No experience is required to be a choreographer. Dancers from all styles and experience are encouraged to audition!
Have a buddy who also loves making money moves? You are welcome and encouraged to co-choreograph!
Interested choreographers must fill out a form and submit a video of 30 seconds or four 8-counts of their choreography. We will ask you to explain your vision, including music and costumes you plan on incorporating into your piece. Choreographers are chosen through a blind vote by all auditioning choreographers and Executive Board members.
Please note: plagiarism of choreography is unacceptable and will result in the piece being cut from consideration. Choreographers may not audition more than one piece.
Choreographing for Dance Production is a year-long commitment. Basic choreographer duties include conducting 90-minute weekly rehearsals, attending all Dance Production fundraisers and events, coming prepared to scheduled choreographer meetings, and supporting their dancers’ artistic and personal development throughout the year. Choreographers devote about 2-3 hours per week to the club, including rehearsals but excluding personal choreography time. In addition, choreographers often hold extra rehearsals and optional office hours (not mandatory) for their dancers to practice or learn their dance outside of regular rehearsal times.
Yes, you are allowed to be in your own piece. However, in order to give other dancers the chance to be showcased, you cannot be the main focal point of your dance.
Yes, choreographers can be in pieces other than their own. All choreographers are allowed to be in up to three pieces, including their own piece. You can also opt to not dance in your own piece and sign up for three other dances, but be careful to not overwhelm yourself!
Dance Production Executive Board encourages all choreographers to explore and stretch their artistic potential. However, choreographers are asked to minimize offensive content (e.g. excessive cuss words, provocative content, derogatory message/lyrics in song choice, etc.) in their pieces. Local residents, sometimes with children, attend our show, so we aim to make it a family-friendly environment. Choreographers are expected to notify the Executive Board at Choreographer Auditions or shortly afterwards if the content in their piece may be offensive to some audience members.
At all times, Dance Production choreographers are expected to respect the cultures, people, and places being represented in the production. Since Dance Production strives to be an inclusive and respectful learning environment for everyone, cultural appropriation and other forms of disrespect WILL NOT be tolerated. If you have any concerns about any dance, please feel free to contact the Dance Production Executive Board at dancepro@oxy.edu.
In accordance with the Choreographer Contract all choreographers sign at the beginning of the year, choreographers are expected to see their piece through to the end of the production. Only under extreme circumstances may a choreographer resign from their position and responsibilities. If extreme circumstances arise, choreographers should contact the Executive Board at dancepro@oxy.edu as soon as possible. Consequences for resignation are at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Hip-Hop Choreographer
“[I] really draw my inspiration from [my dancers] and their energy.”
Contemporary Choreographer
“In the past, it has been a lot of hip hop and a lot of contemporary and I would just hope that doesn’t discourage people who have a different style. Don’t think that you have to be either hip hop or contemporary or jazz to be a choreographer because really Dance Pro is about all kinds of dance.”
Hip-Hop Modern Fusion/Broadway Co-Choreographer
“The best thing is the relationships and friendships that come out of it. Not only the relationship between yourself as a choreographer and your dancers, but also between fellow choreographers.”
Hula Kahiko Choreographer
“A big reason to choreograph for Dance Pro is to share your culture and share your stories and share your history and you language and your music. Being able to share that part of yourself, that cannot compare to anything else. Even though it’s frustrating, just do it because it changes your life for the better and it changes other people’s’ lives for the better.”
Contemporary Choreographer
“Take the challenge. Go for it, and you’ll be proud of the results, undoubtedly.”"
Hip-Hop Choreographer
“I had not thought about choreographing as a first-year…I had sort of all of these misconceptions about how much dance training you needed, or what sort of things were expected of you…It’s not so much about skill as it is about interest and passion.”
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Questions? Reach out to us at dancepro@oxy.edu