Decision Making Model: Performance Process of Dance

Running head: DECISION MAKING MODEL: PERFORMANCE PROCESS OF DANCE

Decision Making Model: Performance Process of Dance

Tonja J. Mask

University of Phoenix

Decision Making Model: Performance Process of Dance

Music, choreography and costumes respectively are all decisions that you have to make when you are a choreographer. The music sets the tone for the dance and in turn the dance brings out the tone in the music and the costumes make the music and dance come alive. Just imagine the decisions I have to make so that the music is perfect, the movements are in sync and the costumes have charisma.

Selecting the right music is the hardest decision for me. The song that I choose has to be just right because it sets the tone for the dance. The two main things I focus on when selecting music are the rhythm and words. Listening to the rhythm helps me understand what counts I am going to use. Listening to the words helps me make up the movements. When making a decision on the proper music, I select 3 to 5 songs that are similar and make up combinations for each song. My dancers perform combinations and give their opinion on the song choice that suites them the best. The well known choreographer Alvin Ailey states if dancers do not like the song they perform to, they will not perform the dance the way you want them to. (Ailey & Baily 1995)

Once the music is chosen, I am now inspired to use my years of learning and training to motivate my performers to achieve their utmost potential. The movements choreographed in the dance bring out the lyrics in the song given the audience a visual representation of its meaning. This also elaborates its meaning through the movements