A choreographer is a person who creates and arranges dance movements and routines for performances. This can include:
Ballets
Musicals
Concerts
Music videos
Plays
Movies
TV shows
Cheerleading or gymnastics routines
Figure skating programs
Choreographers decide how dancers move, what steps they perform, and how those steps fit with the music or theme. They often work closely with dancers, directors, and music coordinators, and may also teach the choreography to performers.
A choreographer is the creative mind behind the movement you see on stage or screen.
Choreography is the art or arrangement of dance movements. It refers to the actual steps, patterns, and sequences of movement that make up a dance or performance.
Example: The choreography in that music video was amazing!
Choreographer is the person who creates the choreography. They design and sometimes teach the dance movements to performers.
Example: The choreographer spent weeks perfecting the routine for the show.
QUICK COMPARISON:
Term What it is Example Choreography The dance or movement routine itself “The choreography was beautiful.” Choreographer The person who creates the routine “The choreographer is very talented.”
In short:
Choreographer = person
Choreography = the dance design
PEOPLE STRIVE TO BECOME CHOREOGRAPHERS FOR A VARIETY OF PERSONAL, ARTISTIC, AND PROFESSIONAL REASONS. HERE ARE SOME COMMON MOTIVATIONS:
Passion for Dance and Movement
Many choreographers start as dancers and fall in love with expressing themselves through movement. Creating choreography allows them to shape an entire performance—not just dance in it.
Creative Expression
Choreography is a powerful form of art. People who become choreographers often want to tell stories, evoke emotions, or express ideas through movement, music, and space.
Leadership and Vision
Choreographers enjoy guiding dancers and seeing their creative visions come to life on stage or screen. It’s fulfilling for them to lead a project, design routines, and see the final product impact an audience.
Desire to Inspire or Teach
Some choreographers love teaching and mentoring other dancers. They find joy in passing on knowledge, motivating performers, and shaping talent.
Cultural or Personal Identity
For some, choreography is a way to celebrate or preserve cultural traditions, explore their heritage, or share personal experiences through movement.
Career Opportunities
Choreography can lead to careers in:
Dance companies
Broadway or theater
Music videos and tours
Film and TV
Cheerleading or gymnastics
Fitness and dance instruction
Love of Music
Many choreographers feel a deep connection to music and love interpreting rhythm, lyrics, and mood through dance.
People become choreographers because they want to create, lead, express, inspire, and bring movement to life—often blending talent, passion, and purpose.
HOW PEOPLE LEARN CHOREOGRAPHY (TO BECOME CHOREOGRAPHERS)
Start as a Dancer
Most choreographers begin by learning dance themselves. Through classes, rehearsals, and performances, they develop an understanding of rhythm, technique, movement flow, and how dance routines are structured.
Take Choreography or Dance Composition Classes
These classes, often found in dance studios, colleges, or performing arts schools, teach how to:
Create dance routines
Match movement to music or emotion
Use stage space and formations
Explore improvisation and creative movement
Study Other Choreographers
They watch and learn from established choreographers by observing live performances, videos, or dance documentaries. This helps them understand different styles, storytelling techniques, and innovative approaches to movement.
Practice Creating Routines
Choreographers often start by:
Making short pieces for school or community performances
Teaching classes and experimenting with new ideas
Filming themselves and trying different combinations of movement
Where They Get the Music From
Popular songs: Especially common in hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary dance
Instrumental tracks: Often used in ballet, lyrical, or theatrical performances
Film or stage scores: For storytelling and mood
Music libraries or original composers: For custom work or licensing
Thematic choices: Lyrics, rhythms, or moods in the music often guide the choreography
Where Ideas Come From
Personal experiences or emotions such as love, grief, or excitement
Stories from books, movies, myths, or current events
Visual art, nature, dreams, or abstract concepts
Music itself, which can inspire movement
Collaborative work with dancers, directors, or other artists
Where Costumes Come From
Custom-designed by costume designers to fit the theme or mood
Purchased or rented from dancewear or costume companies
Created or altered by hand, especially for low-budget performances
Directed by the choreographer’s vision, considering the look, function, and impact on movement
How They Create Original Routines
Blend different dance styles or techniques
Experiment with timing, tempo, and rhythm
Use creative formations and spatial patterns
Introduce emotional or narrative depth through movement
Encourage improvisation and input from dancers
Pay attention to details in gestures, transitions, and pacing
Putting It All Together
Select the music
Identify a theme or source of inspiration
Build a structure using specific movements or motifs
Arrange sections and transitions
Teach and rehearse with dancers
Choose costumes, lighting, and stage setup
Refine and polish before performing
People become choreographers by developing their dance background, learning choreography techniques, drawing inspiration from various sources, and combining it all into expressive and original performances. It’s a creative craft that blends technical skill, artistic vision, and emotional storytelling.
