Feeling slow to memorize dance choreography can be very demoralizing, especially when surrounded by classmates who learn new steps with ease. Whether you’re preparing for a performance, an audition, or just want to feel more confident in class, learning how to pick up choreography faster is an essential skill for any dancer. Some dancers (infuriatingly) seem to just come by it naturally, but like technique, anyone can improve with the right strategies. Here are five effective tips to help you learn choreography faster and retain it longer:
1. Watch! Then Move
When your choreographer first demos an 8-count, try to step back and just observe. Your brain may immediately go into overdrive, feeling compelled to imitate the choreo. Instead, give yourself a period to feel out the quality of the movement: the texture, timing, and form. Is it sharp or smooth? Tight and controlled or far-travelling and flowing? Is there a story being told or a specific emotion being channelled?
Watching thoughtfully before you attempt the steps allows you to get a grasp on the bigger picture. Plus, by not rushing in full of adrenaline, you avoid missing subtle details. Once you’ve seen it clearly, then start marking or joining in. You’ll absorb it more quickly with that initial visual context.
2. Mark with Purpose
It’s important to stay present in your movement, even when you’re not going full out. When your choreographer first sets the combo to music, use those early run-throughs to mark the choreo mindfully. This helps your body develop muscle memory without falling behind the timing and getting discouraged while you’re still learning.
Be clear and intentional in your marking. Mimic essential shapes, hit key beats, and find the moments of slow-down or pause. This way, you’re creating a map your body will remember when you transition to full out.
3. Break the Combo into Chunks
Almost everyone gets overwhelmed trying to memorize an entire combo all at once. Alternatively, you can mentally break the choreo into mini chunks as you go: the travel step into the turn, the body isolations, the jump into the deep plié landing. If you’re like me, there’s always at least one piece that you dread in a combo, knowing you don’t fully have the timing or nuances. This causes one to lose confidence in the steps heading into it, or miss the beat coming out of it, thus jumbling an entire section. Focus on fully locking in each transition movement before moving on.
In your mind, attach a quality to each chunk and feel it in your body. The floor section is melty and slow, ramping up into the footwork section that’s hard and fast. These tangible textures will help you recall the choreography under pressure.
4. Engage Your Spatial Awareness
Take note of where you are in the space throughout the combo. Is the choreography travelling forward, turning to the side, facing the back? Not only is a keen spatial awareness critical in a packed class or group routine, but it can also be a real memory anchor. Associate sections or steps with a specific direction or corner of the room. Your brain will create physical points to help you remember what’s next.
5. Stay Mentally Plugged In Between Runs
During downtime (waiting for your group to be called, or while your teacher is working with a specific student), keep mentally rehearsing the routine. Run the steps in your head or mark them small by the barre. Keep the music in your mind and rehearse the counts.
If time and environment allows, clarify a tricky part quickly with a nearby dancer or the choreographer themselves! Staying actively engaged will help keep the routine fresh and reduce the panic of forgetting.
Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash
Conclusion
The ability to pick up choreography faster isn’t bound to innate talent, it’s about having the right tools and mindset. Memorize combos faster by first being an observer, taking relative downtime to mark and run counts, breaking the piece down, and tuning into your position in the space. The best part? These skills boost your confidence, which is upstream from letting you access your unique style. Go further and maximize your comfort with class-ready dancewear, like All That Jazz’s Everyday High Waist Legging.
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