Tips on creating belly dance choreography – Part 3
- If your choreography is for a group, you can create dynamics, i.e. split the group in two parts and have them move in different directions or in a question and answer way.
- Choose to pause sometimes, even when the music is continuing. This will give more drama to your performance, show you are in control and highlight even more the energetic ‘wow’ moments.
- If you are working on a choreography with a group, watch them dance. If you are on your own, video record yourself. Seeing the performance from the outside will give you a better idea of the overall effect and if some movement needs amending.
- Use your gaze to direct the audience’s attention where you want it to be. Look at
the audience most of the time, but, if you want to draw attention to a part of your body, look towards it. For example, if your hips are doing some interesting accent, look at them gazing downwards, to drive attention to that movement. - As part of your choreography, plan an entrance at the beginning of the song and an exit or a pose at the end.
- Build your choreography around the easier parts of the songs to choreograph. In every song there will be parts that are more obvious than others to think of movements for, or that you like the most. Identify these parts, choreograph them first and then fill the gaps.
- Create first a simple step and movements pattern; then develop it and add layers to it, if needed.
- Do not try and cram all the moves you know and all complicated moves into the song. Mix simple movements with more complicated ones, so that the ones requiring more skill will be highlighted more. Having said this, sometimes it requires an incredible amount of skill to do a simple movement very well and with feeling.
Go to Part 1 of belly dance choreography.
Go to Part 2 of belly dance choreography.
Back to Dance Guides page.