MOST CHOREOGRAPHERS BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY UNDER MENTORSHIP OR TUTELAGE, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS. HERE’S HOW THAT TYPICALLY WORKS:
Learning from Dance Instructors
Before choreographing their own work, aspiring choreographers often spend years learning from experienced dance teachers who teach them:
Technique and discipline
How choreography is taught and refined
How to perform routines created by others
Working Under Established Choreographers
In professional settings, it’s common to:
Assist a lead choreographer (as a rehearsal assistant or movement coach)
Dance in a choreographer’s company or productions to learn their style
Be mentored by them and observe how they create and direct work
This kind of direct exposure teaches:
How to design routines with different skill levels in mind
How to manage rehearsals and communicate vision clearly
How to handle creative, logistical, and professional aspects of the job
Training Programs and Conservatories
In dance conservatories, colleges, or professional training programs, students often:
Study choreography as a formal subject
Work closely with faculty mentors
Receive feedback on their original choreographic pieces
Participate in student showcases and critiques
Apprenticeships and Internships
In the dance world, apprenticeships or internships are sometimes available with companies or choreographers. These roles offer hands-on experience and mentorship in a professional setting.
Most aspiring choreographers start under the guidance of more experienced professionals. Whether through teachers, mentors, or program directors, this mentorship is key to building the skills, confidence, and insight needed to succeed on their own.
The history and origins of choreography go back thousands of years. Choreography, which refers to the art of designing and arranging dance movements, has evolved alongside human culture and the performing arts.
HERE’S A STRUCTURED LOOK AT ITS DEVELOPMENT:
ANCIENT ORIGINS
Prehistoric and Tribal Societies
Early humans used dance as a form of ritual, storytelling, and celebration.
Movement was often spontaneous but deeply symbolic—used in ceremonies for hunting, fertility, war, and spiritual beliefs.
These early forms laid the groundwork for choreographed group dances, even if not formally written down.
ANCIENT EGYPT, INDIA, AND GREECE
In Ancient Egypt, dance was used in religious rites and royal ceremonies, often with set patterns and sequences.
In India, dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak were already highly developed systems, with structured choreography linked to storytelling, mythology, and classical texts like the Natya Shastra (an ancient Indian treatise on performing arts).
In Ancient Greece, dancers performed in plays and festivals with organized movements. Greek drama and chorus line movements were early forms of choreographic planning.
MEDIEVAL TO RENAISSANCE EUROPE
Folk and Court Dances
Medieval Europe had lively folk dances that were passed down orally and through practice.
During the Renaissance, dance became formalized in royal courts, especially in Italy and France.
Choreography became more documented. The first known dance manuals (like those by Fabritio Caroso and Thoinot Arbeau) provided step-by-step instructions for dances.
17TH–18TH CENTURY: BIRTH OF BALLET AND FORMAL CHOREOGRAPHY
Ballet emerged in the courts of France and Italy, especially under King Louis XIV, who helped establish the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661.
Dance masters began writing down steps and routines using systems like Beauchamp–Feuillet notation.
Choreography became a respected profession tied to theater and opera.
Jean-Baptiste Lully and Pierre Beauchamp were among the earliest prominent choreographers.
19TH CENTURY: ROMANTIC AND CLASSICAL BALLET
Choreographers like Marius Petipa (Russia) created enduring ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty.
Choreography became more elaborate, with emphasis on narrative, emotion, and technical skill.
Ballet moved from royal courts to public stages.
20TH CENTURY: EXPANSION AND EXPERIMENTATION
Choreography branched out from ballet into modern dance, jazz, contemporary, and street styles.
Pioneers like Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, and Merce Cunningham challenged traditional techniques and developed new movement languages.
Broadway, Hollywood, and music videos gave rise to legendary choreographers like Bob Fosse, Agnes de Mille, and Jerome Robbins.
Choreography became a central part of popular culture through television, musicals, and dance competitions.
21ST CENTURY: DIGITAL AGE AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE
Today, choreography spans everything from TikTok routines and flash mobs to high-concept dance films and Olympic ceremonies.
It continues to evolve with technology, global dance fusion, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Choreographers now often use video, motion capture, and interactive media to develop and share their work.
Choreography began as ritual and communal movement, became formalized in royal courts, evolved into theatrical and artistic expression through ballet and modern dance, and now spans a global spectrum of styles and platforms. It has always been a powerful way for humans to communicate, celebrate, and create.
Several choreographers have profoundly shaped the world of dance across different eras, styles, and cultures.
