I shall be too late!” Alice follows him down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. {Lewis Carroll}

How do we solve a creative block?

I find that if I’m blocked, I need to search outside of myself.

‘Do not try and create alone’…

Start digging for treasure down the rabbit hole in other people.

As a choreographer….I look for 4 elements to help me;

Musicians

Prop masters

Costume designers

Story tellers

Costumes- I go thrifting in vintage stores for things that glitter and cascade. If I find a costume that is unconventional, rare and fabulous…I can build a whole piece around it! I can find the entire character just by finding the right costume design.

Props- I delve for random props. Other people’s trash is another woman’s treasure! (I once built an entire ballet around a colleagues monkey bars. We swung and climbed and laughed…..and yes, the collaboration of play with the 4 students I had…built and entire award winning piece).

Music- I go down the rabbit hole….from composers of Moroccan Chaabi to Portuguese Saudade….I explore rich cultures and bands as if I was at a Spice market surrounded by enticing aromas. Headphones in….dive, dive, dive.

Storytellers- Nature; escape to nature…I book a local campsite, cheap and easy, mid week. Pitch a one woman tent and listen to the night. It’s mystical what the owls, crickets and coyotes tell us when we sit and listen. They have so much to say.

Another idea, is to go out….and party….

Do something out of our usual comfort zone. Go out and buy paint and splosh it somewhere; book a night out to a live show, a drag show, a comedian, a musical. Something out of the norm.

Once I find the inspiration, I find the dancer…..who are they? What does my inspiration need? Many or few? A solo or an ensemble?

Oh, and I never choreograph alone….I go into the studio with an empty and open mind and I play. I always ask the dancers to collaborate. I treat choreography like I’m painting. I watch as it unfolds. Shading here and there…erasing and correcting as necessary.

Oooh ooooh, I’m on a roll….you know what random other thing I love?? British Crime Dramas! They’re so gritty and real and fun. A great escape.HAHA. Honestly, sometimes we just need bloomin distraction!

If we are creatively blocked where we are…….escape in others. That’s where the treasures are….. in the arms of others…let’s follow the white rabbit.. Down, down, down we goooooooooo.