| I have choreographed many different
routines in my life. My first experience came in high school when I
was a senior. I choreographed for the 8th Grade Show Choir. These
were real show choir type numbers that were really cheesy, but it was a start.
My main choreography experience in high school and through my first year
of college came with a group of five guys (yes, we aspired to be a boy band-problem
was that we couldn’t sing together). The little quintet that I was in
would perform to boy band songs (particularly NSYNC and BSB), so the choreography
was always hip-hop in the boy band style. As it turned out though, the
little group that we had turned out to be pretty popular. We would go
to contests, and we were always the fan favorites. Sometimes these competitions,
mostly lip-singing types, could draw as much as 1,000 people. This
was fun while it lasted. I still am the only one of the group currently
performing. Everyone else has moved on and decided to do other things.
However, this was the starting point of me learning how to choreograph different
types of numbers. This experience also made me more creative and a
better, more educated dancer. |
*This is the group
of guys that I used
to dance with. I always had a lot of fun because 3 of them are still my best friends * |
I have also done bits and pieces of choreography
within each of the shows that I have been in. During my 2000 summer
at Six Flags Great America, I choreographed "Bye, Bye, Bye" by NSYNC.
I used the actual choreography because I knew that people (especially young
kids) would recognize the choreography and instantly be excited.
Moreover, the choreography was brilliantly done in the first place, so I wouldn’t
want to change it. Then in the summer of 2001 at Six Flags Great Adventure
in New Jersey, I choreographed the boy band section, which included "Larger
than Life" and "It’s Gonna Be Me." These were choreographed boy band style;
however, I had to make the dances less intense than usual because some of
the dancers were not as strong. It was a hip-hop number, and "Larger
Than Life" was my choreography while I again used NSYNC’s choreography for
"It’s Gonna Be Me" because it was again too good to change anything.
Then this summer at Six Flags Over St. Louis, I choreographed an all-out hip-hop/funk
routine to "I’m Coming Up." I was able to choreograph the number
exactly how I wanted to because the best dancers were only allowed to dance
it. I did have to use some of NSYNC’s choreography from "Pop"
because the choreographer saw me screwing around with it, and she liked it.
Everything else in the section was my choreography.
I also do show choirs. This is how I make money while I am at school. I have choreographed the 6th, 7th, and 8th show choirs at the Onalaska Middle School. I have also co-directed the 7th graders (2001) and the 6th graders (2002) with my best friend. The dances that I choreograph for these kids are very show choir type. I usually have one very show choir type number that is kind of cheesy. Then, I usually have two hip-hop type numbers and one ballad. I have actually learned the most about choreography from these experiences. Show choir has forced me to develop pictures or visual effects on stage without props, so this has helped me to develop the ability to see different visual effects and formations that a lot of other choreographers don’t see. It has also taught me how to use different styles for different songs, so I have been forced to view many different kinds of dancing styles to choreograph all of the different groups with 4 songs each. It has also taught me how to efficiently teach because each of these groups has at least 50 kids in it, and each of them has his/her own agenda.
I also do show choirs. This is how I make money while I am at school. I have choreographed the 6th, 7th, and 8th show choirs at the Onalaska Middle School. I have also co-directed the 7th graders (2001) and the 6th graders (2002) with my best friend. The dances that I choreograph for these kids are very show choir type. I usually have one very show choir type number that is kind of cheesy. Then, I usually have two hip-hop type numbers and one ballad. I have actually learned the most about choreography from these experiences. Show choir has forced me to develop pictures or visual effects on stage without props, so this has helped me to develop the ability to see different visual effects and formations that a lot of other choreographers don’t see. It has also taught me how to use different styles for different songs, so I have been forced to view many different kinds of dancing styles to choreograph all of the different groups with 4 songs each. It has also taught me how to efficiently teach because each of these groups has at least 50 kids in it, and each of them has his/her own agenda.
| All and all, I have had a great track
record for the little choreography that I have done. My forte is hip-hop
and funk, but I can do other styles. I am also very good at seeing
different visual pictures and formations. I can also choreograph to
either the words or the beats depending on what’s needed. I hope to
do a lot more choreographing in the future. It’s something that I know
that I would be good at. The songs and choirs that I choreograph are
always a hit. Everybody loves them. I still do choreograph a lot on
my own. I just don't have the dancers to pull my stuff off anymore,
but I do stay sharp, and I observe what new styles are coming out. *Ending of the Mardis Gras section which is one section that I had a big hand in helping to choreograph* |
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* Us dancing at the Children's Museum for a
Christmas Function *