I just started working on my next routine for an upcoming show, and while it's fresh on my mind I figured I'd blog about what goes into creating an exciting choreography.

First, I figure out what music to dance to. Now, this is actually a very difficult thing for me. I have a few playlists in iTunes devoted to music I want to work on. This makes it a lot easier for me, since I don't have to go through the thousands of songs in my collection. Every few months I go back through my full library and add to the playlists.

Anyways, back to selecting music. This is really important; if the music is boring or doesn't speak to you, you'll have a very tough time creating a choreography that will hold both your and your audience's attention for long. Think about what style you want to work on (fast, pop, classical, slow & gooey), and pick 3 or 4 songs that fit your mood. Then, grab your video camera and tape yourself improvising to each song. When you review the tape, ask yourself which one looks the best, flowed the most naturally. If you're under a time constriction, you'll definitely want to pick the one that's easiest for you to dance to. If you have more time, maybe you want to push yourself and pick one that's a little tougher. And if you still can't decide, pick a name from a hat! Seriously, I've done that before

So you have your music. Time to map it out! Listen to your song at least a dozen times so you get familiar with the music phrasing and rhythm/tempo changes. I keep both a folder of Word documents and a notebook filled with combination ideas; it's here where I start to name each portion of the song. For example, entrance, baladi, happy travelling time, OR I even name them based on a story I have in my mind: meeting handsome guy, discover he doesn't love me, sooo happy to be alive! You get the picture. By naming each section, you'll have a better idea of where to change the mood of the piece and it'll be easier to recognize patterns where you can repeat some previous combinations.

Now your music is mapped out, and it's time to get to work. RECORD EACH SESSION WITH A CAMERA. I can't stress this enough! There have been so many times where I thought I had an amazing combo, but when I reviewed the tape it looked awful. This also gives you a great chance to evaluate your technique and correct any posture, arm, body positioning issues before it's too late. Additionally, if you discovered a great move but forgot what you did...well, just rewind the tape! It's so beneficial, and I think everyone should make this a regular practice.

Here are a few other tips while you're putting together your choreography:

• Watch clips of other dancers when you feel stuck. I do not condone stealing choreography, but sometimes you can feed off of the energy from another dancer and get a creative jump start.  Personally, I don't watch too many videos of dancers performing the same music as I'm working on because I want to keep the choreography purely mine.  Just find a couple dancers who make you excited
• Ranya Renee suggests a great exercise which helps me to turn music into a visual dance.  Listen to your music and draw (on paper or in your mind) what it sounds like.  Does the music get louder or quieter?  Are the notes getting higher or lower?  Lots of accents or more soft and flowing?  Whatever the music does—you do with your body. 
• Sometimes even if I've already choreographed a part of the music, I will push myself to find other combos.  In other words, I'll force myself to re-choreograph the section with all new material.  By doing this I often find really cool, creative combos that still fit in the music.  It's also a lot of fun to figure out how many ways you can make an accent appear on your body!
• Keep a notepad nearby all the time. I tend to choreograph right before I fall asleep (horrible for my beauty rest, great for The Art), so if I don't write it down I forget it
• Keep going back to the map you created and think about when to move across the stage, and when to stand still. Draw a map of the stage itself and make sure you cover the whole area...this is more important in a theatre situation, but I think even if you have a small stage it's good to have variety
• Remember to use all the space around your body—above your head, below your hips, out to each side. Focus your gaze all around you; use visualization tricks to create interest. Michelle Joyce has a great exercise on the Secrets of the Stage DVD where you "see" a feather floating through the air around you. You play with it, pushing it around the air, or sometimes you just watch it suspended in midair
• If you're creating this choreography for a specific purpose (such as a competition) pay a lot of attention to the time limit.  For competitions, choose music that will show off your ability to pull off several different moods.  Competition music will typically have an upbeat entrance, slower/more internal section (such as a taqsim), drum solo, and (time permitting) an upbeat exit.  Make sure you are able to transition easily throughout these changes

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com