What are the best practices for collaborating with a choreographer on a dance performance?

1 Define your goals and expectations

Before you start working with a choreographer, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your dance performance. What is the theme, mood, and message of your music or audio content? How do you want to express it through movement and gesture? How do you want to interact with the dancers, the stage, and the audience? How much time, budget, and resources do you have for the choreography? These are some of the questions you need to answer and share with your choreographer. By defining your goals and expectations, you can establish a common vision and direction for your collaboration.

2 Choose a compatible choreographer

Not all choreographers are the same. They have different styles, methods, and experiences. Some may specialize in certain genres, such as hip-hop, ballet, or contemporary. Some may prefer to work with specific types of performers, such as soloists, groups, or singers. Some may have more or less creative control over the choreography. Therefore, you need to choose a choreographer who is compatible with your music or audio content, your performance skills, and your personality. You can research their previous works, watch their videos, read their reviews, or ask for recommendations. You can also interview them and ask about their approach, process, and expectations.

5 Involve the dancers and performers

The dancers and performers are the ones who will execute the choreography and bring it to life. You need to involve them in your collaboration with the choreographer. You need to introduce them to the choreographer, explain the concept and vision of your dance performance, and encourage them to share their input and feedback. You need to make sure that the dancers and performers are comfortable, confident, and motivated with the choreography. You need to support them, praise them, and thank them for their hard work and dedication. You need to treat them as part of your team and not as mere tools.

6 Evaluate and refine the choreography

The final step of collaborating with a choreographer is to evaluate and refine the choreography. You need to test the choreography in different settings and scenarios, such as rehearsals, recordings, or live shows. You need to check if the choreography matches your music or audio content, conveys your message, engages your audience, and showcases your skills. You need to identify any issues, problems, or gaps that need to be fixed or improved. You need to work with your choreographer to make the necessary adjustments and modifications. You need to aim for excellence and satisfaction with your dance performance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?