Taking notes for new choreography?

[jjane45]

More choreo chat! When you get a program, how do you absorb intricate choreography, including steps, free leg position, and upper body movements?

Even though I have a video of coach skating my program-in-progress to review over and over, I still need to break things down to the smallest details or it won't stick. So far I have a run down for the technical "in betweens" like this, which definitely helps a ton visualizing what the feet do.

But I have absolutely no idea how to describe the arms, could always mimic them off-ice in front of the mirror I guess, but the technical side of me wonders if there is a way choreographers document them?

Tips and tricks for learning program choreography in general, outside of rigorous practices on and off the ice?

[Live2Sk8]

My coach usually teaches a new program in a couple of lessons.  First lesson, we will start with opening 10-20 seconds and repeat many times without music, then try with music, until I think it is 'in my brain'.  Then we'll add on another 10-20 seconds and do the same process, then try the 2 sections together.  After my lesson, I write down all of the steps the best way I can describe them so I understand, and I try to map them out on a little rink diagram I will draw for myself.  Next lesson, we continue on, until finally all of it is choreographed.  We usually add arms later on, after I have a better grasp of the steps and what I am supposed to be doing where/when with the music.  It usually takes a few months before I am getting the timing down with the music, and longer than that before I feel comfortable with the program!  I'm sure if someone looked at my notes and descriptions, they would have no idea what I am describing but as long as I know what the words mean, that's all that counts.  I draw little stick figures sometimes to sketch out what arm or feet positions should be.

I've never had a video of my coach skating the program - I like the idea but I'm a lefty so that wouldn't work very well.  I've seen others have their coaches do the program and then use the video as a reference.

[Skittl1321]

Advanced dance choreographers use a system called Labonotation.  It would work for arms in figure skating as well, I don't know enough about it to know if it works with the footwork.  However, this is generally not used by dancers, but so choreographers can faithfully teach the same choreography (think classic ballet) to each new set of dancers.  The system even allows for facial expressions, it is very comprehensive.

All the choreography I've done has been using a layout on the ice, to plan where I am going and ensure ice coverage and to take good notes.


Live2Sk8-  I would bet your coach could skate the program.  Just have them mark the jumps and spins.  For me though, I'd rather have the video of ME.

[jjane45]

Thanks ladies!

Live2Sk8, video is tremendously helpful to me. After the lesson I was practicing on my own and could not get the footwork right. Reviewed it on my phone and voila. It's easy to just "mark" spin and jumps while still showing the entry and exit, lefty/righty should not be a problem.

Skittl, for me the basic framework sinks in fine, it's the fine details I am having problem with, sigh.

[jjane45]

Labanotation sounds great! Although it does look very complicated for everyday use. Apparently there are simplified versions, this link below includes a demo video with side by side "score"
http://www.lodc.org/about-us/what-is-language-of-dance/lod-choreography.html

I also found this link helpful: http://jodysperling.com/process/how-do-you-write-down-choreography/

[Live2Sk8]

I'm also afraid if I had a video of my coach skating the program, I might want to toss my skates in the trash and never try again!   

[techskater]

LOL, Live2skate, I'd have the same issue if I had video of my coach doing my program. He can also put the jumps in CW (although he IS a CCW skater, he has CW jumps up to 2Lo). 

[jjane45]

Well, coach builds the program in 60 minutes and totally owns it already on the video, and I don't have problems with it - he is the coach!

me: it looked great!!!!
coach: it will look even better when YOU skate it!
me: ... (do you really believe it?  )