Best Choreography Books of 2025

Critique Is Creative: The Critical Response Process® in Theory and Action is a comprehensive guide to the Critical Response Process® (CRP), a renowned method for giving and receiving feedback on works in progress. Liz Lerman and John Borstel provide a detailed explanation of the four-step process and its principles, while also including essays from various contributors on the application of CRP in different contexts. The book explores how CRP can aid in change-making, making it an essential tool for artists, educators, and community builders. Overall, Critique Is Creative is a valuable practical guide and a fascinating chronicle of the CRP in action.

Water Fitness Lesson Plans and Choreography is an essential reference for both new and experienced instructors looking to keep their classes engaging and effective. The book includes 72 lesson plans for shallow and deep water, each with warm-up and cool-down exercises, variations, choreography, and modifications. With 576 exercises and 253 photos, instructors can easily learn and remember a variety of class formats. The book also covers tips for cueing, choosing music, and modifying classes for different populations. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their water fitness classes.

Ballet Helps Everything!: Ten Reasons Why (Garage Ballet) is an approachable guide to unlocking the powerful secrets at the core of your training. Bursting with practical information, encouraging anecdotes, and technical support, this book is an expert resource full of quotes and personal stories that highlight the author's message of welcome inclusion. Dawn C Crouch, a former dancer with Houston Ballet and an experienced ballet instructor for over forty years, shares her passionate, comprehensive approach to this incredible art form. Overall, this book is a world-class advice delivered in a down-to-earth way, an investment to step into success today.

My Dance Journal is a four-time award-winning journal that helps dancers set goals, grow, and reflect with gratitude. Written by veteran dance coach, S.R. Fabrico, this journal is a fantastic tool for dancers of all ages to build their skills and character. It includes weekly inspirational quotes, competition memories, affirmations, and adult coloring pages for fun. This journal is a must-have for every dance team member, and it will help dancers appreciate the friendships, practices, challenges, mistakes, successes, and stories that combine to choreograph the experience and attitude of a true dancer. Overall, My Dance Journal is a brilliant and unique book that inspires dancers to thrive with mental and muscular strength.

The Burlesque Handbook by Jo Weldon is a comprehensive guide to the art form, with a foreword by comedian Margaret Cho. The book is perfect for fans of Dita Von Teese and performers alike, providing helpful advice and a feisty attitude. Weldon, a star of the New Burlesque scene, is a skilled teacher and performer, making her the gold-standard for the genre. The book also includes glowing reviews from other burlesque performers, cementing Weldon's status as a true champion of the burlesque world. Overall, The Burlesque Handbook is a must-read for anyone interested in the art of burlesque.

The Dance Notebook is an ideal notebook for dance instructors, teachers, and dancers to keep track of their choreography, routines, and goals. The notebook is beautifully designed with an 8.5 x 11 size, college-ruled lined pages, and 100 pages. It makes a perfect gift for a dancer or dance teacher on birthdays or Christmas. It can also be used as a diary, journal, or composition book. This choreography book is a must-have for anyone in the dance industry.

Dance Like No One is Watching is a lined dance journal that is designed to help dancers keep track of their progress and all the exercises they need to practice at home. It is a useful resource to supplement dance education and training. This journal is perfect for young dancers who want to improve their skills and keep track of their progress. The book is an excellent gift for girls who love ballet and dance. Overall, this book is a great investment for young dancers who want to achieve their goals and become better dancers.

Laban for All is a comprehensive guide to Rudolf Laban's movement system. The book offers simplified versions of Laban's techniques that can be used by beginners and professionals alike. It includes illustrations and diagrams that lay out the basic vocabulary of the Laban system and offers specific exercises. The authors, Jean Newlove and John Dalby, have both studied and taught Laban's ideas around the world. This book is a practical and thorough grounding in one of the most important movement systems in use today.

The Choreography of Presenting: The 7 Essential Abilities of Effective Presenters is a must-read book for educators who want to enhance their public speaking skills. Using the metaphor of dance, the authors guide readers through the seven attributes of effective presentation and provide practical exercises to improve body language, voice tone, and communication. This book is suitable for both beginners and experienced presenters who want to overcome common presentation challenges and establish trust with their audience. Overall, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to master the right moves for high-impact presentations.

The Intimate Act of Choreography is a comprehensive guide that covers all aspects of choreography from the basic techniques to advanced artistic concerns. The book's format evolved from the idea that improvisation is a good way to learn choreography, and the authors provide improvisations and choreographic studies that give the reader a physical experience of each concept. The book is designed for serious dance students and professionals interested in the practical and theoretical aspects of the art, as well as for teachers seeking fresh ideas to use with young choreographers. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for those looking to explore new directions in movement and creativity.