What does choreography mean?
Choreography is the art of designing and arranging the movements of a dance or other staged performance, from the steps of individual dancers to their patterns across the stage. The word also refers to a particular arrangement itself, as when critics praise the choreography of a ballet's final scene, and, less often, to systems of written notation used to record movement. Rooted in the Greek words for dance and writing, it entered English in the eighteenth century as theatrical dance grew into a formal art. Today the term extends beyond the concert stage: fight scenes in films, ice-skating routines, and marching-band formations are all described as having choreography. The word carries connotations of artistry, precision, and deliberate design, and it is occasionally applied figuratively to any carefully coordinated sequence of events, such as the 'choreography' of a political campaign.
The art or practice of designing and arranging the sequences of movement in a dance or other performance.
"The company commissioned new choreography for its twentieth-anniversary gala."
A specific arrangement or sequence of movements so designed; the written or notated record of such movements.
"She spent weeks learning the intricate choreography of the ensemble's finale."
In these senses choreography functions as an uncountable noun and has no plural.
Choreography is normally uncountable and does not take a plural. A plural form appears only rarely, typically referring to multiple distinct choreographed works.
"The program featured three choreographies by the resident artist."
The word comes from Greek roots meaning 'dance-writing' — before video existed, choreographers literally had to write down every step by hand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of choreography
Choreography derives from the Greek khoreia (dance) and graphein (to write), combining to mean 'dance-writing.' The term was coined in the mid-eighteenth century, when dance masters began publishing systems of notation for recording steps and figures. Over time its meaning broadened from the written recording of dances to the creative act of designing them, which is now the dominant sense. It shares its Greek roots with related forms such as choreograph, choreographer, and choreographic.
Word family
Usage notes
Choreography is an uncountable noun in most uses; it takes no plural in standard English. It is neutral-to-formal in register and is increasingly used figuratively to describe any precisely coordinated sequence of actions (e.g., political maneuvering), though this extended use is less common.
Don't confuse with
A choreographer is the person who designs dances, while choreography is the design or arrangement itself.
Chorography is the description or mapping of regions and places, an entirely unrelated word that happens to look similar.