Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: GREASE choreography

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Karin
Lead
Lead

Joined: 12/27/06
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 47

Topic: GREASE choreography
Posted: 1/27/08 at 10:39am

Our school will be performing Grease this spring. I am thinkin of asking some excellent high school dancers to choreograph the play for me. Does anyone know if there is a DVD or a video out that would help a choreographer teach the dance routines?

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JoeMc
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Joined: 3/13/06
Location: Australia
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Posts: 832

Posted: 1/27/08 at 6:02pm

I can't remember that there is not that much intricate dance routines, Beyond teenie bopper rock 'n roll. Which I'm sure any of your dance students would be able to devise.

Colour & movement is all that's needed. Even the mise en scene is primarily based on cartoon colours

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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stagechild
Walk-On
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Joined: 5/15/08
Location: Canada
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Posts: 0

Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:33pm

Anything looks really good with a lot of energy. For Hand Jive (an example), Jive was really the spirit so it was very groovy and big.

And for some help... Hand Jive motions:
Hit thighs x2

clap x2

put right hand over left hand x2

put left hand over right hand x2

hit fists together on a vertical motion (right on top) x2

hit fists together on a vertical motion (left on top) x2

put right hand into a thumbs-up and point behind right shoulder x2

put left hand into a thumbs-up and point behind left shoulder x2

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tristanrobin
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Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 704

Posted: 7/25/08 at 1:37pm

They can probably find a lot of help from watching dance instruction tapes for jitterbugging.

Most of the dancing is STAGE VERSIONS of regular dancing. Just have them remember that most dancing is for the participants - whereas theatre dancing is for the observer...just because something is fun to do doesn't make it fun to watch (did somebody mention golf and tennis? Wink

)

The High School Hop is the longest, most difficult dance number. Get the legs kicking and the guys doing lots of lifts with the girls - spins to get the dresses moving - and BIG movement.

Good luck! It's a fun show to choreo!

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Topper
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Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 543

Posted: 7/25/08 at 6:05pm

I think there's a DVD available. Look here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GBEWHA/bookstorenow49-20

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Choreography, Dance & Movement for Theater
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Choreography, Dance & Movement for Theater

Author	Message
Karin Lead Joined: 12/27/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Topic: GREASE choreography Posted: 1/27/08 at 10:39am
	Our school will be performing Grease this spring. I am thinkin of asking some excellent high school dancers to choreograph the play for me. Does anyone know if there is a DVD or a video out that would help a choreographer teach the dance routines?

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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 1/27/08 at 6:02pm
	I can't remember that there is not that much intricate dance routines, Beyond teenie bopper rock 'n roll. Which I'm sure any of your dance students would be able to devise. Colour & movement is all that's needed. Even the mise en scene is primarily based on cartoon colours
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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stagechild Walk-On Joined: 5/15/08 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/16/08 at 3:33pm
	Anything looks really good with a lot of energy. For Hand Jive (an example), Jive was really the spirit so it was very groovy and big. And for some help... Hand Jive motions: Hit thighs x2 clap x2 put right hand over left hand x2 put left hand over right hand x2 hit fists together on a vertical motion (right on top) x2 hit fists together on a vertical motion (left on top) x2 put right hand into a thumbs-up and point behind right shoulder x2 put left hand into a thumbs-up and point behind left shoulder x2
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tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 7/25/08 at 1:37pm
	They can probably find a lot of help from watching dance instruction tapes for jitterbugging. Most of the dancing is STAGE VERSIONS of regular dancing. Just have them remember that most dancing is for the participants - whereas theatre dancing is for the observer...just because something is fun to do doesn't make it fun to watch (did somebody mention golf and tennis? ) The High School Hop is the longest, most difficult dance number. Get the legs kicking and the guys doing lots of lifts with the girls - spins to get the dresses moving - and BIG movement. Good luck! It's a fun show to choreo!
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 7/25/08 at 6:05pm
	I think there's a DVD available. Look here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GBEWHA/bookstorenow49-20
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Topic: GREASE choreography( Topic Closed)