• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Studio Guide

Tips for Teachers & Students

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

6 Steps to Choreographing Your First Dance Solo

Last updated on July 27, 2018 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Whether you’re choreographing a dance solo for a student or for yourself, it’s definitely a skill that you’ll be glad you’ve honed. If you’re trying your hand at choreographing a dance solo for the first time, the process can seem a bit daunting. If you take it step-by-step, though, you’ll be able to achieve your goal. And you’ll find a great sense of accomplishment in creating & performing choreography that’s distinctively your own!

Step 1: Plan the Music

Before you begin trying to add choreography to a song, consider your intended audience and production aim, making sure each song you choose is the right length and is appropriate for that venue. Try to determine the musical style that offers you the greatest amount of inspiration. You want the song to be one with which the soloist will connect. As you listen to a potential song, imagine dancing to it. Once you decide on a song, you may want to count beats and make other notes about the song as you get to know it.

Step 2: Move to the Movement

As you listen to the song repeatedly, start moving to the music. You’ll get a feel for where particular moves work best with the lyrics, the rhythms, or both. As you continue doing certain moves at certain times, you’ll start to find your groove. If you’re creating the choreography in order to teach it to someone else, it’s still a good idea to dance to the song yourself without any pre-planned steps and see how the music leads you.

Step 3: Add More Steps

Once you’ve chosen some basic moves that coincide with the mood and lyrics of the song, you’ll need to fill in the gaps. As you consider additional steps, be sure they’re in keeping with the tempo, rhythm, and mood. Using distinct steps, you can demonstrate passion and energy, making those steps highlights of your solo.

Step 4: Put It on Paper

You (or the dancer who will be performing your choreography) will have an easier time memorizing the steps if they’re written down on paper. Seeing the dance steps written down can really help the process along; perhaps you’ll realize you should add more turns or that you’ve left out a certain type of move. Don’t worry if after writing it down, you decide to change it up — it’s all part of the creative process!

Step 5: Practice to Perfection

Remember, only perfect practice makes for a perfect performance. As you practice, make sure all the steps coordinate fluidly with one another. You will know you’ve rehearsed the solo enough when you can perform the moves without even thinking about them.

Step 6: Prepare for the Big Day

As you prepare for your solo dance performance, try to plan for a full day of relaxation, free from practicing or even thinking about your solo. That margin period will help you avoid freezing up when you’re on stage. When it comes time for the performance, you’ll be ready to dance your heart out!

From the Jackrabbit Dance blog:

• After the Competitions: How to Store Your Dance Costumes for the Summer
• Winning Dance Competition Themes for Studios

JackrabbitDance

JackrabbitDance.com is the leading dance studio software for more than a decade. More than 11,000 studios use Jackrabbit because the system saves them so much time, keeps them organized and simplifies communication with their customers. The beauty of Jackrabbit is the ability to grow and scale your business without outgrowing your software.

Filed Under: Dance

Additional Articles

Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 3
Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 2
boy learning how to martial arts kick
Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 1
Dancers: What It Means When Your Body Snaps, Crackles & Pops, Part 2
Dancers: What It Means When Your Body Snaps, Crackles & Pops, Part 1
Dance Studio Tips: Keeping Staff Members Happy, Part 2

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

nine − 1 =

Primary Sidebar

Jackrabbit Dance Software
Lyon Financial

Popular Articles

  • A Dancer’s Diet: 2 Ingredients to Avoid
  • Healthy Snacks for Dancers: Summer Edition
  • What Type of Dancewear Should I Buy?
  • Happy Feet for Dancers: Basic Foot Care
  • Happy Feet for Dancers: Avoiding Injuries
  • Dance Competition Planning: Find a Theme that Shines
  • Happy Feet for Dancers: Blister Care 101
  • Ballet Shoes for Beginners
  • A Dance Studio Owner’s Guide to Insurance
  • Dancer Life: What To Do When Bullying Happens To You
Jackrabbit Class Software

Recent Posts

  • Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 3
  • Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 2
  • Teaching Life Skills: Resilience, Part 1
  • How Old Should a Child Be to Begin Competitive Swimming? Part 2
  • How Old Should a Child Be to Begin Competitive Swimming? Part 1
  • Dancers: What It Means When Your Body Snaps, Crackles & Pops, Part 2
  • Dancers: What It Means When Your Body Snaps, Crackles & Pops, Part 1
  • Dance Studio Tips: Keeping Staff Members Happy, Part 2
  • Dance Studio Tips: Keeping Staff Members Happy, Part 1
  • Dance Studio Tips: Hiring Quality Staff Members
X10 Home Automation

Join the Conversation

  • caitlyn aldridge on Ballet Shoes for Beginners
  • caitlyn aldridge on Ballet Shoes for Beginners
  • The Studio Guide on Happy Feet for Dancers: Basic Foot Care
  • Worried on Happy Feet for Dancers: Basic Foot Care
  • Lila on Happy Feet for Dancers: Blister Care 101

Copyright © 2019 Sozo Firm Inc