choreographer

American  

[kawr-ee-og-ruh-fer, kohr-] / ˌkɔr iˈɒg rə fər, ˌkoʊr- /

noun

choreographers plural

1. a person who creates dance compositions and plans and arranges dance movements and patterns for dances and especially for ballets.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• choreographers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of choreographer

First recorded in 1885–90; choreograph(y) + -er ¹

Explanation

A choreographer is a person who creates a dance, designing every move that the dancers make. The choreographer of a preschool performance will usually have the little dancers do simple movements, spins, and kicks. Choreographer is from choreography and its Greek roots, khoreia, "dance," and graphein, "to write." Choreographers are like composers, but instead of creating music, they compose movements, writing out notations that symbolize how dancers will move. It was a choreographer's job to plan out the Jets-Sharks fight in West Side Story — and the dance moves in your favorite music videos.

Example Sentences

The music of “Koyaanisqatsi” is split into separate sections, with a choreographer assigned to each.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

The rhythmic arm swings and hip circles that have now gone viral weren't in the original music video - but have now spread everywhere thanks to the creative touch of choreographer Lola Beckers.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Buddy Bradley was the African-American choreographer who envisioned these moves and instilled in Matthews, a nervous performer, the confidence she needed.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

FKA twigs, who is also a singer and choreographer, said Baker's "extraordinary legacy is such an inspiration to me and to so many people".

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Ascension, in its world premiere at the Nelly Regina Theater, is the stunning debut by choreographer Petra Echevarri, recent graduate of Juilliard and winner of the Princess Grace Award.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio