Making Dance
The Choreographic Process
![Jose Limon rehearsing choreography [Limón Institute]](/upload/dan/JoseLimon-Rehearsing-Choreo_full.jpg)
Entering the Studio
When a choreographer is ready to enter the studio, he or she may arrive with definite ideas about the movement the dancers will learn. One choreographer may teach exact phrases of dance, or describe exactly what he or she wants to see. Another choreographer may have worked movement ideas out on paper, with technological tools such as computer animation programs, or through personal movement research.
In a more exploratory creation, a choreographer may involve dancers in a process of shared investigation through improvisation. Choreographers frequently work with dancers they know and trust, and their exchange of images, ideas and movement can be an exciting, important part of choreographic process and discovery.
Often, a choreographic assistant or rehearsal director works alongside a choreographer. While the choreographer and dancers are busy creating, learning and working out movement, the assistant makes notes about movement sequences, images, use of space and keeps track of all of the elements that are important to the choreographer's vision as it unfolds in the creative process.
