Typical stages for dance & choreography creators

1. Concept

   Choreographic work often begins with a question, an image, a piece of music or a physical sensation worth investigating. Documenting that starting point — however instinctive — creates a foundation the work can grow from.

   What this stage means

   Choreographic work often begins with a question, an image, a physical sensation, or a piece of music worth investigating. That starting point — however instinctive — gives the work a conceptual anchor it can grow from or depart from as the physical exploration develops.

   Questions to consider

   • Can you articulate the movement question or impulse driving this work?
   • Is there a musical, visual, or textual reference that belongs alongside this concept?
   • Have you documented the concept before the physical exploration reshapes it?
   • Is this the right moment to create a Creative Record?

   Practical ideas

   • Write a brief movement intention — not to publish, but to clarify the starting impulse
   • Create a Creative Record to mark the concept at its beginning
   • Gather sonic, visual, and movement references that share the world of the work
   • Allow the concept to remain open before committing to a specific form or structure

   Pro tip

   The most interesting choreographic concepts usually resist easy description — that difficulty is part of what makes them worth pursuing.

   Reached a meaningful milestone? Create another Lyricsmit Record and continue building your Creative Record Archive.

2. Research & Exploration

   Movement research is where the body begins to answer the concept. This stage typically involves improvisation, physical experimentation and reference-gathering — building a movement vocabulary specific to this work.

   What this stage means

   Movement research is where the body begins to answer the concept. Improvisation, physical experimentation, and reference-gathering build a movement vocabulary specific to this work — a vocabulary that couldn't exist before the investigation began.

   Questions to consider

   • Are you following surprising material, even if it doesn't match your initial concept?
   • Have you explored movement outside your training or habitual practice?
   • Are you recording enough of the exploration to have material to work with?
   • Is there a specific physical question worth developing further?

   Practical ideas

   • Film improvisation sessions even when they feel unsuccessful — material worth using appears unexpectedly
   • Explore with performers whose movement instincts are different from yours
   • Create a Creative Record of exploration material that feels significant
   • Allow research sessions to run longer than planned — generative states take time to develop

   Pro tip

   The material that arrives when you stop trying to make it is often the most original.

3. Choreography

   Setting movement — deciding what happens, in what order and how — is where the work takes structural form. It's common for choreographers to record rehearsals at this stage to capture material that might otherwise be lost.

   What this stage means

   Setting movement — deciding what happens, in what order, and how — is where the work takes structural form. This stage requires both creative and compositional thinking: finding the right material and arranging it in a sequence that creates a meaningful experience for an audience.

   Questions to consider

   • Is the structure serving the concept, or becoming an obstacle to it?
   • Have you tried alternative orderings of the material?
   • Are transitions between sections as considered as the sections themselves?
   • Are you recording the choreography systematically?

   Practical ideas

   • Create a Creative Record when a significant section of choreography is set
   • Film the work at different stages of development for reference
   • Develop a notation or video archive of set material — memory alone is insufficient
   • Show rough material to a trusted eye early — external perspective reveals things the choreographer can't see

   Pro tip

   The edit is as important in choreography as in any other creative form — what you remove shapes the work as much as what you keep.

   Reached a meaningful milestone? Create another Lyricsmit Record and continue building your Creative Record Archive.

4. Rehearsal

   Rehearsal refines what has been set and deepens the performers' relationship to the material. Technical precision and expressive depth develop in parallel, each shaping the other.

   What this stage means

   Rehearsal develops the relationship between the performers and the material. Technical precision and expressive depth develop in parallel — each informing the other. Good rehearsal practice creates the conditions for performance to feel alive rather than executed.

   Questions to consider

   • Is rehearsal time being used efficiently, with clear goals for each session?
   • Are performers developing genuine understanding of the material, or only executing it?
   • Is there time in rehearsal for exploration within the set choreography?
   • Are there specific technical challenges that need dedicated attention?

