Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about dancers & choreographers.
What exactly does a choreographer do?
A choreographer designs, arranges, and sequences movement for a group of dancers, translating a musical, narrative, or abstract concept into a physical performance. They handle everything from choosing which body vocabularies to blend to staging spatial patterns and transitions between sections.
Who are the most frequently cited legends in dance and choreography?
Names that dominate most histories include Martha Graham (pioneer of modern dance), George Balanchine (who reshaped neoclassical ballet), Alvin Ailey (whose company fused African-American expression with modern technique), and Twyla Tharp (known for bridging concert and social dance). In hip-hop and commercial work, figures like Akram Khan, Bill T. Jones, and Janelle Cornett are equally central.
Where should a total newcomer begin exploring the world of dance?
Start by watching full-length performances from major companies such as New York City Ballet, the Royal Ballet, or Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to see how a piece holds together over time. Then branch into genre-specific YouTube channels or short-form social media clips to get a feel for the vocabulary of each style before reading biographies or criticism.
What is the practical difference between a dancer and a choreographer?
A dancer is the performer who executes movement with technical precision and expressiveness, while a choreographer is the creator who conceives the movement, structures the piece, and directs the dancers. In practice many artists do both, but the roles carry distinct skill sets: one centers on embodiment, the other on composition and staging.
What are the major genres a fan should know about?
The core families are classical/neo-classical ballet, modern and postmodern (Graham, Horton, release-based), jazz and musical-theater, hip-hop and street styles (breaking, popping, locking, waacking), and contemporary/lyrical work that blends several of these. Each has its own training lineage, aesthetic priorities, and community of practitioners.
What are a few landmark moments that changed the field?
Martha Graham's 1930 solo 'Lamentation,' performed inside a stretched silk tube, is often cited as a turning point for modern dance. Alvin Ailey's 1960 premiere of 'Revelations' brought gospel and African-American vernacular movement to concert stages worldwide. In the 1980s, Bill T. Jones's 'Spirits of the Air' and the rise of hip-hop choreography for music videos expanded what audiences expected from the art form.
How does a choreographer typically go about creating a new piece?
Most begin with a source—music, a text, a physical impulse, or a thematic question—and then build movement vocabulary through improvisation or set exercises with a company. The piece is refined over weeks of rehearsal, with the choreographer adjusting phrasing, dynamics, and staging until the structure supports the intended emotional or narrative arc.
Which major companies and institutions are must-knows for a fan?
In ballet, New York City Ballet, the Royal Ballet (London), Paris Opera Ballet, and the Bolshoi are the usual reference points. For modern and contemporary, the Martha Graham Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane, and Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal are foundational. In hip-hop and commercial choreography, the Joffrey Ballet, Steps on Broadway, and various artist-specific crews carry enormous influence.
What awards and honors are the field's highest recognition?
The Bessie Awards (New York) and the Benois de la Danse (Paris) are the two most cited international honors for choreographers and dancers. In the UK, the Olivier Awards include a dedicated dance category, and in the U.S. the Tony Awards recognize choreography in musical theater. National prizes such as France's Prix Benois and Japan's Nippon Geijutsu Bunka Shō also carry significant weight.
How has streaming and social media changed the way fans engage with dance?
Platforms like YouTube, Instagram Reels, and TikTok let anyone watch full concert recordings, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, and short choreography breakdowns for free, dramatically lowering the barrier to entry. At the same time, viral clips have turned individual choreographers into household names almost overnight, shifting some of the cultural conversation away from institutional companies toward individual creators.