Choreography

So, you want to get into Choreography?

An interview with Choreographer, Carrie-Anne Ingrouille

Image taken by Andy Holdsworth

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille is a performer, choreographer and director originating from Guernsey. Creativity and performing arts have always been at the forefront of everything she has done.

Carrie-Anne’s name has become synonymous with the global smash hit musical SIX for which Carrie-Anne received an Olivier Award NominatIon for Best Theatre Choreographer. Carrie-Anne is also Resident Choreographer of the multi award winning musical Hamilton.

Carrie-Anne has a big heart for the theatre but engages with and enjoys art in all its forms. She has also worked on various music videos, live and corporate events, artist movement, judging both nationally and internationally, and a big love of hers - teaching.

I would like to thank Carrie-Anne for agreeing to do this interview with me; I hope you find it helpful! You can find out more about Carrie-Anne on her instagram @carrieanneing

How did you work your way up to having a career as a choreographer?

Choreography was always something I was interested in before I even knew what it was. I would often create dances at my local dance school at the end of term etc and the teachers really encouraged my creativity. Before long I was teaching my own classes, choreographing for people’s exams and competition entries - and then when I got to full time college in London the same kind of thing happened there.

I guess where things really started to happen was when I was working at various full time colleges and I would put pieces together if work came in from the industry directly to the college. I also joined ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company in 2005 and after a couple of years started to assist Kate, mainly with the academy and youth company at first, but this soon moved onto me creating work for the adult company and also becoming Kate’s associate.

How did you seek out opportunities when you first entered the industry?

I guess carrying on from the above - the opportunities started to come through via ZooNation and Kate. I was on the agency books at ZooNation too so when work would come in the company would decide who had the right skill set to work on the job. However you do start to get to know different directors, stage managers, musical directors, companies as you go along and if you are doing a good job and have a great professional attitude then you start to get recommended by word of mouth.

Image taken by Andy Holdsworth

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Everywhere! Sometimes I can just be listening to music and an idea will pop into my head, sometimes it might be a feeling or story I would like to express, sometimes it might be that I would like to see how an already existing story could exist with a different twist in everything. Also TRAINING, if I don’t train myself as a dancer my movement becomes very stale and not inspiring at all.

What is a common misconception about choreographers?

I’ve never been asked that before! I think maybe firstly that it “doesn’t take long” to choreograph something, I think when some people say “can you create a 20 minute piece” they don’t realise how long that is in dance terms. Also I think “having it all figured out”…. We often have to do many drafts of the work to see what feels and looks right and this changes all the time depending on staging, costumes, lighting, audience reaction etc.

Had you always wanted to work in the creative industries, or were there any other careers you considered?

Nope! This was it! I think I once considered physiotherapy because so many people were like “what’s your back up” but I knew deep down this was what I was meant to do.

How would you describe your creative process?

Thorough! I think if I don’t have a clear idea of what I’m trying to say and how I’m trying to say it then everything that I build won’t make sense to me - and I will get a THOUSAND choreo blocks….. If I’ve got a clear map of what I’m trying to say (whether that’s story/script, characters, music choice, theme, costume, anything) then I can just play. If it’s a group piece I will often have many scribbles of formations and ideas and buzz words and then I will film myself doing chunks of choreo I can manipulate, if it’s for a smaller group or just me, as long as my intention is clear I will just freestyle to see what feel’s right.

What is your favorite aspect of your career?

Getting to meet and work with so many people and being inspired by their talent!

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you embarked on your career as a choreographer?

To trust myself more, to not think that “just because it’s fast or hard it means it’s good”, and the ability to confidently talk about money/payment at a much younger age.

For you, what is the most difficult aspect of being a choreographer?

I think it’s being able to turn off the “it’s not good enough” gremlin….. it will always be there but I think you have to choose how much you listen to it.

What advice would you give to aspiring choreographers?

To never give up, to make sure you inspire yourself and to get your work out there, whether that is putting choreo on friends, entering a competition, putting things online, signing up to a platform or convention that is designed to help choreographers. Trust and most importantly love what you do….