Finding the Perfect Song: A Guide to Choosing Music for Your Next Lyrical Routine

The music isn't just the backdrop; it's the soul of your performance. Here's how to find the track that will let your movement speak.

You’ve stretched, you’ve warmed up, and you’re ready to create. But before you can take that first step into the studio, there’s one crucial element you need: the music. For a lyrical dancer, the song is more than a rhythm to move to; it’s a partner in storytelling. It breathes emotion into your movement and provides the narrative arc for your entire routine. Choosing the wrong track can feel like wearing shoes that don’t fit. Choosing the right one? That’s magic.

So how do you find that perfect piece? It’s part art, part science, and entirely personal. Let’s break it down.

1. Understand the Heart of Lyrical

Lyrical dance lives in the space between ballet and contemporary, using movement to interpret the lyrics and emotion of a song. The key word here is interpretation. The music must have a genuine emotional core—whether it’s joy, sorrow, longing, or hope—that you can physically express. A technically perfect pop song with a generic lyric might have a great beat, but it might not have the depth of feeling that lyrical demands.

2. Listen to the Lyrics (Really Listen)

This might seem obvious, but it’s the most important step. Read the lyrics as poetry. Do they tell a story you connect with? Do they evoke a specific, strong emotion? The words will be your guide, informing the quality of your movements. A song about fragility might call for softer, more tentative gestures, while a song about liberation might inspire expansive, soaring leaps.

3. Analyze the Musicality

Beyond the lyrics, the music itself needs to have dynamic range. A song that stays at the same tempo and volume from start to finish offers little opportunity for build-up and climax.

• Dynamics: Look for songs that have moments of quiet intimacy (piano) and powerful swells (forte). This contrast creates drama.
• Tempo Changes: A shift in pace, even a subtle ritardando (slowing down), can be a powerful moment to highlight a specific movement or emotion.
• Instrumentation: The presence of a solo instrument—a vulnerable piano, a crying violin, a lonely cello—can provide a beautiful motif to choreograph to.

4. Consider the "Dance-Ability" of the Vocals

The singer’s voice is an instrument itself. A breathy, intimate vocal might inspire close-to-the-floor work and internalized movement. A powerful, belted chorus might be the cue for a series of turns or a large jump. The phrasing of the vocals—where the singer takes a breath—can feel like a natural place to initiate or complete a movement phrase.

5. Avoid the Overused

It’s tempting to go with a beloved, popular song, but judges and audiences see hundreds of routines to the same handful of tracks each season. While a song like "Rise Up" is beautiful, using a less-obvious choice can make your routine instantly more memorable and show off your creativity. Dig into a artist’s deeper album cuts, explore indie musicians, or consider a stunning instrumental or orchestral cover of a popular song.

6. Test It Physically

Once you have a frontrunner, get in the studio and move to it. Don’t just imagine it. Play the song and see how your body naturally wants to respond. Do the movements flow? Does the song build in a way that makes a high-impact finish feel natural? You might find that a song you loved on headphones doesn’t quite fill the room, or that its structure is harder to choreograph to than you thought.

7. Trust Your Gut

Ultimately, the best song for you is the one that gives you goosebumps. The one you can’t stop listening to. The one that already has a movie playing in your head. Technique and theory are fantastic guides, but if you don’t have a genuine, emotional connection to the music, it will be difficult to translate that connection to an audience.