Dancemaking

Dancemaking is a practice in the creation of dance works in which movement invention, concept development, and production elements are developed through an iterative, collaborative process. It emphasizes experimentation and the shaping of ideas into performances, rather than solely reproducing a finished choreography. Dancemaking can be undertaken by a single artist or by multidisciplinary teams, and it often foregrounds process, inquiry, and risk-taking.

Core activities include idea generation (themes, narratives, or abstract concepts); movement exploration through improvisation and phrasework; the selection and refinement of material; structuring the dance into sections and dramaturgical arcs; and the integration of space, time, dynamics, and performer relationships. Many dancemaking processes employ a scoring system—parameters, rules, or chance procedures—that guide movement or material development. Documentation, rehearsal notes, and notation help preserve the evolving concept.

In practice, dancemaking is central to much contemporary dance and is taught in many conservatories and universities as a method of pedagogy for creativity. It often involves collaboration with composers, designers, dramaturgs, and technical staff, and may result in stage works, site-specific performances, or community presentations. The term highlights the inventor’s active role and the ongoing construction of meaning through making, rather than a single act of presenting a finished piece.