Choreography Notes
Choreography Notes are detailed written records that document the sequence, timing, and style of dance movements in a ballet production. They serve as a reference guide that helps dance professionals recreate, teach, or modify dance performances. Think of them like a recipe book for dance - they capture important details about how each movement should be performed, how dancers interact with each other, and how the dance fits with the music. These notes can be written in various formats, from simple text descriptions to more formal dance notation systems like Benesh Movement Notation or Labanotation.
Examples in Resumes
Created and maintained Choreography Notes for three major ballet productions
Utilized Dance Notation and Choreography Notes to teach classical repertoire to junior dancers
Reconstructed historical ballets using archived Choreography Notes and Movement Notation
Typical job title: "Dance Notators"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Dance Notators
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you handle conflicting interpretations of historical choreography notes?
Expected Answer: A senior professional should discuss methods of cross-referencing multiple sources, consulting with dance historians, and making informed decisions based on style period and choreographer's known preferences.
Q: How do you adapt choreography notes for different skill levels of dancers?
Expected Answer: Should explain process of simplifying complex movements while maintaining artistic integrity, and methods for documenting alternative options for different technical abilities.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What systems do you use to record spatial patterns and group movements?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe methods for documenting both individual and group movements, including floor patterns and timing coordination.
Q: How do you integrate musical cues into your choreography notes?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they mark musical timing, counts, and specific musical cues that correspond to movement changes.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What basic elements do you include in choreography notes?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic components like movement descriptions, counts, spatial directions, and dancer positions.
Q: How do you organize your notes to make them easily readable?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic notation structure, use of clear terminology, and logical sequence organization.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic movement notation
- Understanding of ballet terminology
- Simple documentation methods
- Basic music reading ability
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced notation systems
- Group movement documentation
- Musical score integration
- Digital notation tools
Senior (5+ years)
- Historical dance reconstruction
- Multiple notation system expertise
- Teaching and supervision
- Complex production documentation
Red Flags to Watch For
- No formal dance training or background
- Unfamiliarity with basic ballet terminology
- Poor attention to detail in documentation
- Lack of music reading skills
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