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What classes in highschool should I take in order to be a musical choreographer.

I would like to be a musical theatre choreographer for shows and performances. #theatre #musical-theatre #dance #choreography #performing-arts #high-school-classes

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Miriam’s Answer

Hey there :D The classes you take in school should combine performance and dance for your hard skillset and something in the way of leadership for soft skills, like public speaking. Also, start teaching your peers and kids to perform now to get the skills you need to kill it when you graduate!


The important thing about becoming a choreographer is to be an excellent leader. I have had choreography directors who were amazing at performance but terrible at leading and vice versa. The ones who succeeded were amazing at leading and fantastic teachers, regardless of their actual performance skills.


So my advice to you is to start teaching choreographies to your peers/kids in your area and take performance classes and public speaking in school :) Good luck and all the best!

Miriam recommends the following next steps:

Start teaching choreographies to your peers/kids in your area
Take performance classes and public speaking in school
Thank you comment icon Good call on the speaking and leadership stuff! Brian Weissman
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Brian’s Answer

So, I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that most of the High Schools in the United States don't offer dance classes never mind choreography classes. The experience you are likely to get there is in dancing in school musicals. Her advice of teaching your peers is a great idea, as are taking speaking and leadership classes as those are things that are likely to be offered.

The good news is that, if you are this passionate about dance, you've probably been dancing for a while and should have a dance teacher or school where you take lessons. That will be your best resource. Tell your dance teacher(s) that you want to become a choreographer. They may work up an independent study for you or start giving you some extra responsibilities. Choreo isn't just about teaching, though it is important that you can get people to repeat your steps. You also have to feel the music and figure out what moves will tell the story in your head for a given song. Your teachers will help you develop that skill. You'll start with your own routines and move on you numbers for others. If you have a good drama teacher at school and tell them your gaol, they should take you under their wing and either let you learn from them or let you help them.

As you get better at it, offer your skills to the local middle schools and community theaters as a choreographer. All of this should help you build a portfolio to get you ready to apply to the big name dance schools. Good luck!
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