Dance choreography: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What dance choreography is

Dance choreography creates original routines for performances, weddings, teams or videos, teaching the steps and tailoring them to the dancers. Performers, event hosts, dance teams and content creators book choreographers when they need a routine built for a specific song, stage or group.

Signs you need it

  • You have a performance or event and need an original routine instead of a copied one.
  • Your dance team needs a new piece that fits the dancers' skills and the song you chose.
  • You want a dance video or social content with choreography that shows off your style.
  • You have a song and a strong idea, but you cannot turn it into steps that your group can learn.
  • You are a dance teacher who needs fresh routines for a class or a show.

What the pro does

  • Listen to the song and talk through the idea, the mood and the performance setting with you.
  • Build the choreography around the dancers' skills, so the routine fits the group and the stage.
  • Teach the steps in sections, with counts and clear cues, and adjust as the dancers learn.
  • Set the transitions, formations and timing, so the routine works on the stage or camera you are using.
  • Give the dancers a rehearsal plan with a schedule and notes for practice at home.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The length of the piece and how many dancers are in it
  • The complexity of the steps and how much the group already knows
  • How many rehearsals are needed before the performance or filming date
  • Whether the choreographer creates the routine only or also teaches it in person
  • Whether filming, editing or a stage plot is part of the work
  • Whether the work is for a live event, a video or a team competition

What a written quote should spell out

  • The song, the length of the piece and the number of dancers
  • The number of rehearsals and the dates they cover
  • Who owns the choreography and how it may be used, such as in videos or at other events
  • Whether filming or a stage plot is included
  • The cancellation and change rules for the schedule

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you show examples of routines you have created for events, teams or videos?
  • Who owns the choreography, and can we use it in a video or at other events?
  • How many rehearsals will the group need, and how do you plan them?
  • Will you teach the routine in person, or create it and hand it off?
  • If the dancers are minors, what is your policy on background checks, supervision and rehearsal space?

Red flags

  • A choreographer who will not show past work or describe how routines are built.
  • A quote that does not say who owns the choreography or how it can be used.
  • A choreographer who promises a finished routine with no time to rehearse.
  • Pressure to sign for a long package before the first conversation about the song.

What you can do yourself

You can listen to the song, map its sections and plan the formations on your own, and practice simple steps with your group. Hire a choreographer when you need original steps built around your dancers, a routine that fits the stage or camera and a teacher who can take the group through it.

Licenses and permits

Choreography usually does not require a license. Ask for proof of skill instead, such as a dance training background, a portfolio of past routines, performance credits or references from past clients. Any agreement about who owns the routine should be written down in the contract.

Dance choreography questions

Who owns the routine I pay for?

Ask before you book, and get the answer in writing. The agreement should say who owns the choreography and how you may use it in videos or at other events.

Can a parent book choreography for a youth team?

Yes. Ask about background checks, supervision at rehearsals, the rehearsal space and how the choreographer handles minors before you book.

How do I find a choreographer here?

Describe your song, your dancers and your event or video, then pick the choreographers you want by name. Only the choreographers you pick see your request, and it is free for you.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer dance choreography remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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