I Work Backwards - Who’s With Me?
Every year I get stressed about end-of-the-year recital, showcase, and production choreography.
Who's with me?
As a ballet instructor, I am not one to give up too much technique class time to work on choreography because 'technique is EVERYTHING', right?!?!? When I choreograph for my classes, here is my wishlist:
Showcase the techniques and combos they have been working hard on each week. This includes showing both the right and the left sides but not looking like a class and to cooler music.
Have my students like the choreography & music selection because it certainly makes for better performances. When they enjoy what they are doing and feel confident, it shows!
Strive to NEVER EVER teach technique through choreography! If they haven't properly learned a step(s), it's NOT going into the piece.
Who's with me?
It's taken me a long time to figure out how to achieve my wishlist, maintain integrity with my teaching style, and reduce stress in creating choreography. So, I thought I'd share my 'teacher hacks' with you!
Choose music early - simple enough
Go back through lesson plans (from the beginning of the year) and pull out center floor & across the floor combos to include in the choreography. By the way - my students love when I bring back old combos from the beginning of the year because they remember them and feel so much more accomplished than when they first learned them.
Identify in music where those combos could be used.
When creating new combos for the piece, incorporate them into your class lesson plans immediately. I find class music that works for them. That is a learning tool within itself. And ta-daaaah you have parts of your lesson plan for the next couple of weeks! NOTE: This circles back to my mention of not wanting to give up too much class time to teach choreography. You don't have to! It's built into your class. You’re welcome!
I find that it's always a good time to work on walks and runs in class. They ever mysterious and sometimes awkward to learn. You know what I am talking about!
Now you have more time to work on spacing, formations, etc., which is a whole other learning curve. Right?
And last but not least - your stress has been reduced (let's be honest there will still be some), you can have fun with it, the students feel accomplished and confident in what they are presenting. It's a big fat WIN-WIN!
Who's with me?
