When is it Time to Rewrite Choreography?

Choreography is a constantly evolving piece of artwork. There are a million factors that come into play when deciding whether it’s time to change a piece of choreography, and it’s not always easy to know if it’s the right move to make a change. In this blog, I’m going to break down the process I use when considering rewriting choreography.  

Before you decide to change choreography, determine why that section is on your radar for a change in the first place. In my experience, it comes down to one of two big reasons- musicality or student achievement. Once you identify the problem, you can continue your flow of questions to guide your choices! 

Problem Source: Musicality & General Effect

Is the current choreography fulfilling the music? Does it match the styling of the music? Does the choreography have the same emphases as the music or is there something lacking? Could I make a slight change to make this section really pop? 

Musicality in choreography is essential! While it’s important to be musical in your first round of choreography, after a few months of a show/song you’ll always pick up on a phrase or two that can be more musical. This is one of the best parts of receiving tapes from a judge- having a fresh set of eyes can open you up to a new perspective on a section.

Problem Source: Student Achievement

This can go both ways! Students overachieving and students struggling can be the source of choreography changes, but each needs a different approach. 

Overachieving– the solution to this is adding to a phrase or a skill that bumps up the level- adding more complex body, adding more speed or rotation to a skill, or completely rewriting a portion of the show. 

Underachieving– This is where you as the instructor need to reflect. Will this phrase improve to a satisfactory level with some dedicated rehearsing of the section? Is a single skill (like a toss) holding back an otherwise successful phrase? What’s the level of ‘importance’ of the phrase? What impact will changing the phrase have on your show and is it positive or negative?

Whether it’s with overachieving or underachieving a phrase, the most important part is you as an instructor knowing your students. If you believe that your performers can get a skill with a little more time, then keep it and really refine it! If it’s been 3 months and they still can’t catch the trick toss, maybe it’s time to consider having a smaller group do the skill or just save it for a future show. 

The Final Factor- TIME

While time is rarely the source of the problem, it can be an enormous factor in deciding to make edits. Depending on the age and experience level of your group, an ill-timed choreography change can be disastrous and even worse than leaving the ‘offending’ phrase as-is. 

When time is an important factor, consider what your group can handle and if you really have enough rehearsal time to incorporate the change. The most important thing is that the performers feel comfortable and well-rehearsed before they set foot on the floor for a show. 

Some tips on introducing a change. . .

No matter what a group’s experience level is, explaining *why* a change in choreography is happening is massively educational, whether it’s Regional A or World Class. 

Making something easier? Frame it in terms of confidence! Say, “we’ve had this phrase for a little over a month and too many of us are still struggling with this skill- I have a small change we are going to make so you can focus on your performance qualities and not be stressed the 16 counts leading up to the toss!” 

Making something harder? Use this as a chance to build them up! Say, “you’ve been rocking this 16 with so much confidence! It’s time to add a little extra flair and choreography to really show off your skills.” 

Just changing something to make it more musical or to add general effect? Use it as a chance to teach your students about musicality and how color guard is an evolving artwork! You can even use it to teach your guard about the sheets they are being judged on and how musicality and general effect play into the scores.  

Remember— changing choreography is not saying you or your students have “failed”– it’s a way of demonstrating that you are creating a customized experience to maximize student learning with confidence building. 

Not sure about a phrase? Do you have other questions you consider before changing choreography? Share with us in the comments!