Choreo block is such a buzzkill, right?
You're right in the middle of a choreo session – moves just coming to your body to flow together perfectly.. when all of a sudden...IT STOPS.
As much as it can suck to get stuck, there are things you can do to get unstuck from choreo block.
Think of it this way: making choreography is a lot of problem solving.
How do I get from here to here? How can I highlight this sound in the music? How do I move my feet that fast?
It may seem daunting to run into them, but "problems" are actually opportunities to find creative solutions around them.
And these "solutions" make the piece even more unique and fun to watch. Here are 4 things you can do to break through choreo block and come up with some sweet sweet moves!
1. Dance to a different layer in the music
There are so many different sounds in a song that you can choose to hit. If you get stuck on the original pathway you were planning to follow, try highlighting a different layer in the music. For example, forget the bass! What are the lyrics saying? How about the pitch?
Pay attention to the less obvious sounds, or switch up from earphones to stereo to get a different take on the music. Moving to different sounds will also help make your piece look more dynamic and less predictable. Read these articles for more musicality tips!
2. Don't hit every single beat
If you're one of those choreographers who assign themselves the impossible task of hitting every single beat and sound in the music – don't! Or at least, know that you don't have to. A nonstop combo of moves is overwhelming for you, your students, and the audience.Instead of the most sounds, choose the right sounds. Be picky with the specific sound you want to follow. You can groove through the rest or just have a moment in stillness, or milking the end of the last move. Watch how Chris Martin just flows through all the lyrics in the first half of his "Like Woah" piece.
He hits some basses and snares, but completely ignored the voices. He just used the melody to help set the mood and flow of his moves, but only set choreography for those select sounds. Breathing through some sounds helps the audience (and your body) absorb a crazy sequence before or after that chill phase, and lifts some pressure off of the choreography process. Read these articles for more tips!
- How To Dance Quickly To Slow Songs with Paul Ross (Cookies)
- What Is The "POCKET"? And How Do I "Dance In It"?
3. Utilize concepts to think of unique moves
Do you have a move or combo that your body just always gravitates towards? For me, it's a weight change + touching my face. I DON'T KNOW WHY, I'll always just do it. I call this a "default move" – and "default choreo" is a piece made from "default moves." It's tempting to use default moves – you naturally revert to the easiest, most obvious pathway and picture, because that's what you've seen and done a million times before. But reusing default moves will result in all your pieces looking the same; just danced to different music.
If you want to create choreography that's uniquely your own, then don't settle for the default moves. Instead, invent new moves based off of concepts. The potential for concept-based choreography is limitless, because your thoughts and ideas are limitless. Just think of a word (or have someone give you one), and let that be your intention. You'll never run out of movement this way.
4. Take a break
Sometimes... the flow needs to pick up on its own. Instead of forcing it, take a break from your earphones and the mirror. Do something else that'll refresh your mind and soul in a different way. Take a walk! Meditate! Watch a movie! The brain is a muscle; it gets tired too. Pooping out moves for the sake of it is never going to create a quality piece. Recharge yourself and re-approach the piece with more creativity and a clearer intention. Watch this video for more in-depth tips on how to break out of your choreo block!
Choreographers have different ways to get out of choreo block, but there's one thing they all have in common: A lot of classes under their belt. Build up your arsenal of moves with STEEZY Studio!
