Q&A for How to Make a Dance Routine

The box step and rotating box step are by far the easiest moves you can incorporate. They can be used in over four common dance styles: rumba, tango, foxtrot, and waltz. The "whisk" dance movement is another good one—you can use it in a samba, salsa, Viennese waltz, and a few other dance styles.

Listen to the start of the song a few times first and then listen to the entire song. This will help the creative ideas start to flow, and you'll have a better idea of how to start your choreography. Learn the count of song so you know when to start and stop, too—after all, changes in music also mean changes in the choreography.

Enroll in a dance or choreography class. Learn about the art and style of dance from trained professionals.

Every choreographer is different. Some people choreograph to their style and find music after the fact, and some people need to know what song they're going to choreograph to before they start. For me, I like to find a song that moves me and really makes me want to get up and dance wherever I am. Once I find that song and I've listened to it enough, I try to break down what emotions I'm really feeling in the different parts of the music. I try to find ways in which I can have high-energy moments, low-energy moments, and a mix of emotion. You want to bring your audience into a roller coaster of a performance so that they can come with you on a trip. Because for us choreographers, if everything is single toned or very static and consistent throughout, it can tend to weigh down the performance because there are no changes.

On average, I would say it takes between two and three months to choreograph. That’s not counting the time that it takes to clean the piece and make sure it's ready to be presented to an audience. That usually takes an additional month. So in total between choreographing and cleaning and polishing, I would say about four months.

Repetition is the best way. Continue running the dance over and over until you can do it in your sleep!

Yes, especially if the videos are by professional dancers. Try searching for dance studios on YouTube (1 Million dance studio, Millennium, etc.) and observe their moves.

Any kind of jerking or attitude or popping can look really good. Work on splits and try doing moves with a stiff body, and see if you find something you like.

It depends on what style of dance you are doing, but a balk walkover always looks really impressive.

There are so many dance styles that it would take ages to list them all, but some include jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, freestyle, modern jazz, lyrical, contemporary, belly dance and acrobatic.

It's all about the arms' flows. You can try tutting.

Practice makes perfect and regular dance lessons are important, too.

It really depends on the type of dance you want to do. Focus on songs that are in the top 40 playlists on the radio -- they often have pop beats that are easy and fun to dance to.

Most of the time it does. It depends on the moves and the song.

You can use the names if you know what they are (pirouette, chaînés et cetera). If not, just try to describe what you are doing. You could also do small drawings to help you remember.

Start with one style and then transform into a new style every time you want to change the style. For example, to go from ballet to hip hop, you could do a pirouette. And when you land, start doing some hip hop like popping. Just think outside the box and find ways to make the change the styles quick or else there won’t be enough or for example pure ballet or pure hip hop in the routine yet the routine is based on them styles. One last thing, have fun!

Experiment with different body movements as simple as jumping from one spot to the other and so on. The key is to get creative, and just go with the flow. You can also look at other dancer's routines on YouTube to get inspiration.

No, giving up isn't an option. Use this opportunity to improve and learn more. Ask why they didn't let you move on and what you need to do to get better. Keep practicing, keep entering competitions and you'll get there.

Talk to the director of the play and they will add it to the play and the costumes for the characters include shoes etc