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Public Administration & LegalISCO 2653

Choreologist

A choreologist is a person who studies dance and creates it within a particular style or tradition — ethnic dance, early dance or baroque dance — and writes its movement down so that it can be read and performed again.

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Rate 5 of the 25 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

understand the architecture of a live performance

be a role model in community arts

understand the emotional dimension of a performance

develop the physical language

describe artistic experience

About choreologist

What choreologists study has two sides. Looking inward, they analyse movement itself: the theory behind a step, how it is performed in practice, and how knowledge of it passes from dancer to dancer. Looking outward, they set the dance in the society that produced it, using social, ethnological, ethnographic and sociological evidence, so that a form is read as the expression of a particular group of people. Alongside the research, choreologists record steps using dance notation techniques, reconstruct repertoire from older sources and create new choreographic material in the style they specialise in.

Much of the work happens in the rehearsal room with dancers. It means recognising what a performer needs, getting on with people of very different temperaments, and keeping conditions in which performers can develop. Work is often taken on commission, so managing an artistic career, and with it intellectual property law and labour law, belongs to the job: who holds rights to a reconstructed dance, and on what terms dancers are engaged.

The central skills are dance notation, close observation of movement, and the historical and ethnographic reading that puts a form in context. Experience is normally built inside one tradition at a time, because the notation, the repertoire and the sources differ from style to style.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (25)

