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3.2 Choreographic processes (8)

Mini Site 2 — Choreography Knowledge Base

Choreographic Processes

How a choreographer moves from first idea to finished piece — the eight stages every dance goes through.

Page 2.2  ·  Processes

What you'll learn

  • Define each of the eight choreographic processes accurately
  • Understand what each process looks like in practice — not just in theory
  • Know exactly what the examiner expects in a Section B process question
  • Build your own Section B example for each process using your choreography

Making a dance is a journey. Nobody sits down and choreographs the finished piece in one go — every choreographer, from Wayne McGregor to your GCSE self, moves through a series of stages. The AQA specification names eight of these stages as choreographic processes, and the exam expects you to know them, name them correctly, and crucially, show how you used them in your own work.

2.2.1   The Eight Choreographic Processes
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Definition

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In Practice

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🎓 Exam Link

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Model Answer — Section B (6-mark style)

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Your Section B Example

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💡 Copy your answers into your ePortfolio — not saved automatically.

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Test Yourself   Process → Definition Flashcards

Cover the step-through above, then test yourself. Tap each card to flip it and check your definition.

2.2.2   ⚠ Exam Watch-Out — Section B Process Questions

When the exam asks you to explain how you used a choreographic process, it's testing three things at once. Miss any one of them and you leave marks on the table.

The Section B Formula for Choreographic Process Questions

Step 1
Name the Process
Use the correct AQA term — 'generating', 'structuring', 'refining' etc. Don't just describe what you did without naming it.
Step 2
Give a Specific Example
Describe exactly what you did in your choreography — a specific moment, section, or movement phrase. Vague references don't score.
Step 3
Link to Your Intent
Explain how this process helped you communicate or achieve your choreographic intent — the mood, idea or theme you were trying to express.
⚠ Common mistake: Listing processes without linking any of them to your own work scores no more than 2 out of 6 marks. The examiner needs to see that YOU used this process in YOUR choreography, and understand WHY it mattered to your intent.
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Model Answer Structure "I used the process of [NAME] when [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE from your work]. This was important to my choreographic intent because [LINK TO INTENT/MOOD/IDEA]."
That three-part structure, applied to two or three processes with detail, is what a 5–6 mark answer looks like.
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Did You Know? The processes don't have to happen in strict order. Many choreographers loop back — for example, they might refine a section, then decide to select differently and develop it further. In your Section B answer, you can acknowledge this if it reflects your real creative process.
2.2   Revision Check

✍️ Revision Check

10 questions. Answer all of them, then submit.

1. Which choreographic process involves exploring movement freely without planning?

2. What is the correct definition of generating?

3. Structuring refers to:

4. Which process is LAST in the choreographic sequence?

5. A choreographer gathers images, music and movement ideas before they begin making their piece. Which process is this?

6. Developing is best described as:

7. In Section B, a student writes: "I used structuring, developing and refining in my piece." How many marks is this likely to earn?

8. Refining primarily involves:

9. What does synthesising specifically involve that distinguishes it from refining?

10. Which three things must a Section B process answer include to aim for full marks?

📸 Take a screenshot of your score and paste it into your ePortfolio so your teacher can see your progress.

📌 Revisit This — Key Points from This Page

The 8 Processes Researching · Improvising · Generating · Selecting · Developing · Structuring · Refining · Synthesising
Synthesising (last) Brings all elements together — movement, production features AND performance — into a unified whole. More than just tidying up.
Improvising ≠ Generating Improvising = free, unplanned exploration. Generating = deliberately creating new material, often after improvising.
Refining Done through rehearsal and response to feedback — improving quality and clarity. Happens after structuring, before synthesising.
⚠ Section B Formula Name the process + specific example from YOUR work + link to YOUR intent. No examples = no more than 2/6.
Not Always Linear Processes can loop back — a choreographer may develop, then re-select, then develop again. This is normal and worth mentioning in Section B if it's true for you.
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