This study aims to explore the choreographic creation process of contemporary dance choreographers and to analyze in depth the characteristics of their modes of thinking and creative structures manifested throughout the choreographic formation process...
This study aims to explore the choreographic creation process of contemporary dance choreographers and to analyze in depth the characteristics of their modes of thinking and creative structures manifested throughout the choreographic formation process. In particular, the study focuses on choreography not merely as the arrangement of movements, but as a process-oriented creative practice shaped through the interaction of the choreographer’s experiences, sensory perceptions, collaborative relationships, and production environment. To this end, the study employed a qualitative research approach centered on in-depth interviews with contemporary dance choreographers.
The participants consisted of six contemporary dance choreographers with more than ten years of professional choreographic experience who are currently active in producing artistic works. The interviews were conducted between February 11 and April 12, 2026, and were carried out individually in independent settings using one-on-one in-depth interview methods. Each interview lasted approximately one to two hours. With the participants’ consent, all interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through repeated review, comparison, and categorization processes. As a result, four major themes were derived: “Characteristics of the Nonlinear Choreographic Creation Process,” “Expansion of Collaborative Choreographic Structures,” “The Relationship Between Production Environment and Choreographic Formation,” and “The Sensory and Practical Meaning of Contemporary Dance Choreography.”
First, the choreographic creation process in contemporary dance revealed nonlinear characteristics characterized by continuous revision and transformation, rather than following a fixed and linear procedure. The participants perceived choreography as an evolving process in which initial images or thematic concerns are repeatedly revised and reconstructed through movement experimentation, rehearsals, and interactions with music and space. Furthermore, the direction of a work was found to change continuously according to newly emerging sensations and relationships formed throughout the creative process.
Second, contemporary dance choreography demonstrated characteristics of a relational creative structure formed through diverse collaborative relationships rather than through the independent creative act of a single choreographer. The participants understood their relationships with dancers not simply as performer-director relationships, but as collaborative creative partnerships. They explained that movements and sensory responses emerging during rehearsals significantly influenced the structure and direction of the work. Collaboration with music, lighting, spatial design, and production staff was also recognized as an essential component of the choreographic formation process.
Third, the choreographic creation process was found to be closely influenced by production environments and institutional conditions. The participants explained that practical conditions such as production budgets, rehearsal spaces, working periods, and funding structures affected the scale, composition, and creative direction of their works. Some choreographers also described experiences of modifying or adjusting the structure and expressive methods of their works according to production conditions, indicating that choreographic formation cannot be separated from social and institutional contexts.
Fourth, contemporary dance choreography was understood not merely as the composition of movement, but as a practical creative act that generates sensation and meaning. The participants emphasized the atmosphere, sensory experiences, and relationships with audiences produced through movement rather than movement itself. This suggests that contemporary dance choreography is expanding beyond result-oriented movement composition toward sensory experiences and relational processes formed throughout creation. Furthermore, choreography was recognized as a creative practice through which choreographers construct and communicate their experiences, philosophies, and contemporary concerns through the body.
In conclusion, this study confirms that the choreographic creation process in contemporary dance is not simply a technical procedure for organizing movement, but a fluid and dynamic creative process continuously shaped through the interaction of the choreographer’s experiences, sensory perceptions, collaborative relationships, and production environment. The study is meaningful in that it understands choreography not as a fixed and result-oriented structure, but as a process-oriented, relational, and practical creative act. These findings suggest the need for future contemporary dance research to move beyond movement analysis and toward a broader exploration of the interactions among sensation, relationships, and environment that emerge throughout the creative process.