In celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Day, we sat down with our Founder and Choreographer, Lauren MacKinnon, to ask her all your questions about what it's like being a Musical Choreographer.
DTLS: When did you realise you loved choreographing?
Lauren: I have always been creating choreography from an early age. I remember always being so excited participate in any dance competition that involved creating and performing my own choreography. At school I would always drag my friends into the dance studio at recess and lunchtime to teach them choreography I had made up. I was always the first to enter into dance festivals, concerts and competitions - anything that allowed me to create and perform my own choreography.
DTLS: What was the first musical you choreographed?
Lauren: I was given the opportunity to be Assistant Choreographer of Hornsby Musical Society's The Producers in 2014, which I absolutely loved. It was during this time that I decided the production team life was for me.
DTLS: When did you know you were passionate about choreographing musicals?
Lauren: Honestly, I didn't get into musicals to choreograph - I first started out with them because I wanted to continue dancing and performing. I got into the musical theatre world later in life (after school), my first musical 10 years ago was Grease with Hornsby Musical Society. While performing in Grease I met Courtney Cassar who was the Director of their upcoming show The Producers and he asked me if I wanted to come onboard as Assistant Choreographer. It was during The Producers that I realised I not only enjoyed working on the Production Team but I was good at teaching adults to dance.
DTLS: What is your favourite musical you have choreographed?
Lauren: Anyone who knows me, knows I am a MASSIVE High School Musical fan. So definitely High School Musical: On Stage at Northern Beaches Christian School, 2019 was one for the memory books. Thanks to Isaac Owen who made that happen!!
High School Musical: On Stage, Northern Beaches Christian School, 2019. © Belinda Hutchison
DTLS: How long does it take you to create a routine?
Lauren: It really depends. Sometimes it can be short and sweet and other times it can take forever. I personally find if I am listening to music while I am working and a song comes on that 'speaks to me' - I get up then and there and start choreographing. I will make sure I record myself and document the video into my choreography creation folder to use at a later date. I find some of my best choreography has come from doing that. It also gives me the chance to come back to the choreography to re-invision it and make it better.
If I was to sit down and choreography a full number (approx three minutes) from start to finish it usually takes me around an hour. Then obviously there is the teaching time on top of that etc.
DTLS: What was one of the most challenging routines you have created so far?
Lauren: Definitely would be Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid. It's not that the choreography was hard, it's that there were a lot of moving parts (literally). Our amazing (and fearless) Director Isaac Owen had an incredible vision of Ursula having long tentacles that were controlled by other performers. This was such an awesome idea, which we just knew we HAD to create onstage. Which we did - after many many challenges, workshops and rehearsals. .
DTLS: What do you do if a performer is struggling to learn your choreography?
Lauren: I think it's really important as a creative to be able to allow yourself flexibility when your choreography isn't working. Yes, of course, it's hard when you have a vision in your mind of how you what it to come to life - but that's the best thing about being a creative is that you have other options. I always love a challenge even if that's within my own choreography to change, adapt and re-create.
DTLS: Is there a difference between being a dance teacher and a choreographer? And how do the two intertwine?
Lauren: Absolutely there is! I have found with my experience in the entertainment industry that people fall into the trap of saying "wow - that person is an awesome dancer teacher, they must be a fantastic choreographer!" When actually they are different roles that require a completely different skill set. I believe that being an amazing dance teacher and being an amazing choreographer are two different things.
Being a dance teacher requires you to be a leader, standing in front of a class independently to teach your dancers technical skills in order to improve their dancing.
Being a choreographer on the other hand, requires you to be a part of a creative team that collaborate together to bring a joint vision to life.
DTLS: What makes you a good choreographer?
Lauren: Like I touched on earlier, being a good choreographer means that you need to be willing to adapt and change your ideas and overall vision, if it doesn't work with the vision of the other creatives on your team. At the end of the day, it's not about how good the routine looks onstage but how the routine fits into the bigger picture of the show. As a choreographer I focus on how my routines are bringing the full story to life onstage.
DTLS: What is a musical you can't wait to choreograph?
Lauren: Being not only a massive High School Musical fan, I am also a massive Disney fan. Growing up with all the classics was amazing and I am loving all of the live action remakes. I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to choreograph Aladdin. An 8 minute version of Friend Like Me including a tap break - common it doesn't get much better than that!!
DTLS: What musicals are you currently working on?
Lauren: We are currently choreographing Into the Woods at Abbotsleigh - which is going into production week next week! Our other Studio Teacher, Jess Edward is currently choreography The Scarlett Pimpernel at Berowra Musical Society.
I will also be Co-Choreographing The Addams Family with North Shore Theatre Company and Heathers with Blackout Theatre Company at the end of this year. Keep your eyes on our socials for audition info coming soon!
There you have it! An insight into our own DTLS creative and innovator, Lauren MacKinnon.
Lauren's other choreography and production works include The Producers (Assistant Choreographer, HMS, 2014),The Wedding Singer (Choreographer, HMS, 2016), Shrek Jr The Musical (Production Assistant, Ravenswood, 2017), The Little Mermaid (Choreographer, Northern Beaches Christian School, 2018), High School Musical: On Stage (Choreographer, NBCS, 2019), Wicked (Choreographer, Abbotsleigh, 2021), NSW Amateur Premier Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Choreographer, Blackout Theatre Company, 2021), The Boy From Oz (Choreographer, BTC, 2021), and Matilda JR (Choreographer, Loreto Normanhurst, 2022).
At Dancing Through Life Studios we have a strong collection of choreographers to help you with your next project. Whether it's for;
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Happy World Creativity and Innovation Day to all our fellow creatives!
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By Dancing Through Life Studios
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