How To Choose The Perfect Dance Workshop Song

I've hosted numerous workshops of different dance styles over the years. If you know me, you know the hardest aspect of teaching dance is choosing the song. There are so many options to choose from that I struggle to pick between them. Over the years, I have learned some tips to help me filter down my list and deliver an energetic and engaging experience every time.

Consider the Theme or Purpose: Identify the theme or purpose of your dance workshop. Is there a holiday coming up, a new song that's been trending, or a new style you want to try out? Whether it's a specific dance style, emotion, or concept, your song should align with the workshop's focus. For example, if you're teaching a Bollywood dance workshop with a love theme since Valentine's Day is around the corner, choose a song that conveys the desired emotions.

Understand Your Audience: Know your participants and their dance skill levels. This can be tricky with workshops because it is an open class. I have choreographed routines that were difficult and choreographed routines that were too simple. It's hard to find the perfect balance because you never know who is coming through the door. I have learned that a sweet spot is usually an upbeat song with simple moves. It's challenging enough because of the pace of the song, but the steps are easy to learn even for a beginner.

Consider Song Length: Take into account the duration of the workshop and the attention span of your participants. Choose a song that is an appropriate length for the workshop (hour, hour and a half, etc.), ensuring you have enough time to teach and practice the choreography without it feeling rushed. If the song is longer than needed, be prepared to edit or select specific sections. As a rule of thumb, in a one-hour workshop, I will try to stay within 45 sec - 1 minute of choreography (max).

Reflection Of You: Choose a song that you are absolutely obsessed with currently. The songs that stick out are a reflection of you. This makes it easier to choreograph and come up with steps. Ideas for steps start popping up in your mind and a vision is created of what you want the end product to look like. This will also help you get excited about the workshop, and that enthusiasm will naturally become contagious with your audience. My best workshops are the ones where I loved and couldn't wait to teach.

Remember, the key is to choose a song that inspires creativity, aligns with your workshop goals, and is enjoyable for both you and your participants.