Is choreography the same as dance?

No. Dance is the performance itself. Choreography is the planned arrangement of the movements.

Can choreography be used outside dance?

Yes. People also use it for careful movement in film, theatre, and sports.

Is choreography a formal word?

Yes, it is fairly formal and common in arts and academic writing.

How do I use choreography in a sentence?

You can say, 'The choreography was beautiful,' or 'She created the choreography.'

← Dictionary

choreography

/ˌkɒr.iˈɒɡ.rə.fi/

IELTSAcademic

noun

The art of planning and arranging dance movements. It can also mean the set of dance movements in a performance.

The choreography was fast and precise.
She studied choreography in college.
The film's choreography impressed everyone.

Adinary Nuance

Choreography is more specific than dance. It means the planned arrangement of movements, not the dancing itself. Writers use it when they want to focus on design, structure, or direction. In modern use, it can also describe the careful coordination of actions in sports, film, or public events.

In other languages

Vietnamese: biên đạo
Spanish: coreografía
Chinese: 编舞
Japanese: 振付
Korean: 안무

Etymology

It comes from Greek: khoreia, meaning 'dance', and -graphia, meaning 'writing'. English began using it in the early 18th century.

Common phrases

dance choreographyaward-winning choreographychoreography for a filmcreate the choreography

Synonyms

dance arrangement dance composition dance design

Frequently asked questions

Is choreography the same as dance?: No. Dance is the performance itself. Choreography is the planned arrangement of the movements.
Can choreography be used outside dance?: Yes. People also use it for careful movement in film, theatre, and sports.
Is choreography a formal word?: Yes, it is fairly formal and common in arts and academic writing.
How do I use choreography in a sentence?: You can say, 'The choreography was beautiful,' or 'She created the choreography.'