Tips for Memorizing Group Choreographies
Here are some tips and strategies on how to make sure that get ready as best as you can to perform with a group, and that the chances that you would forget something are minimal.
One of the most common fears that makes dancers experience performance anxiety and panic is forgetting a choreography! If you are performing solo, you can always hide it with a short improvisation until you are back on track with your planned routine. But it's much more difficult to hide such mistake if you are performing in a group.
Here are some tips and strategies on how to make sure that get ready as best as you can to perform with a group, and that the chances that you would forget something are minimal:
Make sure it's YOU who knows the choreo. - You should be able to run the choreo smoothly on your own. Do it in your mind, imagining the music (which is another great checkpoint how good you memorized everything), AND physically, get up and dance to the music but without anyone else dancing with you. It would be great if you can do this second part in front of your dance peers. This way you also will work on getting used to other people watching you, a skill that will be useful during the actual show.
Practice in different environments. - Suggest to your group to practice not only towards the mirror where you can see each other, but facing back too. One of you may skip one run of choreo in order to observe and check how it looks, and you can rotate the role of the observer. For instance, if your group dance involves 5 dancers, run it 5 times, and each time a different person is the observer. Also, switch the direction that you face: use all walls of your practice room, and ideally even change the locations of where you practice. This way you won't be thrown off by different environment once you get to the performance venue.
Teach it to someone else. - Explaining the choreography to someone else is the best way to make sure you actually know it, lol. You can volunteer to coach a new dancer in your troupe, or you can just ask your friend/mom/sister to be your 'student'. Don't worry about the quality of their shimmies, but pay attention on their steps, arms and general movement sequence.
Let me know if it was helpful, and if you struggle with the performance anxiety around forgetting choreography! I explore this topic even further in the practical intensive “The Power of Imagination” at the Iana Dance Club.
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Author: Iana Komarnytska
Photographer: Pedro Bonatto
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About Iana
Iana Komarnytska is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer, and passionate content creator helping dancers navigate their dance lives.
She is a graduate from the professional dance program at York University (Canada), host of the Belly Dance Life podcast, creator of the Iana Dance Club, author of numerous articles, and winner of Star Bellydancer Canada 2014 among other international competitions.
Along with belly dance, Iana performs and teaches Persian Classical and Turkish Romani dancing. She is the first choreographer to start using Triple Isis wings, and since 2012 this is one of her style signatures.