How should I deal with a choreographer who says that something is bad, but doesn't provide feedback.?

Question

I have been in a couple of community theater productions and have dealt with choreographers who just like to tell people how bad they are. I would prefer to receive a more detailed critique. Is it everyone in the ensemble or only certain people? When the choreographer yells, it really doesn't motivate anyone. I try not to react, but everyone in the production is not a dancer and non-dancers need longer to learn things. I am a dancer and think I have the steps, but I don't know because he never explains what we are doing wrong. It is like we have to figure it out for ourselves. I could understand if we were a week before opening, but we've only been practicing the dances about a week. Any advice?

Answer 1

The choreographer probably feels a lot of pressure for the show to be perfect. Unfortunately, they are going about it the wrong way by not providing feedback.
If you feel your spot in the show is safe, maybe you could talk to the choreographer after practice one day... or maybe it'll be even better before since they won't have a chance to get frustrated yet! Just tell them you understand they want the best show possible, as do you, but that you feel like maybe you aren't getting the feedback you need to improve your performance and maybe hint they could try doing the same with the rest of the group as well. Try go about it as gently as possible without damaging their ego or have them feel like you are disciplining them or telling them how to do things.
If you feel like they could cut you out of the show very easily, it's probably just better to suck it up. Or maybe even write an anonymous note, but even then you might somehow get caught.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yea, I had an art teacher do the same thing to us in school!! You have those that still don't know what they are doing and they are venting their insecurities out on everyone around them so they get off by saying everything sucks without giving reasons or solutions!! All I can say is you have to come to reality and not work for people like that, because they will never help you to become better!!

Answer 3

nevertheless you won't decide for to talk approximately it, the failings from a pair of days in the past, those older comments that worry you will latch onto the recent ones making the undertaking larger and greater desirable and the animosity or annoyance build and build. Honesty is the appropriate coverage and if he does not care adequate to be greater gentle than he's not properly worth a while, fantastically if he's making you experience undesirable, inspite of objective. you're no longer asking him to alter himself and you're no longer asserting which you will edit your self to verify him, what you decide on is an information of what bothers you, the way it bothers you and the variety you the two can compromise, in any different case it fairly is basically an explosion of ugliness waiting to happen.

Answer 4

That is such a drag.
Unfortunately...it's pretty much typical for many theatre groups, especially community.
The only obvious answer is that they don't have an answer thus the arrogance.
Until you move into a more congenial group...your just kinda stuck with these types.
Hang in there though.
Theatre is a blast and I really appreciate the professional productions so much more now.
A few months ago, we went to the Lyceum in LA and saw Les Mis. It was so much fun.

Answer 5

he is a bad choreographer even at our school musical with the small tap dancing parts he showed exactly what was wrongs

Answer 6

He should get up and demonstrate. If he can't do that then he is faking it. and is not a real Choreographer. Maybe he doesn't know his job.

Answer 7

Ask him to elaborate more, and if that doesnt work, get help from friends or family to decide what changes you should make to your work..

Answer 8

Get up the courage to ask IMMEDIATELY: "What exactly do you WANT us to do? Please explain, thanks."