BELOW IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CHOREOGRAPHERS IN HISTORY—FIGURES WHO REDEFINED WHAT DANCE COULD BE ARTISTICALLY, CULTURALLY, OR TECHNICALLY:
CLASSICAL BALLET PIONEERS
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687) – France
Key figure in the development of ballet in the French royal court.
Collaborated with King Louis XIV and established ballet as a serious theatrical art form.
Marius Petipa (1818–1910) – Russia (French-born)
Choreographed many of the great classical ballets: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty.
Established the structure and grandeur of classical ballet still used today.
MODERN DANCE INNOVATORS
Isadora Duncan (1877–1927) – USA
Broke away from rigid ballet to embrace free, natural movement inspired by ancient Greek art.
Considered one of the founders of modern dance.
Martha Graham (1894–1991) – USA
Created her own dramatic style of modern dance based on contraction and release.
Her works dealt with psychological, spiritual, and mythological themes.
Trained generations of dancers and choreographers.
Merce Cunningham (1919–2009) – USA
Pushed boundaries by using chance and randomness in choreography.
Separated dance from music and narrative, influencing contemporary performance art.
BROADWAY AND FILM LEGENDS
Agnes de Mille (1905–1993) – USA
Revolutionized musical theater by integrating dance into the storytelling (e.g., Oklahoma!).
Helped bring narrative dance to Broadway.
Bob Fosse (1927–1987) – USA
Known for his distinctive, stylized jazz choreography in Cabaret, Chicago, and All That Jazz.
Brought a sexy, edgy, and theatrical flair that deeply influenced commercial dance.
Jerome Robbins (1918–1998) – USA
Choreographed West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof.
Master of blending ballet and theater; made choreography a storytelling tool.
CONTEMPORARY AND STREET DANCE ICONS
Twyla Tharp (b. 1941) – USA
Fused classical ballet with jazz, pop, and contemporary movement.
Worked with major ballet companies and on Broadway (Movin’ Out with Billy Joel’s music).
Pina Bausch (1940–2009) – Germany
Founder of Tanztheater Wuppertal.
Blended dance and theater in emotionally intense, surreal, and powerful performances.
Inspired contemporary dance and theater around the world.
Michael Jackson & Michael Peters
Michael Jackson, with choreographer Michael Peters, revolutionized music video choreography (Thriller, Beat It).
Set a new standard for pop performance and dance on screen.
Alvin Ailey (1931–1989) – USA
Fused modern, ballet, jazz, and African dance traditions.
Founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to showcase Black culture and stories through dance.
Revelations remains one of the most celebrated modern dance works.
GLOBAL INFLUENCES
Uday Shankar (1900–1977) – India
Modernized Indian classical dance and brought it to international audiences.
Fused traditional Indian dance with Western theatrical elements.
Ohad Naharin (b. 1952) – Israel
Artistic director of Batsheva Dance Company and creator of the “Gaga” movement language.
Redefined modern dance with raw, expressive, and visceral movement.
These choreographers didn’t just create beautiful routines—they changed how dance is performed, perceived, and experienced. They pushed artistic boundaries, introduced new techniques and cultural perspectives, and left legacies that continue to influence dancers and choreographers around the world.
DIVING DEEPER INTO THE WORLD OF CHOREOGRAPHERS AND CHOREOGRAPHY
The Creative Process
Improvisation: Many choreographers start with free movement sessions to generate ideas.
Movement Vocabulary: Each choreographer tends to develop a unique “language” or style of movement.
Structure and Form: Routines often follow a structure (beginning, development, climax, resolution), especially in narrative or theatrical pieces.
Musicality: Choreographers must be deeply attuned to rhythm, phrasing, tempo, and mood of the music—or create movement without music entirely.
Types of Choreography
Concert Dance: Includes ballet, modern, contemporary—designed for the stage and focused on artistic expression.
Commercial Dance: Found in music videos, TV, movies, and concerts. Often more trendy, energetic, and visually appealing.
Theatrical Choreography: For musicals, opera, and plays—often includes storytelling through dance.
Dance for Camera: A growing field where dance is created specifically to be filmed, using camera angles and editing as part of the choreography.
Social and Cultural Choreography: Community dances, folk traditions, and ritual dances that often have choreographic structure even if not written down.
Tools and Technology
Choreographic Software: Tools like DanceForms or LabanWriter help choreographers plan and record routines.
Video Recording: Choreographers often record rehearsals to refine movement and staging.
Notation Systems: Systems like Labanotation or Benesh Movement Notation are used to write down dances (though not widely used outside academia).
Collaborations
Multidisciplinary Teams: Choreographers often work closely with:
Composers and musicians for original scores.
Costume and set designers to match the visual tone.
Lighting designers to enhance the mood and focus of movement.
The success of a performance often depends on how well these elements are integrated.
