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Building Blocks of Dance Choreography
Lesson time 05:07 min
Parris demonstrates how she comes up with her signature style of choreography. She shares her creative process, from filming herself and her dancers freestyling to layering moves she loves until an entire routine has been choreographed.
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Topics include: Building Blocks of Dance Choreography
Teaches Creativity in Choreography
Award-winning choreographer Parris Goebel teaches you her techniques for bringing a vision to life and her approach to owning your creativity.
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[00:00:00.00] [RHYTHMIC MUSIC] [00:00:06.28] - When it comes to creating, there is no right or wrong. It's whatever works for you, and everyone has such a different process. So what might work for me might not work for you. And it's important to get to know that process and what that looks like for you. And I think the better you can get hold of that process for you, then it's just going to become second nature to you. You're not going to really have to sit down and think, step one, step two, step three. It's just going to come natural. [00:00:32.41] [MUSIC - CIARA, "LEVEL UP"] [00:00:38.34] - Video. Can you see me? [00:00:39.97] - Yeah. [00:00:40.39] - OK, sit. [00:00:41.65] For me, my process looks like, you know, I start with the music. And then once I get to know the song inside and out, then I can step into the studio and start creating. [00:00:54.26] Down, up, down, up. Yeah? Should we step on our right first? 5, 6, 7, and. [00:01:06.36] Cool. I feel like that sit, but it's not like big enough, so maybe, like-- maybe we go around with it? Try this. [00:01:15.58] So usually for me, I like to have a few girls around and I'm just jamming and they just follow. You know, they follow my lead. If I do something, they follow it. They copy it. And you just start building. [00:01:27.01] OK, so, level up, level up, level up, there's definitely, like, one more-- one more thing that we're missing. So let's just try it. Six, sev-- [00:01:37.45] Once you start grabbing moves that you like, it's just-- you add on, next move, next move. And the next thing you know, you've got a whole combination of choreography that you really love. And that's what it looks like for me. [00:01:48.59] Yeah? Yea! OK, cool. OK. Let me add some girls, Ruth, come. [00:01:54.70] Once I've got a combo to the song that I feel good about, then it's time to bring in more dancers. You know, if I'm working with a team of 50, then I'll slowly start bringing in groups of dancers and just build on it. And try not to overwhelm myself. [00:02:12.16] So just going round, two, three, four, five, six, middle. Cool, you guys know it? Five, six, seven, going, one, two, three, four, five, six, middle. One, two, three, four-- [00:02:27.99] Just take my time with it. You know, whether it's adding in five more girls or another 10 dancers. I just start building it. But I truly believe that, you know, when you're in that intimate moment of choreographing and freestyling, to make sure you don't move on until you feel good with what you've got. [00:02:46.52] OK, ready? Five, six, seven-- [00:02:49.24] Because that's your foundation. That's your base. You know, without the transitions, without the formations, without your levels, you've just got you and the movement. So makes you feel good about it. And don't settle for less. Make sure you're feeling it, it looks good, it feels right. [00:03:06.21] And then once you're in that position of, yeah, I like this. I like what I've created. Th...
About the Instructor
The creative force behind Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” video and Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl halftime show, Parris Goebel is a dance powerhouse. Now the award-winning choreographer breaks down her approach so you can harness your own creativity. Learn how iconic performances are made—and how to develop and polish routines, direct videos, and exude confidence every step of the way—as Parris opens up like never before.
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Parris Goebel
Award-winning choreographer Parris Goebel teaches you her techniques for bringing a vision to life and her approach to owning your creativity.
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