move in time with the rest of a group looks fantastic and helps build a sense of connectedness. Here are four natural and effective methods that novice dancers and new choreographers can use to improve their command of choreography:
1. Recognize that you are a tactile learner at heart.
In the past, those who learned best through visual and auditory clues were the only ones catered to when it came to the teaching of choreography. Students in the dance class were required to watch and imitate the moves while they listened to musical cues. Learning choreography has evolved with the development of more tactile forms of dance, such as contact improvisation, in which two dancers move together while receiving touch cues from each other. For example, you should request to stand behind your choreographer and lay your hands on their hips as they count. You may feel the rise and fall of their actions through the movement of your hands in your body.
2. Begin by Hitting the Big Beats, and Then Move on to the Small Beats
Visualize the choreography as a skeleton to help you visualize it. Observe how your choreographer is performing the piece. Find the six or seven accents in the choreography considered the “largest,” and focus entirely on nailing those while listening to the music. When you have them, add the movements that have a medium accent, and then add the elements that are finer and more complicated last. Clarity can be achieved by using the music’s rhythms and levels.
3. Comparing Lyrical with By Count
If keeping track of all the counts and numbers makes your head spin, try studying choreography lyrically instead. When the dance motions reflect the lyrics in the music rather than the counts, this type of choreography is called lyrical. The element of emotional expression is brought to the forefront due to this. So, first and foremost, connect with movement through sensations and words.
4. Train your muscles to remember the standard moves.
Every type of dance has a set of fundamental moves that serve as its basis. Hip-hop has many rocks, including up rocks, down rocks, step-ball changes, and many more. Every choreographer has a core collection of moves they frequently use and incorporate into their work. These are called go-to moves. Keep these in mind so they become second nature and can be done without thinking.
Learn more: How to Handle Criticism in Dance