Career Paths
Freelance vs. Company Choreographers: Some work independently on different projects; others are resident choreographers with ballet or dance companies.
Teaching and Workshops: Many choreographers also teach at studios, colleges, or festivals to earn income and pass on their approach.
Dance Festivals and Residencies: These are key for gaining exposure, testing new works, and collaborating with other artists.
Challenges Choreographers Face
Funding and Resources: Especially for independent artists, producing dance works can be financially difficult.
Originality vs. Trends: Balancing innovation with audience appeal is often a challenge.
Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting the origins of certain dance styles is critical in today’s global dance scene.
Physical Demands: Choreographers often demonstrate movement themselves, so physical endurance and injury prevention remain important.
Cultural and Social Impact
Choreography is often used to:
Comment on social or political issues (e.g., race, identity, war, oppression).
Preserve cultural traditions or reclaim them in modern ways.
Unify communities through shared movement experiences.
Famous Dance Companies
Understanding the influence of world-renowned dance companies can help you recognize where a choreographer’s impact is most visible. Some include:
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Martha Graham Dance Company
Batsheva Dance Company (Israel)
The Royal Ballet (UK)
New York City Ballet
Paris Opera Ballet
Modern Platforms for Exposure
Social media and YouTube: Many choreographers now build a name by sharing choreography online (e.g., Matt Steffanina, Kyle Hanagami).
Dance TV shows: So You Think You Can Dance, World of Dance, and others have brought many choreographers to mainstream attention.
Ethics in Choreography
Consent and boundaries: Especially important in partner or contact work.
Respecting cultural origins: Avoiding appropriation by studying and crediting the source of movement traditions.
Intellectual property: Choreography can be copyrighted—especially for stage and screen productions.
Choreography is far more than simply arranging steps to music—it’s a rich, expressive art form that combines creativity, discipline, cultural awareness, and storytelling.
Whether crafted for the stage, screen, or street, choreography has the power to move people emotionally, provoke thought, and celebrate both individuality and shared human experience. It’s an ever-evolving language that speaks not only through the body but through the soul of the choreographer and the dancer alike.
For those aspiring to become choreographers, the path often begins with curiosity, a love for movement, and a willingness to study and absorb influences from many places—teachers, mentors, music, life, and other cultures. It takes patience to develop a voice, courage to take creative risks, and dedication to the craft over time.
But for many, the rewards lie not only in applause or recognition but in the transformative power of helping others connect to themselves and the world through movement.
Ultimately, choreographers shape more than routines—they shape culture. Whether their work is grounded in tradition or pushing the boundaries of what dance can be, they leave behind a living legacy that continues to inspire.
Understanding the history, processes, challenges, and impact of choreography opens a window into a uniquely human art form that continues to evolve with each generation.
IF YOU WANT TO DIVE DEEPER INTO CHOREOGRAPHY AND THE WORLD OF CHOREOGRAPHERS, HERE ARE SOME EXCELLENT RESOURCES ACROSS DIFFERENT FORMATS TO EXPLORE:
Books
- “The Intimate Act of Choreography” by Lynne Anne Blom and L. Tarin Chaplin — A detailed guide on the creative process behind choreography.
- “Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation” by Sandra Cerny Minton — Great for beginners interested in learning practical choreography techniques.
- “Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet” by Jennifer Homans — Provides a rich historical perspective on ballet and its choreographers.
- “Dancing Modernism/Performing Politics” by Susan Leigh Foster — Explores modern dance and its cultural impact.
Online Platforms and Websites
- Dance Magazine (dancemagazine.com) — News, interviews, and insights on dance and choreographers worldwide.
- American Dance Festival (americandancefestival.org) — Offers articles, workshops, and performances from leading modern dance choreographers.
- Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive (jacobspillow.org/interactive) — A digital archive with videos and interviews from many influential choreographers.
Documentaries and Films
- “First Position” (2011) — Follows young ballet dancers and highlights the role of choreography in their training.
- “Pina” (2011) — A stunning film about Pina Bausch’s choreography and dance theater.
- “Move” (2019) — Documentary showcasing the work of several modern choreographers and their creative process.
Classes and Workshops
- Check out local dance studios or community centers for choreography workshops.
- Online platforms like MasterClass, Udemy, and CLI Studios often offer courses taught by professional choreographers.
- Many universities with performing arts programs offer online lectures or open courses on dance and choreography.
Social Media & YouTube
- Follow well-known choreographers and dance companies on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for behind-the-scenes content and choreography breakdowns.
- Channels like DanceOn, 1MILLION Dance Studio, and choreographers like Kyle Hanagami and Matt Steffanina share tutorials and original choreography.
Exploring these resources will give you a more complete understanding of choreography’s art, history, and practice.