Learning choreography is a process that any musical theater performer must endure. While dancing is great fun for some, it can be a challenging feat for others. Memorizing choreography can become quite a bit of work, and when coupled with all the other tasks that come with being in a show, it can mount quite the challenge. Thankfully, we’re here today with some tips for memorizing choreography as quickly and efficiently as you can!
Write it down. Jot down the steps on a piece of scratch paper somewhere- you don’t need to know the exact names for each move, just assess each and write down a quick summary of each dance number. It’s okay if this isn’t entirely precise, and don’t stress if it’s easier to write down “spin” than it is “pirouette”. Just get down a rough copy of all the moves you’re expected to do, in the order they appear in each number. This will help you remember the order of the steps, as well as being one of the first tricks to committing choreography to memory, allowing easily learning choreography. It will feel weird at first, but it ultimately becomes invaluable. As you continue to work this way, you can eventually develop a shorthand for identifying moves that becomes your own special “code” to help when memorizing choreography.
Mark it. Obviously, actually dancing is the best way to commit any choreography to memory. Unfortunately, it’s not very convenient to engage in an all-out musical theatre performance whenever you need to. Thankfully, just marking, or dancing a smaller, less exaggerated version, of the moves can be just as helpful when still learning the basic order and steps of given choreography. You can mark the dance when you’re in the kitchen, brushing your teeth, or watching TV. There’s no excuse not to be able to! Marking is invaluable when learning choreography – why wouldn’t you want to dance while brushing your teeth?
Conversely, go full out. Marking it is valuable for learning the basic order and steps of a certain dance, but it’s also important to go “full out” sometimes. If you spend too much time marking your moves, your performances will ultimately decline. It’s important to dance your routine full-out whenever you can. If you can get some extra time in the studio, run through it a few times. Otherwise, dance it in your room, your yard, your uncle’s house, your orthodontist’s office (okay, maybe not. Camp Broadway does not take responsibility for these decisions), or anywhere else you can find the space. Set aside time dedicated specifically to learning the choreography, and give it your all.
It’s all in the mindset. Before you run through your routine, take a minute to ensure you’re fully focused. Make a point of being entirely present every time you run through the choreography, whether you’re marking it or performing it full out. Ensuring that you’re really focusing on the routine can help you commit it to memory more quickly. Being mentally present is one of the most important steps you can take to learning important choreography efficiently and effectively.
Do you have any favorite tricks for memorizing choreography? Let us know in the comments!