   Practical ideas

   • Record each rehearsal for review — small adjustments are easy to lose without documentation
   • Build warm-up and cool-down practices that support the specific physical demands of the work
   • Create space in rehearsal for performer input — it often strengthens the work
   • Prioritise the most physically demanding sections of the work in early rehearsal

   Pro tip

   Rehearsal time that feels too short was probably planned that way — build more in than you think you need.

5. Documentation

   Filming the work in rehearsal or performance creates a record that exists beyond the live event. Thoughtful documentation — including rehearsal recordings and performance footage — creates a lasting record that can support future performances, portfolios and creative reflection.

   What this stage means

   Filming the work in rehearsal or performance creates a record that exists beyond the live event. Thoughtful documentation — including rehearsal recordings and performance footage — supports future performances, portfolio development, funding applications, and creative reflection.

   Questions to consider

   • Is the documentation quality sufficient for the purposes you need it for?
   • Have you captured multiple performances or angles where possible?
   • Is the documentation stored and organised in a way you can access reliably?
   • Have you created a Creative Record for the documented work?

   Practical ideas

   • Create a Creative Record for significant completed performances
   • Invest in professional documentation for work you intend to use for funding or career purposes
   • Archive rehearsal documentation alongside performance documentation — the process is part of the record
   • Review documentation with performers — it's often a generative part of the creative process

   Pro tip

   Documentation that captures the energy and intention of the work is more valuable than documentation that is only technically correct.

   Reached a meaningful milestone? Create another Lyricsmit Record and continue building your Creative Record Archive.

6. Performance

   The first public performance is when the work meets its audience. Each performance is a realisation of the creative vision and, in its own way, an event that will not be repeated exactly.

   What this stage means

   The first public performance is where the work meets its audience. Each performance is a realisation of the creative vision — and in its own way, a unique event that won't be repeated exactly. Preparing thoroughly creates the conditions for something genuine to happen in the moment.

   Questions to consider

   • Are there practical preparations — technical, logistical, physical — fully in place?
   • Are the performers mentally and physically prepared for the conditions of performance?
   • Is there a plan for how the company will gather and share responses after each performance?
   • Have you created a way to mark and remember this moment?

   Practical ideas

   • Create a Creative Record to mark the first performance
   • Attend at least one technical run-through in the performance venue before the opening
   • Build a post-show debrief into the company routine — it captures what would otherwise be lost
   • Note what surprised you in performance — those moments are often the most useful information for future work

   Pro tip

   The most interesting thing about a first performance is usually what you didn't plan for.

   Reached a meaningful milestone? Create another Lyricsmit Record and continue building your Creative Record Archive.

7. Archive

   A well-maintained archive — scores, notes, rehearsal recordings, documentation — supports revival, remounting and the long-term life of the work. The archive is where a piece continues to exist between performances.

   What this stage means

   A well-maintained archive — scores, notes, rehearsal recordings, performance documentation — supports the long-term life of the work. It provides the material for future revivals, creative reflection, and a professional record that demonstrates the depth and range of a creative practice.

   Questions to consider

   • Is the archive organised in a way that would allow you to revive or remount the work?
   • Are performance recordings stored at adequate quality?
   • Have all collaborators been credited correctly in the archive materials?
   • Is the archive backed up in multiple locations?

   Practical ideas

   • Develop an archive system that includes video, scores, notes, and programme materials for each work
   • Back up to at least two physical locations and one cloud service
   • Include a brief production note with each archive entry — what the work was, when it was made, and who was involved
   • Review the archive periodically — it reveals the arc of a practice over time

   Pro tip

   The archive is where a piece continues to exist between performances — the care it receives determines how long it can live.

Things to Consider

• Have you reached a meaningful milestone?
• Is this a version you’d like to remember?
• Have you organised your project files?
• Are you ready for the next stage of your creative journey?

What You Could Do Next

Once this stage of the work is complete, these are some possible directions to explore. Choose what fits your project.

• Further rehearsal and refinement
• Recording the work for documentation
• Applying to festivals and venues
• Developing collaborative projects
• Exploring teaching opportunities
• Documenting and archiving the creative process