STYLE Savvy: Take a Bow

Lisa Hess ponders the parallels between organization and a dance routine. 

I've been a theatre kid since high school, and a writer wannabe even longer than that. In fact, I discovered both creative pursuits at around the same time. These days, my writing takes many forms, from writing prompts to blog posts to novels. 

The other night, I came across a prompt that challenged me to compare writing to singing or dancing. One thought led to another and, before I knew it, I'd switched gears to organizing (not a tough switch for me at all, as you can imagine!) In short order, I came up with 20 ways organizing is like a dance routine. 

Setting the Scene  

Imagine your home and all of the things you must find a place for. For purposes of this post, these items are your dancers. 

• There are many moving parts.   

• When everyone moves just so and lands in his or her appointed place, the result is a thing of beauty. 

• Sometimes, the dancers move in sync. Other times, one has a solo — or even an improvisation. 

• One out-of-step dancer can change the whole picture. 

• Sometimes, coming up with the plan that makes everything look lovely is easy; other times, it's like herding cats — incredibly challenging and requiring both creativity and flexibility. 

• Not every dancer is the same size or shape, so creating a cohesive, well-aligned routine requires accommodations.  

• Music makes the process easier and more fun. 

• Dancers sometimes seem to jump from one spot to another entirely of their own accord. 

• A good choreographer knows just how to place each dancer in a space that showcases his or her talents. 

• Without a plan, even the most beautiful and talented group of dancers can look chaotic. 

• Every dancer doesn't fit into every company. 

• Each choreographer has her own style. 

• Expertise is a plus, but even beginners can create routines that add to the beauty of the performance. 

• The ability to visualize the best way to move each dancer to the best space enhances the final product. 

• Sometimes the plan works better in your head. 

• The whole thing can get very messy before it settles into something beautiful. 

• Trial and error is sometimes the best method. 

• Collaboration is sometimes helpful. 

• There is no one perfect routine or dance. 

• You have to trust the process. 

Rehearsal Notes  

One final thought. When a group of dancers is learning a routine, they break it down into smaller sections of 8 counts each. If they can take small steps and rehearse it to get it just right, so can you. An applause-worthy routine takes time to learn, after all and, after that, the encores are a piece of cake.  

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Copyright 2025 Lisa Hess
Images: Canva