Dance: Choreographing Issues That Matter to You

It matters to you: you have feelings, experiences or questions about it. Example: feeling pressure to always be online with friends.

Choose an issue, explore (feelings, images, facts, questions), create a motif, shape it (form, levels, energy, space), share and revise.

An action word (for example pull, hesitate, rise), because it already describes a movement.

A twisted shape: for example, feet and hips facing one way while the chest and arms turn the other way.

Growing confidence, hope or strength. Moving from low to high often suggests getting stronger.

Repetition can show that the pressure keeps coming back and won't go away, like a habit or a worry.

Describing says what you saw (movements, shapes, timing). Interpreting says what you think it means, using what you saw as evidence.

A short movement idea that keeps coming back in a dance.

A shape with sharp corners, like bent elbows and knees.

Any two, for example: pressure to fit in, a changing friendship, starting high school, screen time, fairness.

False. It can show the feeling or a question about the issue without telling a whole story.

Give them time to think and notice; it creates contrast and focus.

Example: counts 1–2 a strong two-hand push forward; 3–4 a frozen hesitation with weight on the back foot; 5–8 a slow reach up and forward. Look for all three words, clear counts and one stillness.

Example: make it bigger and abstract: the whole body is pulled down toward the hand as if by a magnet, then snaps back up; repeat it faster and faster. It keeps the idea of being pulled by the phone without miming.

Example: I think it's about friends growing apart but still caring about each other. Evidence: they drift to opposite corners (distance), but they keep doing the same movement (still connected).

Not necessarily. Audiences bring their own experiences, so many interpretations can be valid. But if most people miss your main idea, you may want to make one or two choices clearer, such as a stronger contrast or a clearer ending.

Dance can show the feeling and the theme without the facts. You choose what to share, which keeps you comfortable and still lets the audience connect.

Example: Point of view: There is no single normal. Motif: a group walks in a straight line in unison. Changes: one dancer adds a twist to the walk; then another adds a different twist; soon every dancer walks differently. Ending: all dancers freeze in different shapes at the same moment. Look for a clear opinion, a motif, changes that build the idea, and an ending that matches the point of view.

Example: the group travels quickly across the space with lots of energy while one dancer stays completely still at a low level. The contrast in speed and level shows the gap; the stillness makes the audience notice the one dancer and feel the distance.

Each person shares evidence; the group keeps the ideas that are supported by specific movements; then they write one statement that includes the strongest parts of both, for example "It's about X, and it also suggests Y, because..." The goal is a statement everyone can support with evidence.