The Essential Guide to Becoming a Dance Choreographer

T H E ESSEN T I A L GU I D E TO B ECO M I N G A D A N CE CH O REO GRA PH ER

PRESENTED BY:

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CHOREOGRAPHY

In recent years, we have noticed increasing numbers of students expressing interest in becoming choreographers; however, they are unaware that their traditional studio training may not be sufficient. While being a well-trained dancer and an experienced performer is of the utmost importance and a necessary foundation for any aspiring choreographer; the art of composition is a nuanced skill that dancers with interest in choreography must hone over time. Every dancer has their own artistic voice, but how do artists learn to express themselves with meaningful choreography? How do they transition from creating movement to composing a piece?

The lack of guidance for parents and aspiring choreographers is alarming, which is why we created this comprehensive guide. Our team at Francisco Gella Dance Works developed this guide as a tool to help emerging dance makers understand composition and choreography from a foundation that is fundamentally sound. The purpose of this guide is to provide direction and emphasize the essential components of choreography and provide students with specific tools that artists who are starting out need to consider.

For dancers looking to make the transition into choreography, the elements of composition that we?ve shared in this guide are vital. We encourage students to begin experimenting in creating their own pieces and to seek the specific knowledge that they need in order to fill in the gaps of their training. Just as new dancers-in-training begin with a focus on ballet and modern techniques, new dance makers must learn important terminology, theory and techniques to speak the language of choreography and to effectively express their ideas.

If you do not completely understand the elements in this guide, don?t be overwhelmed or give up. Use this guide as a starting point. As your education, training and experience evolves you?ll have grown to better understand and implement the concepts that we?ve shared.

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COM POSITION

A RO U N D - U P O F CO M PO SI T I O N A L TO O LS A N D ELEM EN T S FO R EM ERGI N G CH O REO GRA PH ERS TO LEA RN

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Learn terminology that is recognizable by other choreographers and dancers Choreography terms and stage terminology are essential tools that professionals use when dance making. These terms aren?t typically used in your everyday classes by your instructors, but are often used among choreographers and artists. Understanding the different creative elements of a dance will allow you to create works for different situations and stages when called to do so. If you are not aware of phrases such as mirroring, cannon, contrast, etc, you may want to attend dance training that focuses on choreography so that you can familiarize yourself with these terms and others that are used regularly in dance composition.

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Approach creating movement vocabulary using choreographic theories and improvisation Your movement vocabulary is the language you develop to create a dance. The vocabulary may consist of a few movement phrases and series of gestures that are used throughout the dance. In many cases, a choreographer develops their own vocabulary that becomes their signature used in many works that they create over time. Understanding how to move dancers across a stage; or how to manage time, space and energy by tapping into your toolbox of movement vocabulary will help create continuity and

fluidity in your choreography.

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Become familiar with The Speaking Body: how a body organically moves and invents movement The art of dance is the ability to communicate through movement. As a dancer-in-training, your instructors understand this and are mostly focused on teaching technique and movement. Most students do not understand how the body can articulate and speak through movement and how it all comes together and evolves into artistic expression. With training that focuses on this aspect of dance, you?ll have a better understanding of what goes into creating works that can be easily adapted to other dancers.

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Understand the basic structure of a movement phrase: the high point (climax or peak) and the variety of movement in a phrase Phrasing and musicality are crucial parts of a dance composition. Understanding the basic structure of a movement phrase will prevent trying to cram too much or not having enough within a musical phrase and allow you to make the most of each phrase in a song or set of bars.

Learn to harness the power in the use of space: level (from being grounded on stage to high in the air), geometry of space, stage space available and environment created The stage is your canvas, so equip yourself with the knowledge of how to draw the audience to different parts of the stage to tell your story, evoke emotion and add dimension to your composition.

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Be conscious of how to use time: accent, stillness, tempo and momentum How you use time is one of the most useful components in dance when it comes to adding details that are percussive and poignant to a movement piece.

As a choreographer, time and tempo are key components to adding dramatic nuances to a movement piece.

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Explore and develop the material elements of a dance composition: natural form, transitions, sequencing and movement qualities Developing material elements requires trying out movement in a studio. Putting your movement onto other bodies who may not be performing your piece in a studio can help you flush out the specifics of your piece before bringing it to a group. This process is often referred to as ?workshopping?. Experimenting with steps and/or improvising in a room alone to create and inspire your choreographic material is important as you will not want to waste precious practice time trying to work out the finer details of your composition. Presenting a piece that hasn?t been completed conceptually to an ensemble can create confusion for those that are trying to learn your piece, so it?s really important to have the majority of the material elements in your composition figured out - especially for a beginning choreographer or if you have limited time to finish the work.

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Incorporate essential components of every dance: intention, theme, simplicity and artistic impact These components are the key to a well-rounded, thoughtful and comprehensive piece. By understanding these components and incorporating them into every work that you construct, your audience and the dancers that perform the work will be able to better understand and interpret what you?ve created.

