ABSTRACT
Dance composition must battle against the belief that creativity is something the people are imbued with from birth or a mystical, magical gift that is bestowed upon the deserving. Individual components wind their way through the flowchart and float back up to the top as they are edited and effect other systems. Choreographic ideas can be expanded upon by considering, for example, the place of sets, lighting, or video projection in a dance. Healthy communication and compromise are essential, and the author have found that many times working through practical issues like cost or theater space or time limitations can lead to greater creativity and solutions that end up better than the original idea. Television shows like So the people Think they Can Dance and World of Dance have stoked and perpetuated choreographers’ and audiences’ desire for virtuosity and tricks, and while that can be fun, it isn’t necessarily indicative of good choreography.
