Thread: "Learning" to Create Choreography

Hello all!

I'm starting to venture into that daunting area of wanting to create my own choreographed (possibly group) pieces and I was wondering if there are any resources/teachers/techniques that might help me "learn" how to construct choreography. I realize that at some level, you just have to have the talent for creating a cool choreography, but I can't help but think that (like drawing and painting technique books), there must tools to help the choreographer.

For example, are there basic "elements" of choreography that are similar to the concepts of placement/negative space/perspective that are taught in drawing courses? Are there any books out there that are particularly helpful for middle eastern dance, or is the visual foundation the same for middle eastern as it is for ballet (for example)?

Wow! Sorry; I didn't realize I had so many questions about this!..l;, Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Oops!! I just saw lauren's thread....ask and ye shall receive, indeed! ..l;,

thanks lauren!

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/rest-belly...h-article.html

Ta-da!

You may also want to look at Nadira Jamal's Taktaba podcast
Taktaba She talks about principles of choreography. Price is right too, lol. They're free to download.

That's what I will be teaching at Amaya's Oriental Potpourri next weekend. How funny! Drive up to New Mexico.

Sweet! Thanks ladies :)

Road trip?! If only.... :( Good luck with the workshop - I would love to go!

I'll send notes if you send me your email.

Originally Posted by catwomyn

You may also want to look at Nadira Jamal's Taktaba podcast
Taktaba She talks about principles of choreography. Price is right too, lol. They're free to download.

this is great! I vouch for it...I've even taken notes on it ..l;,..l;,

Those videos are wonderful. I watched them all and really liked them.

Originally Posted by catwomyn

You may also want to look at Nadira Jamal's Taktaba podcast
Taktaba She talks about principles of choreography. Price is right too, lol. They're free to download.

I saw this a while back and love, love, loved it. I wonder if I saw them all, I'll have to go rewatch.

My article is more about the process of sitting down with a piece of music and getting started/getting it done. Nadira Jamal has a lot more info about what might actually go into the choreography.

Originally Posted by Psyche

Those videos are wonderful. I watched them all and really liked them.

Aw, thanks! I have a lot more podcasts planned, but they're on hold while I finish my the improv toolkit series, and that's horribly behind schedule...

When I originally planned the series, I thought I could make an episode every other week or so and have it done in a year. So naive. I had no idea how much work it would be when I first started.

I'm averaging about one a year right now, but I have about 12 more episodes planned in all, to cover about 15 topics, so I'm hoping to double or triple that pace once the improv series is finished.