Need help with choreography? Feeling thoughtless as to what moves you want to put in your routine?
Whether it’s hip-hop or lyrical, every kind of dance needs choreography. The hardest part of choreographing a dance is getting started.

It’s OK to feel lost when you start creating a new routine. Here are some methods and tips to get you started.

STEP ONE
Listen to the music. An important part of choreography is making sure the moves match the song. Listen to the music several times and imagine what you could be doing. In a way, you’re seeing what the music “tells” you to do. It’s hard to understand the concept if you don’t try it yourself. Turn on the music, and let your imagination flow. Write down any ideas you get. If it’s hard for you to put the dance in your head, stand up and do the moves. It might also be helpful to listen to the song, maintain the mood of the song in your head, and then try to think of moves. This way, you can ensure that the mood of your choreography matches the mood of the song. Keeping the mood of the song consistent to that of the dance is important for engaging the audience.
Don’t stress over “bad” ideas. Generate ideas and don’t worry about whether they’re good or bad, at least not now. Write down a list of moves that you like. You can eliminate any ideas that you don’t like later. (more…)

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When it comes to formations, many teams like to keep it safe. The typical, easy formations are usually boring lines and boxes. Although it’s easier to make these formations perfect, it is dull and unappealing to the audience.

Audiences like to see teams take risks. That includes using new and interesting formations. Go ahead, brainstorm. Here are some tips for formations:

Find something that takes up the entire floor. If you are performing in a gym, utilize the entire space. Although it is good to stay tight and close together, move away from each other every once in awhile. It creates contrast and makes the performance more interesting.

Don’t play it safe. The easy formations may look nice, but aren’t very impressive. Take a risk by doing something new. Instead of a box formation, try something with harder with curves. Of course, if I offered any suggestions, then the formations wouldn’t be unique to you. Try to make formations that express your team, the music, and the dance. Spend some time drawing formations on paper.

Make formations mathematically workable. Before you start working on a formation, make sure it’s possible to even do it. Work out the spacing in between people beforehand. Once you begin working with the team, there should be little confusion. Making formations “mathematically workable” means that no rules of geometry are violated. This may sound ridiculous, but I have had this problem once. (more…)

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