Private Dance Lessons: Using Math in Dance Choreography

When choreographing a dance, math can come in handy to determine how many dance figures are needed. For example, you might determine the beats per minute (bpm) of the song. Count the number of beats that happen in 5 seconds. Then multiply by 12 to get beats per minute. If 9 beats happen in 5 seconds, the bpm would be 108. A song in the style of Nightclub two step, for example, is usually about 108 beats per minute. If the song is about 2 minutes long, you have 216 beats for the entire song. Each figure is usually 8 beats of music, so you would need 216/8 or about 27 dance figures. You might then plan to use these 10 figures and just repeat them 3 times to get 30 figures altogether. (That's 3 more figures than you actually need, so you might plan to end the song at about figure #7, modifying it for a dramatic finish.) 1. Basic step 2. Basic with follower's under arm turn 3. Basic Step 4. Basic step with leader's under arm turn 5. Basic step 6. Cross over breaks with follower's under arm turn 7. Basic step 8. Cross over breaks with follower's free turn. 9. Basic Step 10. Around the world with side cross side. (Figures 11 - 20 could be a repeat of figures 1-10, and so on) Of course this just a quick example and not a recommended set of dance figures. Also, keep in mind that it is not necessary to choregraph a dance so precisely. But even so the math can help you plan about how many dance figures you will need. I, myself, like to improvise the dance figures during the dance and lead the figures than pop into my mind. However, I find that beginners like to have a plan and some structure they can follow. For more info about nightclub two step, you may want to see: http://www.lovemusiclovedance.com/niteclub.htm For private dance lessons, call Phil Seyer. 925-888-4392 or 916-786-5858. Phil teaches salsa, wedding dance lessons, cha-cha, swing, tango, Argentine tango, Foxtrot, hustle, nightclub two step and all the ballroom dances. He has been teaching for more than 10 years.

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