The art of Choreography...

where to begin...

“What story am I telling today? Which moments would I like to create...”

When I've decided on which story to tell, the first thing that needs to be figured out is the venue... How big is this production? Is it a black box? Where is the audience going to be... How big is the stage? When you have chosen your venue you are ready to create.

Grand Battement

Once you have figured out the venue, the next obstacles are the sets. Do your dancers interact with the sets? Do they take up much of the stage? If there are no sets or few sets then you are ready to get down to the nitty gritty.

For me, the transformation from idea to actuality happens with the music. In my previous productions I have combined different composers from my favourite era, (post romantic), to create my stories. I find it difficult to stick with one single composer throughout the ballet unless it is a production of the Nutcracker or something of the like. In my experience if you can get away with interpreting music combinations it makes the production more unique. But you must have an ear and the talent to blend.

Now the steps... I close my eyes and allow my mind to wander. Listening to every note played, allowing the landscape to create itself. The colours, the mood, the patterns, the scene, but most importantly the story. Who are my characters and what makes them genuine. That's what pulls the audience in... the authenticity of the characters. Otherwise the audience gets bored and starts to critique technique...

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