CHOREOGRAPHY TIPS                   (Thanks to my dance teacher Robin for giving me these great tips!!!) Getting Started: Don't think much whe you first start; just turn on music, any music, and move.  You'll find ideas hidden in your own body. Make Sure it Makes Sense!: Make sure your dance has a clear beginning, middle, and end.  It doesn't need to be complicated- just make it have  some order. Music: Music is a great part if your dance, but it can also be very distracting.  Be careful with your music choice! Let it compliment your dance- not overpower it. Don't let the music control everything you do,. Some times it is better to create the dance first- and then add music later.  Be especially careful if you choose a popular song.  If the song is too well known, sometimes the people will pay more attention to the music than your dancing to it. There's a lot of                              great music out there, make sure you love it and it make you want to move. Form: Sometimes when you're stuck, and you're not sure what you shoudl do next,  going back can be very helpful.  Try taking a combination from the earlier part of your dance and playing with it in different ways. Here are some examples: Repitition: repeat it excactly the same Retrograde:   do it backward! Inversion: upside-down or inside out Size: Make it as small or as big as you can Tempo: Do some parts fast and others slow, with moments of stillness Quality: Vary it with a different energy(like shaky, sharp, smooth, etc.) Instrumentation: Perform it with a different body part Change Levels: Try it on the floor or in a different direction. Transitions: Transitions are key elements in a dance,Most will happen naturally, but most have to be worked through.  Rather than simply walking from one spot to another, look as a transition as it's own combination. Dynamics: What are the colors and textures of your dance that make it unique?  What are the loud and soft moments? Accents and climaxes are important,  The climax shoudl be the greatest moment of impact, even if your just standing still.  What keeps you watching the dance?  What will make you want to see more? It doesn't have to be the "biggest" thing, but it should have a big effect on the dance. Remember that it is no simple thing to be simple.  "Don't go with your first impression, don't go with your second, go with your third impression. Go past the obvious."