Choreographic Intention, Meaning, and Abstraction

A dance is more than organized movement; it is organized movement that means something or produces a deliberate effect. Choreographic intention is the choreographer's purpose, what the work is meant to communicate, evoke, or explore, and it is the compass that guides every compositional choice. This lesson examines how intention shapes a piece, how meaning is conveyed through movement, and how dances range from the narrative to the purely abstract.

What choreographic intention is

Choreographic intention is the aim or driving idea behind a work: a theme, feeling, question, story, or effect the choreographer wants to realize. Intention need not be a message that can be neatly paraphrased; it may be an atmosphere, a relationship, a physical sensation, or an exploration of a movement idea. Wha