6 Strategies to Get Out of Your Choreography "Rut"

We’ve all been there...

Standing in the studio (or the little extra space in your living room), staring at your feet, waiting for an idea to come or for our body to take over to do something interesting. But that moment is not happening—you’re finding yourself going back to the similar moves you’ve done before, or making something awkward, or just being completely stuck on what should come next.

“Writers block” happens to dancers AND artists of every kind! Even the most experienced choreographers hit a creative wall from time to time. So while you’re not alone, there are several strategies you can implement both in the moment AND as a whole throughout your teaching/choreography practice to overcome this problem!

1) Understand the “why”

The first question we have to ask ourselves when tackling choreographer’s block is why it’s happening in the first place.

Teaching dance and creating choreography takes a lot not only physically, but mentally. If we are feeling mentally drained or low energy, that will get in the way of our creativity. Being burned out is a whole separate issue that requires more attention, but what can we do right now?

Often times, the best thing we can do is to take a break. However, walking away from your work is not always possible. I always recommend not waiting until the night before or day of to figure out what you’re doing in class and rehearsal for this reason. However, we’re busy and sometimes that’s just the way things shake out!

If taking a longer break isn’t possible, try doing something that will re-direct your energy. A mini-break, if you will. This could be taking 15 minutes to have a snack, read a chapter in the book you're currently reading, call a friend, or do the dishes.

Then, try getting back to work! And if there’s anything distracting you, such as your phone, put it in a different room!

2) Change your environment

The space you’re in can heavily influence your creativity. Sometimes, moving out of your usual studio or rehearsal space can refresh your perspective.

If you're used to choreographing indoors, can you take your work outside? Open spaces like parks, rooftops, or fields can serve as great inspiration.

Even just going into a different room can help stir new ideas. I often end up making interesting, intricate choreography when my space is limited!

3) Use Improvisation

Instead of trying to set choreography right away, try turning on your music and simply experimenting. This can be a great tool for when you find yourself wanting to branch out of any of your signature moves and style to discover something new.

While you’re improvising, record yourself. You might stumble upon unique movements or transitions that you can refine into choreography. Sometimes all it takes is a few seconds of movement to spark a longer sequence!

4) Visualize

When you're struggling with movement, take a step back and focus on the concept, story, theme or intention of your choreography. Think about what you want to get across or the emotions you want to convey, and free write about it. Jot down words or metaphors that come to mind.

You can then try visualizng images and picturing yourself or your dancers doing any movement, pathways, or formations as you listen to your music.

5) Watch other dances

When I am feeling stuck, I take a look at other people’s work. I strongly believe in attending live performances as much as you can, but when in a pinch, you can find so many videos of dances on Youtube. Stepping out of your own work and being an active observer can be really helpful for your own creative process.

Notice the choices other choreographers make. What do you like? What do you not like? How do the dancers and the choreography embody the emotion, story or intention? How does the music support the dance, or not? These moments of insight can be teach you more about yourself and be valuable for creating something original.

At the very least, this can serve as a “mini-break” and you can return to your project feeling refreshed!

6) Manipulate existing choreography

Repetition is not a bad thing! So many classic dance works incorporate repetition into their choreography. There are several different ways to skillfully repeat an existing sequence of movement. Here are a few:

• Change the tempo: repeat the sequence twice as slow, or twice as fast! You can even assign your dancers different speeds and have them dance it at the same time
• How can you turn a standing phrase into a floor phrase? Or vice versa?
• Retrograde: how can the phrase be done in rewind?
• Have your dancers do the sequence facing different ways
• Chop up short sequences (1-2 counts of 8 for example) and put them back together in a different order

In conclusion...

Choreographer’s block is a normal part of the creative process for every dance teacher, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. In my opinion, it's actually an opportunity in disguise—a signal that you’re ready to push your creative boundaries and grow as both a teacher and an artist.

Instead of seeing this as a roadblock, view it as a chance to explore new methods, step outside your comfort zone, and find inspiration in unexpected places. By staying curious, being patient with yourself, and trying fresh approaches, you can turn that creative block into a breakthrough!