How to learn choreography faster
Dancers who pick up routines quickly aren't just talented; they practise in a particular way. These seven habits work whether you learn in a class or from a video, and SongMark makes the video ones easy.
Open SongMark, it's freeStep by step
Watch it all the way through first
Watch the whole routine before you try it. Seeing where it's going gives you a mental map, so each section has somewhere to fit.
Break it into 8-count chunks
Learn one 8-count, or one short phrase, at a time. In SongMark, set the loop handles around it and switch on Loop section so it repeats.
Slow down, then speed back up
Learn each chunk at 0.5× or 0.75×, then raise the speed until you can do it at full speed. The music keeps its pitch at every speed in SongMark.
Mirror the teacher
If the video faces you, mirror it so the teacher's left is your left and you don't have to translate every move.
Give each chunk a cue
Tie each section to something you'll remember, like a weight change, a lyric or an arm shape, rather than relying on counts alone.
Join the chunks together
Practise each transition by looping a little of the end of one chunk and the start of the next, then run larger sections.
Film yourself and compare
Record a take next to the video and watch it back. It's the quickest way to see what doesn't match the original yet.
Put it together in one session
- Watch the routine once at full speed.
- Loop the first 8-count at 0.5× until you can do it without watching.
- Raise it to 0.75×, then 1×.
- Move the loop to the next 8-count, overlapping the last move of the previous one.
- After a few chunks, film a take of the whole section and watch it back.
Questions
How long does it take to learn a dance?
It depends on the routine and your experience, but short sessions on one section at a time are usually faster than repeatedly running the whole dance.
Should I practise with counts or with the music?
Both. Learn new steps with counts at a slow speed, then switch to the music and build back up to full speed so your timing matches the song.
Is it better to mark the moves or go full out?
Mark while you're working out the steps, then go full out with the music once you know them. Full-out runs build the stamina and muscle memory you need for performing.
Ready to practise?
Paste a YouTube link and you're looping, slowing and mirroring in seconds. No download or account needed.
Open SongMark