By Candyce Burke
We’ve all heard the saying, “Mi Casa, es Su Casa”. This Spanish phrase is a highly hospitable way of saying, “please make yourself at home, whatever is mine, is yours”. For the record, the same does not apply to choreography. Never in a million years will you ever hear a stepper from one team say to another, “Hey, did you say you liked this step? Meet me at the studio at 2:00pm and I’ll teach it to you, then maybe you can teach your team.” It ain’t gonna happen!!! However, even without this invitation to take another team’s choreography, all too often it happens that some just help themselves. There is no need to call out names here, I know everyone has seen it before.
I have often wondered what there is to gain in shamelessly copying someone else. What does this say about whoever does such a thing? Shouldn’t every step team have something unique to offer the step culture? Stealing steps is not a unique ability, it’s a cop out. No team will ever be recognized for it’s “cunning ability to steal and perform a step uniquely created by another”.
…And its always a wonder exactly HOW people go about stealing another team’s choreography. Do they record performances and review them during practice time to ensure they copy every move to the “T”? Did some disgruntled member who left one team, join another and then teach their new teammates the choreo? How exactly does this happen?
There are thousands of step combinations, and hundreds of ways to combine them to come up with unique step variations. The opportunity for creativity is virtually endless. Why then do people steal steps? This is the question.
A Chosen Few operates with in-house, interactive collaboration when it comes to our choreography. In other words, we make up all of our own material. Choreography is what makes a team unique and should be seen as a chance to leave an imprint that no one has ever left before.
While creating steps does come easier for some than others, I believe that every stepper is capable of creating material. As steppers, we need to develop our skills to the point where we are familiar with rhythm, timing, and beat combinations enough to create a step. Choreo-creation is a whole different world when compared to rote memorization as someone dictates step movements. When creating steps, you use your brain and body in a different way, this is essential to being a well-rounded stepper.
When having a hard time coming up with new steps, maybe a “creative jam session” during practice for a few hours will get the “juices” flowing. I don’t believe copying another team’s choreography and calling it your own is ever an option.
So, now it’s time for you to weigh in…
Have you ever had choreo stolen from your team? When/Where were you when you found out someone else had been performing your material?
When your team is having a hard time coming up with new choreo, what do you do?
Have you ever “borrowed” another team’s steps? If so, what was your reason?
Let’s discuss…
