Enhancing Student Choreography: Using Contrast to Make Every Musical Number Pop

One of our greatest joys is bringing tools to students that can unlock their creative potential. Movement and choreography is a vital component to telling stories on stage. It's quite daunting to directors or students with little dance and movement experience, but creating captivating movement is not limited to those who move naturally on stage. It's a matter of understanding how to use tools of contrast.

In our choreography composition workshop, we give students hands-on training to design their own choreography, rooted in principles that elevate ensemble work. For those of you who are looking to level up your movement and don't know how to start, here are 4 tips to elevating your current work.

1. Spatial Contrast: Levels and Dimensions

Do everything you can to avoid seeing a line of heads on the same plane of space. Use all levels of space to shape your stage picture.

• Stage Positioning: Play with depth (upstage vs. downstage), lateral movement (stage left vs. right), or using corners of the stage for variety.

• Vertical Levels: Standing, kneeling, lying on the floor, or even climbing onto set pieces to add height variation. Give your ensemble permission to stand on a chair, sit, or lay on the floor. Look at where the faces are. If you can see a line of faces, try to change that.

• Props and Furniture: Chairs, ladders, and platforms can instantly create new levels and focus points.

2. Formational Contrast: Group Shapes and Structures

The arrangement of your ensemble can make even simple choreography visually stunning.

• Lines and Grids: Be intentional on your lines and grids. It's easy to fall into the habit of having this be the go to in order to fit multiple bodies on stage. Note that complicated choreography in a grid highlights precision or lack thereof.

• Clumps and Clusters: Create intimacy or draw focus to a soloist.

• Abstract Shapes: Think circles, triangles, or irregular patterns for artistic flair.

• Breaking the Mold: Change up formations between verses or choruses to keep the audience visually engaged.

• Blocks: Not everyone needs to be doing the same thing at the same time. Try taking out a block and isolating them out of the group. It's a great and unique way to highlight performers or special skills.

3. Directional Contrast: Movement Pathways

Motion tells a story. Contrasting directions make the stage feel alive.

• Opposing Pathways: Half the ensemble moves left while the other half moves right for natural tension and release.

• Circular vs. Linear: Some dancers weave around while others march in straight lines.

• Crossing Patterns: Layering movement adds complexity without complicated steps.

4. Motif Variation: Playing with Timing and Texture

You don't have to create as much choreography as you think. Take a movement pattern and add variation. Once you have a strong motif (a repeated movement phrase), don’t keep it identical every time.

• Ripples: A wave effect as each performer takes the movement one after another.

• Inversions: Flip the movement backward, upside down, or mirrored.

• Timing Changes: Slow it down, speed it up, or have contrasting tempos happening simultaneously.

• Layered Dynamics: Some dancers move big and bold while others keep it small and subtle.

5. Locomotion: Bringing Energy and Flow

Stillness can be powerful, but when everyone stands still too long, energy dips.

• Travel Patterns: Send dancers on paths around each other to create interaction.

• Levels in Motion: Combine walking, skipping, crawling, or leaping across stage levels.

• Contrasting Speeds: One group moves fast while another group glides slowly for dramatic tension.

Final Thought

You don’t need a Broadway budget to create visually stunning choreography. With tools like contrast, students can become their own choreographers, bringing texture, unity, and excitement to every number.

And this is just one principle we explore in our Choreography Composition Workshop, where students leave with the confidence and practical skills to design movement that tells a story and captivates an audience.

👉 Directors: If you want your next show’s choreography to feel intentional, unified, and unforgettable—even without a full-time choreographer—reach out today to learn more about booking workshops for your program.