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All the right moves: creating choreography that looks great on your student.

Article Excerpt
When Valerie Harman, co-owner of the Art of Dance studio in Chester. New Jersey, began preparing the piece her 10 and 11-year-old tappers performed at the New York City Dance Alliance competition this summer, she tried something new. "I closed my eyes and started to choreograph," she says The piece, in which her students skillfully and sensitively portrayed blind tap dancers, tied for "Critic's Choice" at the NYCDA junior gala (mini's category) in July.

Harman's dance wasn't brightly costumed or full of flashy technical tricks. The dancers couldn't sell the choreography with eye contact and Facial expressions since they were supposed to be blind. But the dance's innovation set it apart

Studios whose teams consistently place or win at competitions say that when preparing, they consider uniqueness in choreography almost as much strong technique. It's not only that they're trying to catch the eyes of jaded judges. Innovative competition pieces, when carefully crafted, stretch students and help them become strong, enthusiastic dancers.

Helping students grow is the first priority.

"Each year, the first thing I think about is what will help my kids in the long run," says Sue Sampson-Dalena, owner of The Dance Studio of Fresno in California. "We've done African dance, modern pieces--this year one to gospel music. We don't always win, but each year I try to expand the dancers'...

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