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Grasp how to effectively use silence, sound and music Sound selection can make or break a piece of choreography.

Take a piece of choreography and use different genres of music that are completely contrasting. Then for fun, try applying it to silence to see if you prefer sound with the steps, or silence. The results can be incredibly shocking. Silence can be equally beautiful.

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Introduce theatrical elements like gestures, use of props and bringing acting into the dance Use props, objects, a speaking voice, or any variety of theatrical elements to your choreography. Combining art forms such as theatre and dance can lead to very exciting and dynamic work.

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Research to find appropriate choreographic music that fits with the mood, feeling and purpose of your composition Learn how to research music, as music is vital to a choreography.

Being able to research and know how to identify an appropriate piece of music that works for your choreography are essential.

There are a number of online tools that allow you to listen and search for music endlessly.

Become familiar with these resources and start to build a collection of music that inspires you.

Be sure to archive and select music from varying genres so that you have a variety of options to choose from if/when you are called to compose something new.

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Understand group work; how to work with an ensemble and translate your idea on to many different bodies As a choreographer you must be able to lead an ensemble of dancers and translate your movement from your own body to theirs. You need to be able to demonstrate your movement, communicate your ideas verbally and translate your ideas onto bodies. You?ll also need to understand how to communicate your vision effectively so that the emotion and art forms meld together to tell the same story. In addition, experience working with a group of dancers with varying degree of skill is invaluable.

Learning how to highlight the strengths and work around the weaknesses of the dancers that you are working with will support you in creating a more well-rounded piece.

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Master the art of performance; what it takes to move a piece from the studio to the stage If you are going to be a successful choreographer, you must learn what it means to take your piece from the studio to the stage. This requires understanding how to costume a piece, light the work, edit your music and take the piece from rehearsal into performance mode. Seeing a work born into existence on stage is eye opening and incredibly exciting at the same time. Thinking ahead about how you want the completed work to look once all of the elements come together will create cohesion within your piece from start to finish.

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LEARN. CREATE. GROW

REA D Y TO GET STA RT ED ?

H ERE A RE SO M E T IPS TO H ELP YO U B EGIN A S A CH O REO GRA PH ER A N D M A K E IT A LA ST IN G CA REER CH O ICE

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TRAINING -

The type of dance training choreographers need depends on the interpretation of dance they wish to produce. For example, a ballet choreographer studies classical ballet, while a musical theater choreographer may study jazz, modern and dramatic dance. Contemporary choreographers often study as many forms of dance as possible in order to command a wider movement repertoire.

Speak wit h a ment or or someone t hat is support ing you wit h your dance career t o make sure t hat you are set t ing yourself up wit h t he right t raining.

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During long days at the studio, there is sometimes downtime between classes.

Take advantage of the time and dancers at your disposal for you to choreograph on! Start with something simple and film it. Show it to as many people as you can and take notes on feedback from your teachers and other dancers. Don?t expect your first dance to be flawless! Have fun with the experimentation.

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To be sought after as a choreographer in the dance world, you must be current with new dance forms and be constantly evolving and incorporating emerging trends into your work. It is essential to be knowledgeable, so do your research online or at the library on choreographers, companies, and styles. Research the founding/historic choreographic dance makers, in addition to the choreographers of today. Look across all genres: modern, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, african, ballroom, etc. to be exposed to diverse styles. This will broaden your dance vocabulary and give you the tools necessary to create impactful and more creative pieces of moving art.

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Often choreographers freelance for various dance companies or other opportunities because it?s important that you learn other skills to support your dance career in between choreography contracts. Learning the business side of dance or studying an entirely different career field such as web design, accounting or massage therapy will improve your chances for longevity because you won?t be forced to forego choreography opportunities in order to pay your rent and bills.

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IM M ERSION -

Join local and national professional dance and dance education organizations.

Some are free or low-cost and provide employment listings, networking events, and educational opportunities to members. Emerging choreographers can participate in these activities to learn new skills, get exposure to new styles and meet other dancers and choreographers with whom you can collaborate. Participating in networking and professional learning opportunities outside of your home studio are essential to becoming a well-rounded choreographer. Plus, the more people you meet in the dance world, the more opportunities you have to ask for recommendations when applying to dance schools or auditioning for jobs

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Go see as many live performances as you can of different types of dance companies. Pay attention to the various elements of the composition: the lighting, use of the stage and the various other components that we?ve discussed in the guide and how they work in harmony to bring the choreography to life. There is no substitute for learning dance composition through observing live performance. Make it a habit t o view live performances as part of your ongoing educat ion.

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We urge you to consider continuing your dance education after high school by enrolling in a college level BFA or BA Dance Major. Start researching universities and schools that offer strong composition for choreography programs. Choreography training varies differently from traditional studio training. There are special skills and capabilities that you will need to strengthen and receive additional training on in order to be successful. If you choose a strong program you will take a deep-dive into composition for choreography and grow in your knowledge of dance history. Understanding the historical canon of dance and the legendary trailblazers who have paved the way for contemporary dance deepens your own artistic practice.

