Gymnast Doll

Gymnast Doll

Gymnastics Choreography In A Snap!

Do you have a gymnast who needs a floor routine right away?  Here are some quick tips for putting together a quality floor routine that will be a hit!

#1.)  Pick the right music.  This will be your guide throughout the process, so choose wisely.  Whether you use recycled music from the gym, or you went to great lengths to find just the right piece, make sure the gymnast really likes it and can connect with it.  Make sure she listens to it over and over before her choroegraphy session.

#2.) Choose your required skills wisely.  For example, if your gymnast does not have a particularly good straddle jump, don't use it, for it will work against her. Make sure your gymnast is banking on her efforts by picking skills that showcase her talents.  Also, have an idea of where they would fit well in the music.  Look at the timer on your stereo to see where the tumbling passes fall, as well as the dance skills.  Is there a "spinny" sounding part of the music that would be a perfect place to do a double turn?  Is there a "big bang" in the music that would accentuate a split leap?  Your goal is to effectively complement the moves and skills to the music.

#3.)  Come up with some dance steps. You've already found a musical piece for her, and with that, hopefully a style of dance that works for her.  If she has a Latin piece, put a cha-cha step in; if she has Irish music, perhaps have some "hopping-kicks", or if she has Big Band, include a charleston step. 

#4.)  Create more material, or "combos".  Make up some fun dance/acro combinations.  Identify what basic tumbling skills she does well, and change them up.  Let's say she has a nice cartwheel.  Have her try doing it to her knees to end in an abstract pose on the floor.  Maybe her back extension roll is nice.  In that case, experiment with having her change her leg positioning once she comes to handstand.  Start by choreographing to just parts of the music by combining "dolled up" basic acro moves with dance moves.  I like to call these "combos".  Just play with the music and see what moves you can get to match up.  In doing this, you will go into the choreographic process with lots of ideas, and have a better chance of finishing quickly and doing a better job.  Keep a notebook to jot down the ideas you come up with.  Vidoetaping is a great way to preserve your creative moves as well.

#5.)  Create a beginning and an ending pose.  You can even start with this.  It will help tie the routine together if you know how it starts and ends.  It also makes getting the rest of the routine done less intimidating.  Make sure you begin and end with great poses, as they leave lasting impressions.

#6.)  Tie it all together.  By now, you have an excited gymnast, great music, and lots of creative material to work with.  Take your time, and match all the movements with the music.  Make sure to write down descriptions of the moves and where the go in relation to the music.  Try to do 2 sessions, no more than 2 hrs. in length.  Many gymnasts get tired mentally & physically around this point, but everyone is different.  Bottom line:  Don't stress yourself or your gymnast-this is supposed to be FUN!

Helpful tips:  If you hit a road block, or just need more ideas, try some of solutions listed below:

Watch a dance program on TV-there are lots of them out there!

Look through gymnastics magazines for cool poses

Watch You Tube Videos for dance and gymnastics performances

Watch a musical that might have dance in it that relates to your music

If you still have trouble-----Take a dance class!  It might be just the motivation you need.  It doesn't matter what kind, whatever appeals to you.  Even a yoga class could give you some great ideas for poses, since most of them are gymnastic in nature.

Finally, if all else fails, find a routine you like, learn it yourself, and teach it to your gymnast.  I did this the very first time I had to choreograph.  I had no experience choreographing, and didn't know where to start.  So, I taught myself a routine performed by a national team member that I had taped on tv, got the music, and taught it to my gymnast.  It came out great, and got me started on becoming a confident and creative choreographer!

In conclusion, my favorite quote from Maya Angelou that had helped get me through many a floor routine--"You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have".

Respectfully submitted,

Ellen McDermott-a.k.a."The GymArtist"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Ellen "The GymArtist" McDermott has nearly 30 years experience in the sport of gymnastics as a performer, coach and choreographer. Ellen has worked in numerous clubs throught the U.S. and Canada, specializing in women's artistic. In addition to producing several state, regional, provincial and national champions, Ellen has also choreographed well over 1,000 floor and beam routines. After realizing that her natural talent as a choreographer was in high demand, Ellen founded GymArtist Choreography in 2004. She has since been travelling to gyms throught North America, helping the next generation of gymnasts use music to blend skill and dance, and in the end produce a beautiful, creative and winning work of gymnastic art. For more information or to book choreography, contact Ellen at: ellen@thegymartist.com.

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