Danza! A Choral Movement DVD: Choral DVD

This DVD captures Sally K. Albrecht and Andy Beck's carefully crafted staging for a broad range of contemporary choral repertoire, making it an invaluable rehearsal tool for directors who want to authentically realize movement without guessing. The 12 pieces span sacred and secular styles, giving your program flexibility while maintaining consistent pedagogical approach to choreography. Watching professional staging demonstrations saves rehearsal time and gives students a clear visual model to internalize before you teach the movements yourself.

These pieces pulse with energy and joy, from celebratory secular numbers like "Forty-Second Street" and "The Joint Is Jumpin'" to spiritually grounded sacred works. The staging translates that vitality into purposeful movement that feels organic rather than forced, honoring both the music and the singers performing it.

Choral directors seeking detailed, professionally choreographed staging for contemporary sacred and secular repertoire, especially those new to movement-based teaching or working with younger ensembles. This DVD is equally valuable for experienced directors who want to refresh their approach to a familiar piece or draw inspiration from a colleague's interpretation.

• Watch the full DVD before your first staging rehearsal to decide which movements feel authentic to your ensemble's style and which you might adapt for your specific singers.
• Pause and rewind during rehearsal to isolate gestures or ensemble formations, rather than expecting students to learn full sequences from a single viewing.
• Use close-up moments to teach hand positions and facial expression details that matter in performance, then guide students to perform at full chorus spacing.
• If a piece has multiple verses or sections, decide in advance whether you'll use different staging for each or keep it consistent, then demonstrate that choice clearly.

Build a spring concert or assembly program around these 12 titles, mixing sacred and secular selections to create visual and textural variety while maintaining cohesive staging vocabulary throughout. You can also use individual pieces strategically: a shorter secular work with strong movement can energize a concert between longer choral selections, while sacred pieces anchor moments of reflection.

• Interpreting choreography from visual demonstration and translating it to ensemble performance
• Coordinating gesture with vocal line and ensemble entries
• Using space and levels (standing, kneeling, movement across stage) to enhance musical expression
• Maintaining rhythmic precision while executing movement patterns
• Building confidence in front of an audience through rehearsed, intentional staging