How to become A Choreographer

• Dance Director
• Dance Instructor
• Dance Master
• Dance Teacher
• Dancing Master

What do Choreographers do?

A Choreographer would typically need to:

• Have a keen sense of who they are as artists and what their target audience needs to see; understand the production to brainstorm innovative ideas
• Create unique dance and movement routines to evoke intense human emotions in the hearts and minds of the audience and judges
• Audition dancers for a role in a show or within a dance company; select the music, wardrobe, set design and effects
• Listen intently to the piece of music being used; work out the timing and the feel of the different dance steps
• Conceive original dance moves and design ingenious interpretations and adaptations of existing ones
• Direct and encourage the dancers in technique & practice; invent and tweak the Choreography to ensure that the dance is ready to rock the audience
• Record dance movements with a keen appreciation for the technical patterns and formations of Choreography
• Design unique dance routines by studying new and emerging types of dance and other art forms such as theatre, visual arts, and architecture
• Assess the dancing abilities of students to determine improvements or changes needed
• Help with the administrative duties of a dance company, such as budgeting

A Choreographer will spend the vast majority of their working lives in a dance studio or dance hall or similar surroundings, working hands-on with their dancers. The dress code usually includes leotard, tights, and ballet or tap dance shoes, unless otherwise specified during rehearsals. Actual performance may entail relevant costumes.

Choreographers who work in dance schools may have a standard workweek when they instruct students, but they also spend hours working to create new dance routines. During tours, dancers and Choreographers have long workdays, rehearsing most of the day and performing at night. Choreographers may need to meet teaching demands in the daytime and attend further classes or performances in the evenings.

Many of the significant full-time professional dance companies have resident Choreographers under contract and invite guest Choreographers on a seasonal basis.

Choreographers are generally employed by:

• Professional Dance Companies
• Stage & Theater Productions
• Motion Picture Industries
• Private Dance Schools
• Dance Studios
• Local Dance & Performing Arts Companies
• Higher-End Casinos
• Theme Parks
• Drama Departments in Schools

Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for Choreographers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.

• Physically demanding with the risk of on-the-job injuries and strenuous pre-production hours of dance creation and rehearsals
• Intense competition coupled with intermittent employment
• Need to work daily, including weekends and holidays when work demands
• Frequent travel to stage performances means time spent away from family and friends.

During their initial careers as dancers, Choreographers study different types of dance and learn how to choreograph routines. Dance experience and teaching experience are essential because you need to be able to translate what is in your head to the dancers. Prospective Choreographers should seize every opportunity to gain experience and polish their dancing skills by performing frequently. Performing with or creating dances for local groups is an excellent way to begin a career. Dancers can move into choreography by becoming assistants to established Choreographers or creating brief pieces for their own dance companies.

Nearly all Choreographers begin their careers as Dancers very early in life and switch careers after extensive on-the-job training. Most have a high school diploma.

Some Choreographers follow post-secondary education and earn a bachelor’s degree in drama, fine arts, business administration, or communication. Some universities offer a major in Choreography or one-year specialist diplomas in Choreography.

Certificates from accredited dance schools add to your credentials while lending an academic perspective on dance and movement. It can help you gain professional credibility, stand out in a competitive job market, increase your chances for a promotion or advancement, encourage renewal, and help you become an independent consultant.

Choreographers usually start as Dancers. They move on to become Assistant Choreographers who teach the steps to dancers after learning the routine from the Choreographer. The next step is to become an Associate Choreographer, where you contribute some steps. You will then advance to become the Creative Director or Producer. Some Choreographers form their own dance companies. They often stage and direct presentations of their works.

Still, others become College Teachers, usually after obtaining a relevant degree. Better choreographic commissions and higher pay come in the wake of recognition.

Nowadays, Choreographers are found in a range of other fields other than dance including ice skating, choirs, theatre, synchronized sports, cheerleading, cinematography, and gymnastics.

Dancers who attend schools or conservatories associated with a dance company may have a better chance of finding work as Choreographers at that company than others.

Choreographers need to develop their sense of rhythm and their understanding of music. They must continue practicing dance and attend training courses to keep their technique fresh. It is recommended that they attend networking events to share and learn from their peers. Pursuing a postgraduate course in dance or choreography will add to their perspective and skill set.

Working with a Variety of Performers

Some Choreographers work with performers other than dancers. Complex martial arts scenes in movies are arranged by Choreographers who specialize in martial arts. Some help Actors and Singers develop their characters, selecting rhythm and pacing to enhance their performances. Others help create the signature visual image of Celebrities.

Forms of Dance

Choreographers also develop new interpretations of traditional dances. They work in all forms of dance, including classical ballet, modern, tap, jazz, folk, ethnic, and ballroom.

The dance world is full of superstitions. By saying "break a leg" before a show, people say the exact opposite of what they hope will happen on stage.

Choreographers, historically, are born, not made - their talents and passion drive them to it. When your technique, whether classical, sophisticated, innovative, therapeutic, instructional, or sensitive, is perfect, you will become an artist beyond compare---one who commands respect as much as appreciation.

While dancers achieve greatness because of their passion, it is a technique you fall back on when you run out of inspiration. Practice invites the perfection desired.