Dance is built on music. So in order to understand dance, you need to understand the basics of dance musicality. We use an 8-count to break down the structure of the music. For example, if a choreographer says that a move executes on the 5, you're going to count into the music: one, two, three, four, MOVE. Add an e and to mark 32 counts one e and uh, two e and uh, which splits every count into 4s. As a result, there are more markers in the music — so we use the and s and the and e s for faster-tempo pieces. Polyrhythmic patterns are marked in African music and drum beats. All right, so we got the gist of the timing.
Choreography is a thought out and planned form of showcasing your musicality. You want to break it down and understand each part of the piece. When I get to a syncopated rhythm, sometimes I have to stop and really pick it apart to be able to just be able to sing it back. And even then, I still struggle with being able to count a syncopated rhythm. This allows you to pick and choose what you want to show through your dancing. Each layer of a song has different ways of being expressed.