How do you work with a choreographer that doesn't count in eight's?

Question

I am dancing in a musical and my group is made up of mostly non-dancers. I am a dancer, not professional, but I have been dancing off and on about 25 years. When teaching dances the choreographer counts 1-2-3, 1-2-3 or 123-456, never in eights. I am trying to learn the steps, transferring her counts to eights. It isn't working too well. When I ask another dancer in the group to show me a step, I still don't get it because they don't count in eight. Needless to say, they all have the steps, but I can't remember anything. Then I start getting stressed trying to remember steps--which leads me to mess up. I realize that I am probably thinking too hard. I am going to ask the choreographer to count out things with me in eights, but she is always busy. All in all, I feel that she is not breaking the dances down in detail. Besides asking her to count in eights, can you provide any other tips?

Answer 1

Not all music is counted in eights. If you've been doing this for a while, it may be hard to break the habit, but try couting it her way. You may be over complicating the situation by trying to learn it the way you've always done things. Talk to the choreographer, find out why she counts it in threes or sixes and see if she has any suggestions on how to make it work for you.

Also, see if you can sit out one rehearsal, or part of a rehearsal and write down the counts and movement she's doing on a pad of paper. Maybe if you see it written down, it will make more sense to you.

Answer 2

I am a long-time dancer in a folk dance group. The talent in my group ranges from a professional ballerina to recreational amateurs like myself.

Although 8's are a common rhythm, there are lots of dances that do not get counted in 8's. If the choreographer is counting 1-2-3, then count the number of sets of 1-2-3. In folk dancing 8 or 16 counts of 1-2-3 are a common pattern. The 1-2-3 pattern is executed in just under a second and the pattern is repeated 8-16 times. In more advanced dances there are fewer repeats and more different steps. Counts of 2, 4 or 6 are mixed in with the 8's ie do 2 counts of X then 8 counts of Y followed by 6 counts of Z. One of the dances my group does is based on 5's. Your dance will probably be easier to learn if you follow the choreographer's counts and don't try to fit an 8 count pattern on something that has a different base pattern.

I learn the flow of the choreography and blocks of steps first (sequence), practise the steps to get speed and precision, and worry about being in time with the music last. Everyone has their own learing style. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

A few things I have had to do are:

*learn the choreography in block segments. This way you are not focused so much on the counts, but maybe on a particular "move" or sequence of turns or floor work.

*video tape (with permission of course)

*learn by the song, whether it be singing the words, or humming along with the music. Sometimes you can get particular beats that are strong or accented to help you get a count or step.

*ask for a private lesson, and maybe she will break it down into eights (although this maybe more expensive) with you there.

*If you really have to, change groups. I know, sad choice, but you may have to if it hinders you too much.

Good luck! Smiles!

Answer 4

usually choreographers who count in 3's or 6's are just skipping the 4 and the 8 count (as in salsa dancing). It helps to add an accent to one of the counts, and your muscle memory will pick it up a little better. (ex. one two THREE, four five SIX)

Answer 5

I don't know that's a hard one...I've never had that problem before because I've stayed with my dance class for 14 years and they always count in eights....Just try hard and maybe ask your choreographer about it....

Answer 6

It could be worse. I recall one of my earliest group classes in waltz in which the instructor tried to count it in 8's instead of 6's. If possible you may need to take notes so you can translate into 8's at a more liesurely pace, or simply learn as Slows, Quicks, etc. and forget the counts altogether, as long as you keep up some pattern grouping in your mind.

Answer 7

i have tht problem...wen a song is not counted in eights or changes from 8 to 4s i get confused and fruestrated...talk to the teacher...it could help

Answer 8

i would just ask her