Today we are taking a look at the choreography. This is such a rich field that there is no way we can cover it all here. We will discuss the basic aspects of it so that you have a good starting point. From here you can begin your investigations if you feel like getting deeper into the subject.
We will discuss the different types of choreography. We will illustrate the importance of choreography in the modern dancing scene. Let us go ahead and start talking about this fascinating aspect of dancing. Also showbusiness in general.
Dancing
You could write books about dancing. It is an activity that is as old as it gets. There is some evidence of dancing in every culture that we know of. It has great power over us and is something that comes naturally to many people. For all these reasons, we will only go through the basics here.
Dancing is a physical activity that involves interacting with music. You will need to be able to hear and sync with a particular beat. You will often need to synchronize with other people too. Dancing can be done alone, but it will often be a group activity. That is where choreography comes in. Let us take dance choreography step by step.
What is choreography
Choreography is the art of designing and working on dance routines. These routines can be very simple or quite complex. They will entail synchronized dancing and interaction between the dancers involved. A choreography may involve a single person or many. It can have everyone performing the same move at the same time. Or a more complex routine that would be more elaborate. Choreographies are used in every dancing style there is. They are often practiced and planned ahead of time. Although there is a kind of choreography that relies less on previous preparation. To take part in dancing choreography it only takes a skilled dancer. He needs only to know how to follow instructions.
To design a choreography will need a bit more knowledge and experience. You may be able to come up with a simple choreography without it. Some choreographies are true works of art in their expanse and complexity.
Types of choreography
There are two main kinds of choreography out there. This classification is not done by categorizing them by dance style. But, the techniques used are what is chosen to catalog them. If we follow this rule we will find that these two categories will apply to any musical genre and style. That is very helpful when it comes to studying this art.
We are not going to go into the technical aspects of dance and choreography studies. This is an endless subject and it would take years of study to learn everything there is to know about it. Choreographers around the world train for a long time. They do this to earn the right to design choreographies. Some of them work on pop music, others will work on other styles. There is often crossover between these. Once the basics are understood people are able to switch styles. In this way, they produce great work on each genre.
The two types
- Planned choreography.
This kind of choreography is the one that you would think of if you have no experience in this field. It is the one that is designed and rehearsed beforehand. It is the most traditional form of choreography. It can get very precise and demanding. You can find this type of choreography in all different styles of dance. Ballet is a very elaborate form of planned choreography, for instance. The choreographer sits down and designs a dance that will fit the music and style. Also, the story that is being told, if there is one. Ballet is one of the oldest forms of dance that is guided by choreography. It will not always be the same one that is used. Some choreographies are used regularly. You will also find that there are new ones being used for classics all the time. That is a way of ensuring that there is always new content within classical forms.
This aspect if not possible to do with everything in classical works. Music, for instance, must be performed as it is written. That leaves little room for innovation. Choreography is a bit more free to try out different and newer propositions.
- Improvised choreography.
Improvised does not mean made up on the spot. This is a common misconception. An improvised choreography will involve the imagination of dancers. But they will be moving in a field of choices that have been pre-established by norms, style, and guidance. It is another misconception to think that if something is improvised it is not rehearsed. Improvised material is often some of the most rehearsed type of art form. It takes a lot of practice to be able to come up with creative content on the spot. All this, while interacting correctly with other performers and the work itself. Often this kind of practice is reserved for the most experienced performers. They need a lot of training and stage time to develop improvisation skills. They need to be of consistent quality.
Conclusion
There are many aspects to dancing. Choreography is only one of them, but it is such a deep subject that it takes many years to master. It is often the best and most experienced dancers those that manage to make the transition. It is not easy to become a choreographer. Having this experience enables them to design and put into action their work. They must be able to communicate their instructions effectively in words and motion. That makes the job even more demanding. If you are interested in the subject there are great resources you can find to get you started on this journey.