A Choreographer's Handbook

On choreography: 'Choreography is a negotiation with the patterns your body is thinking.' On rules: 'Try breaking the rules on a need to break the rules basis.' The updated and revised edition of 'A Choreographer's Handbook' invites the reader to investigate how and why to make a dance performance. In an inspiring and unusually empowering sequence of stories, questions, ideas and paradoxes, internationally renowned choreographer Jonathan Burrows explains how it's possible to navigate a course through this complex process. It is a stunning reflection on a personal practice and professional journey, and draws upon many years of workshop discussions, led by Burrows. Burrows' open and honest prose gives the reader access to a range of principles, exercises, meditations and ideas on choreography that allow artists and dance-makers to find their own aesthetic process. It is a book for anyone interested in making performance, at whatever level and in whichever style.

Jonathan Burrows is a choreographer, teacher and writer, whose work has been invited widely internationally. He is best known for an ongoing body of work with the composer Matteo Fargion, with whom he has collaborated for over 30 years. He is the author of 'A Choreographer's Handbook' (Routledge 2010) and 'Writing Dance' (2022) and is currently Associate Professor at the Centre for Dance Research, Coventry University, UK.

Preface, 2nd edition Dancing / Principles Material Habits Repetition Repetition Repetition Improvisation / Cut and paste / Choreography Form Exploration / Risk Breaking the rules Subject / Inspiration / Stealing / Familiar movement / Choreography / Referencing other sources Research / How and what? / Dramaturgy / Theory / Curiosity Contract / Performance space Self-expression Abstract dance Interview / Unfinished business / Questions / Principles Financial limitations / Studios / Funding applications Collaboration / Audience Preparation / Meetings / Rehearsal schedule / Heaviness Originality / Ecology / Paradox Technique / Parrot on your shoulder / Authenticity / Dancing / Style / Fiddling Virtuosity Specificity Daily practice Hoarding / Beginnings Endings Keeping it going / Pacing Change / Dub reggae / Simple material / Desperation Predictable and unpredictable / Expectation Stillness and silence Minimal and maximal Solos, duos, trios, quartets Many bodies / States Parallel Voices Performance / Principles Distracting the self / Paradox / Choreography / Performance / Electric guitars Does it work? / Showings / Mentoring Narrative / Ballet / Continuity Continuity / Material / Make six things / Choreography / Flow Relation Relation / Time / Rhythm Time Counterpoint Unison Scores / Studios / Translation / Sequencing / Improvisation Chance / Empty hands / Gamut of movements / Limitations / Laborious work / Philosophy Audience / Facing the front / Facing each other / Confrontation / Humour / Failure Place or space? Audience Hierarchies / Dancer or choreographer? / In it or out of it? / Who owns what? The marketplace / Earning a living / Administrating the work / Commercial work / Commissions / Academia Music / Collaboration / Silence Text Lighting / Technicians / Collaboration / Costumes / Set design / Nudity Filming / History / Collaboration / Mirrors / Human-scale Titles How can I simplify all of this? Forget all this