choreography

American  

[kawr-ee-og-ruh-fee, kohr-] / ˌkɔr iˈɒg rə fi, ˌkoʊr- /

noun

choreographies plural

1. the art of composing ballets and other dances and planning and arranging the movements, steps, and patterns of dancers.

2. the technique of representing the various movements in dancing by a system of notation.

3. the arrangement or manipulation of actions leading up to an event.

   the choreography of a surprise birthday party.

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choreography British  

/ ˌkɒrɪəˈɡræfɪk, ˌkɒrɪˈɒɡrəfɪ, kɒˈrɛɡrəfɪ, ˌkɒrəˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. the composition of dance steps and sequences for ballet and stage dancing

2. the steps and sequences of a ballet or dance

3. the notation representing such steps

4. the art of dancing

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choreography Cultural  

1. The art of arranging dance movements for performance.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• choreographer
  noun
• choreographic
  adjective
• choreographically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• choreographies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of choreography

1780–90; < Greek chore- (stem of choreía chorea ) + -o- + -graphy

Explanation

Use the noun choreography to describe the plan for how dancers will move on a stage during a show, play, or dance. You might particularly love the choreography in the movie West Side Story. You can use the word choreography to mean "dance" or "ballet," but its specific meaning is the notation a choreographer makes on paper as she plans out the complex movements and steps made by dancers. Choreography is particularly important in musical theater, ballet, opera, and dance recitals. The Greek roots of choreography are khoreia, "dance," and graphein, "to write."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

choreography choreographies

Once in London, the tapestry will be displayed flat, for the first time, in a specially made glass case in a "choreography with I think 80 different conservators -- intensely careful, difficult work".

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

There are costumes, in the form of uniforms, and choreography, in the navigation of a packed dining room.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

They contributed to a new standard of elaborate, hours-long concerts with more emphasis on choreography, pyrotechnics, costume changes and technology to wow audiences.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

But when we’re just focused on Early, hoping to outrun Maddie’s demons in manic aerobics sessions of deliriously complex choreography, the movie feels like a spell.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

They celebrate first of all the inviolability of the earth, and they re-enact, each time, in stereotyped choreography, our long anxiety about the nature of life.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

The 15-minute orchestral piece has inspired seven different choreographies, but is most widely associated with the version created by Bejart, which remains the best known.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

And you can see the different factions that make this rebellion exist and all of the different kind of training and background of characters you can see in the choreographies and in the fights.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2025

While supporters have mobilised independently of the club and fund their choreographies, banners and pyro displays, Hammarby's 'one-club' philosophy has certainly helped.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2024

Their work wasn’t linear, but there was nothing haphazard about their highly stylized, carefully rehearsed projects, which often ran on tight clockwork choreographies, integrating video and complicating ideas of plot.

From New York Times ● Mar. 2, 2023

Local club teams such as Casablanca’s Wydad AC, Raja CA and Rabat’s AS FAR have die-hard fans known for vibrant chants and colorful choreographies.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 13, 2022

Related Words

• dance