labour legislationlabour legislationLegislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.intellectual property lawintellectual property lawThe regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.art-historical valuesart-historical valuesThe historical and artistic values implied in examples of one's branch of art.understand the architecture of a live performanceunderstand the architecture of a live performanceIdentify the choreographic structure of a live performance work. Be aware of sequences, sections, parts and rhythmic structure.be a role model in community artsbe a role model in community artsTake responsibility for your physical and emotional wellbeing as a role model for your group. Care for the wellbeing of your participants while leading them in a dance session.understand the emotional dimension of a performanceunderstand the emotional dimension of a performanceIdentify the specific aspects of a cast and the emotions elicited by the performers' physical transformations. Sense the emotional charge of choreographic sequences, the arrangement of elements, in th...develop the physical languagedevelop the physical languageAnalyse and improve the choreographic movements and physical language, following the directions of the choreographer, scene director, etc.describe artistic experiencedescribe artistic experienceTake into consideration other areas of expertise or experience and identify elements relevant to your artistic approach.create choreographic materialcreate choreographic materialCreate movements, choreographic sequences or sections, and links in between them.act as a resource person in danceact as a resource person in danceAct as an expert consultant for choreographers, programmers, venues, conservatories, and other relevant institutions.monitor art scene developmentsmonitor art scene developmentsMonitor artistic events, trends, and other developments. Read recent art publications in order to develop ideas and to keep in touch with relevant art world activities.identify performers' needsidentify performers' needsIdentify performer's needs, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each performer, and the specific needs for each role or part. Take into account performers' health and safety.draw up choreographydraw up choreographyDocument and preserve the choreography of a production, the choreographer’s intention and vision.maintain safe working conditions in performing artsmaintain safe working conditions in performing artsVerify the technical aspects of your workspace, costumes, props, etc. Eliminate potential hazards in your work space or performance. Intervene actively in cases of accidents or illness.demonstrate specialisation in a dance traditiondemonstrate specialisation in a dance traditionDemonstrate an embodied understanding of dance and dance-making, and an informed artistic viewpoint of your chosen dance style, that enables you to reconstruct or create a choreographic work fully imm...log changes in choreographylog changes in choreographyIndicate any changes in choreography during a production and correct errors in notation.work with respect for own safetywork with respect for own safetyApply the safety rules according to training and instruction and based on a solid understanding of the prevention measures and risks to your own personal health and safety.develop codified movementsdevelop codified movementsIdentify codified movements to be used. Use and demonstrate codified movements to the performers.interpret artistic intentionsinterpret artistic intentionsInterpret the artistic intentions of the author.work with broad variety of personalitieswork with broad variety of personalitiesBe flexible and work with a broad mix of personalities.notate different dancesnotate different dancesUse dance noting techniques to notate different forms of dance.create a work environment where performers can develop their potentialcreate a work environment where performers can develop their potentialEnsure that performers are well prepared and closely guided in each work session. Ask performers for feedback about the work sessions and take it into account.evaluate art qualityevaluate art qualityCorrectly evaluate the quality of art objects, artefacts, photographs and documents.manage artistic careermanage artistic careerPresent and promote one's artistic approach and position one's work in target markets.understand the conceptual dimension of a live performanceunderstand the conceptual dimension of a live performanceIdentify the main ideas of a live performance work by analysing choreographic sequences and the emphasis placed on different components of the work. Detect references of a literary, visual, philosophi...
Optional (16) — show
body languagebody languageNotice and interpret the non-verbal signals that people send out with their body, including yourself.work in an international environmentwork in an international environmentGuide your career to an international level which often requires the ability to interact, relate and communicate with individuals from different cultures.contribute to an artistic approachcontribute to an artistic approachContribute to the development of an artistic approach. Help the choreographer develop his or her artistic intent, grasping the work's identity, participating in the creative process.stimulate performers' imaginationstimulate performers' imaginationUse inspirational artifacts and creative methods to stimulate the performers' imagination. Provide the performers with the necessary documentation. Stimulate performers' imagination involved in live p...match needs of target community with your skillsmatch needs of target community with your skillsMatch the needs of your researched target community to your skills as a dance leader. Practice self-awareness and an honest appraisal of your skills.inspire enthusiasm for danceinspire enthusiasm for danceEncourage and enable people, especially children, to become involved in dance and to understand and appreciate it, either privately or in public contexts.create new fight sequencescreate new fight sequencesObserve participants in groups or one by one to identify their potential. Create new movements tailored to make full use of performers' potential.analyse music scoreanalyse music scoreAnalysing the score, form, themes and structure of a piece of music.manage artistic projectmanage artistic projectManage an artistic project. Determine project needs. Establish partnerships. Manage the budget, schedule, contractual agreements and assess the project.clarify how various components work togetherclarify how various components work togetherEvaluate the degree to which the components of the artistic work are harmonised. Look for solutions when needed and propose adjustments.study community as a target communitystudy community as a target communityEmploy appropriate research activities to find out about this specific community as potential/target market. Identify their specific needs, the dance style, roles and relationships and communication s...show intercultural awarenessshow intercultural awarenessShow sensibility towards cultural differences by taking actions which facilitate positive interaction between international organisations, between groups or individuals of different cultures, and to p...contribute to the choreographer's process of reflectioncontribute to the choreographer's process of reflectionHelp choreographers develop their reflection. Suggest readings. Refer to the work of visual artists, filmmakers, performing artists, composers and sound designers, and suggest potential resource perso...teach danceteach danceInstruct students in the theory and practice of dance, recreationally or with the aim of assisting them in pursuing a future career in this field. Deliver correcting instructions that support differen...develop methods for choreographic integrationdevelop methods for choreographic integrationDevelop methods to pass on your choreographic style or signature to the performers. Define a mode of transmission. Select the necessary tools.develop proposed choreographic languagedevelop proposed choreographic languageRehearse and develop the artistic, choreographic, dramatic and interactional concepts to embody them in the artistic performance.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

choreographer18 shared essential skillsdance répétiteur11 shared essential skillsdancer10 shared essential skillsartistic coach9 shared essential skillsrépétiteur7 shared essential skillsfight director5 shared essential skillsartistic painter4 shared essential skillsdance teacher4 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a choreologist do?

Choreologists are specialised creators of dance in specific styles or traditions, such as ethnic dance, early dance or baroque dance. Their work is contextualised historically and sociologically as an expression of the human group that developed it. Choreologists analyse dance from intrinsic aspects: theory, practice and epistemology of movements in itself. They also study dance from the extrinsic perspective: the social, ethnological, etnographical and sociological context in which dance is developed.

What skills does a choreologist need?

A choreologist needs 25 essential skills, including labour legislation, intellectual property law, art-historical values, understand the architecture of a live performance, be a role model in community arts.

Will AI replace choreologist jobs?

The AI disruption score for choreologist is 7/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: intellectual property law, labour legislation, monitor art scene developments. Most resilient: be a role model in community arts, demonstrate specialisation in a dance tradition, understand the emotional dimension of a performance.

Quick Facts

SectorPublic Administration & Legal
ISCO GroupLegal, social and cultural professionals
Essential Skills25

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