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M OVEM ENT -

As a choreographer, you have to be familiar with music; how the beat beats, how you interpret the lyrics of the music through dance and how the transitions of the music changes. Musicality is one of the most important aspects of music and movement when it comes to choreography. Pay attention to how other choreographers use music, timing and their dance vocabulary to tell a story or convey their messaging.

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Never steal a choreographer's work. Instead observe how they get lost in their art, that?s the purpose of dance. Too many choreographers copy one another and dances start to look similar to other choreographers?work.

DON?T. Attributing the influence of another dance maker on your own art is very different than straight-up copying.

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Find your choreographic voice. This takes time and a lot of practice - and it?s a process that lasts an entire lifetime. So be patient and take risks. Be yourself which means you have to be confident in who you are. Don?t compare yourself to others, instead look to others for inspiration. Begin choreographing a dance by selecting the music you want, then head to a studio with mirrors.

Know the rules so that you know how and when you can break them.

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PRACTICE -

Just like learning a new dance technique, choreography takes hours of practice and experimentation. Schedule time in your home studio to workshop as many movement phrases, dance steps and gestures as you can.

Don?t stop until you?ve exhausted every element, emotion, phrase, or movement that comes to mind. Take your time. When we say you must practice a lot, we mean A LOT. Set time aside each week for this and bring your laptop with you on some days. During water breaks, you can watch videos of your favorite choreographers. Start with mimicking them and then once you are warmed up, see where your technique and your imagination can take you. From improvisation to already created movement, gestures and phrases,practice and experimentation will help you become a successful and inspiring dance maker.

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Having others view and experience your work is key to becoming a choreographer. And if you can showcase your work on stage, theatre or an auditorium - even better! Even professional choreographers seek alternative venues to workshop their ideas before presenting them to a dance company or creating the work itself. Don?t be intimidated, you must work your way up to the big stage. There are many opportunities to showcase your work from studio productions to cruise ships or local festivals. You could even curate your own show with other choreographers.

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Set a google alert for ?Call for Choreography?and review them on a weekly basis for eligible opportunities. Commit to applying to at least one a month or more. Regardless if your work is accepted, the process of applying better prepares you for a successful submission on the next round. It is crucial that anytime your work is performed in a professional setting that you film the entire piece. Most choreography calls require video examples of your work.

Every new dance maker has to start at the beginning, so don?t be afraid to show your work often - even if you don?t yet consider yourself a ?professional?.

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REA D Y TO TA K E T H E N EX T ST EPS I N D EV ELO PI N G Y O U R CH O REO GRA PH Y SK I LLS?

Au gu st 13-17, 2019

New Cen t u r y Dan ce Pr oject The Youth Festival for Performance and Choreography Unless you are in an arts high school setting or already a college student, there aren?t a lot of opportunities designed to teach the details of choreography and the art of performance. Francisco Gella Dance Works created New Century Dance Project (NCDP) to provide young dance makers the following: -

A place to come together with others who have a similar interest Experiment with movement by setting work on dancers Discover new methods of choreography that you never knew existed.

Learn the art of composition from master composition teachers Explore various styles of dance Perform an original new choreographic work Experience the freedom to find your own unique choreographic voice

At NCDP the core faculty and choreographic mentors will educate you on every facet of choreography and composition. Classes, seminars, workshops and performance opportunities have been designed to fully support each emerging choreographer at whatever level that may be. NCDP is the preeminent choice for young artists who want to explore the craft of choreography and the art of performance.

Learn more about NCDP and the finale gala for professional and emerging choreographers by visiting us online or emailing us: newcenturydanceproject.org newcenturydanceproject@franciscogelladance.com

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REA D Y TO TA K E T H E N EX T ST EPS I N D EV ELO PI N G Y O U R CH O REO GRA PH Y SK I LLS?

Deadlin e: Febr u ar y 28, 2019

Call f or Ch or eogr aph y 2019 New Century Dance Project Francisco Gella, founding artistic director of the New Century Dance Project (NCDP), invites professional and student choreographers to submit their work to be considered as part of the 2019 Gala Concert on Saturday, August 17th and the Student Choreographer ?s Showcase on Friday, August 16th. The works selected for the gala will be presented in the 550-seat Jeanne Wagner Theatre in Downtown Salt Lake City, home to resident companies Repertory Dance Theatre (also a presenting sponsor of NCDP) and the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company.

Every emerging and professional choreographer selected to showcase their work at the NCDP Gala Concert this summer will have the chance to receive a $2500 prize to be used for a new commission to be set on Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) of Salt Lake City. RDT is fifty-year old a seasoned professional company having performed work from legendary American and International choreographers.

Student choreographers selected to showcase their work at the NCDP Student Showcase this summer will have the chance to win $1000 to create a work at the 2020 festival to be performed on the Gala Concert Main Stage.

For both categories, there will be runner up awards as well. Studios and Companies are also invited to directly submit work for consideration with the permission of the choreographer.

Visit us online at newcenturydanceproject.org to learn more.

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