Entry #6 Creating Something Beautiful

The process of choreographing a show is one that varies significantly every time. So far, I have choreographed or helped choreograph 5 shows and each of them has looked very different depending on the stage of life I am in. My first one was a middle school show when I was a sophomore in high school. Now I am choreographing a high school show as a freshman in college.  

One of my favorite things about choreographing musicals is seeing the whole show come together. There is something so special about creating a dance number and then seeing it come to life in the middle of a scene with costumes, props and lights. Seeing my vision on the stage is beautiful. Especially when it is peers or students that I have spent time with and feel connected to. It makes me so very proud.

One of the challenges I have experienced is that up until this semester, most of the shows I have choreographed for I have also acted in. For instance, my senior year of highschool, I was the lead in my musical as well as the choreographer. That was a lot. It was tricky trying to balance the two of those roles simultaneously. I like to use every minute of class time possible to teach choreography, which often means grabbing people who aren’t busy so that I can run their dances. But as the lead in the show, I was usually busy working on scenes. That show, while one of the hardest, was the most rewarding show I have ever been a part of. As I stood in the back of the audience, watching some of the numbers before my entrance, I couldn’t help but tear up. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.

Image source

For the first time in a long time, my choreography and my acting are currently separate. I choreograph for the company I grew up in, and I now perform in a different community theatre. My schedule stays incredibly busy, and getting everything done can get overwhelming. I am learning to use time that I never used to use. For example, I have been getting up really early to get choreography done. Other example would be that I am using my time spent driving the best that I can. I have my music and lines recorded so that I can practice for the show that I am in.

Theatre has my heart. While overwhelming and exhausting, creating choreographing is something I am passionate about and I hope to continue doing forever!