by Maureen Creigh

So you’ve made the commitment!  You have relocated to Los Angeles or New York and settled in an apartment.  Now comes the search for some good classes.  The choice is vast.  

Visit the Dance Studios in the area.  There are many classes to choose from.  Find the best ones for you.   

In Los Angeles some choreographers teach. Get to know who they are. Begin to create relationships with them by taking their class and learning their style. That’s a big step forward towards getting the job. You will feel more at ease when trying to pick up combinations at their auditions. By going to many different teachers you become better at picking up fast. 

In New York not many choreographers teach on a regular basis. So audition as much as possible. Get recognized.   

Important Things To Know 

Always take ballet class.  It’s the foundation for everything. There you learn how to turn, jump, find your centre and generally get good technique. Then you can concentrate on style, in other classes. Open yourself up to new ways of moving. Be prepared to accept that you don’t know everything and never have a closed mind.  That’s trouble. 

Always learn. Every day.  Remember, solid training gives you the ability to control the body and execute the choreographer’s movements 

Study other forms of Dance.  Those you are not familiar with -

Tap, Partnering, Ballroom, Jazz, to name a few. Also Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Aerial.

If you are up for a job and you have the extra skill, you’ll find yourself with a booking. 

Then we come to acting and singing. These are very important in New York but also you never know when something comes up in Los Angeles. In my opinion, everyone needs to study acting, dancers and Singers too.   

Finally. Successful Dancers are highly trained Professionals.  Learn from them.  Take notice and observe how they reached the top. 

Next Article:  Find out about Agents and auditions. 

Need some assistance, Ms Creigh is available for private coaching and consultation. Give her call 818 769-6316

Born in England, Maureen Creigh began her professional career as a dancer/actor/singer in London, appearing in musicals, television, repertory and film.  After owning her dance studio in Connecticut for seven years, she became a teacher at Luigi's Dance Center in New York City.  She was invited to give master classes and guest teach at major dance studios and colleges in Europe and the United States on the East and West Coast.

Maureen has directed and choreographed productions in the U.S. and Europe.  Credits include works for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Opera House, Cologne, the New Theater, London and Adelaine Genee Theater, Surrey, England, among others.  She has been a segment producer for the American Choreography Awards in Los Angeles.  Ms.  Creigh is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance and Bush-Davies Dance School.  As an actor, she studied at London Academy of Music and Art (LAMDA) and also had formal voice training.

Maureen has been a personal manager for 19 years representing dancers, singers and actors for Television, Film and Stage.  She is often in demand as a performance coach and to conduct her seminars throughout the U.S. Her office is located in Los Angeles.