Dance, at its core, is a beautiful marriage of movement and music. To choreograph and perform a dance that is visually captivating and harmoniously synchronized with the music, dancers rely on a fundamental musical structure known as the "8-count." In this blog post, we will explore how an eight-count functions in the art of dance, offering a rhythmic framework that guides dancers through their routines and allows them to express themselves artistically.

The Basics of an 8-Count

We use an 8-count to break down the structure of the music. An eight-count, as the name suggests, consists of eight beats. In dance musicality, the 8-count is sort of like a map to know when you do a certain move.

Here’s how an 8-count typically works in the dance world: If a choreographer says that a move executes on "the 5," you're going to count into the music: "one, two, three, four, MOVE." The counts in between – "and" counts – are used to mark 16-counts. "One and two and three and four." 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.

Synchronizing Dance Movements with an Eight-Count

The eight-count provides a framework for dancers to coordinate their movements with the music. Here's how it works:

Timing: Dancers begin their routine on a specific beat within an eight-count. For example, they might start on the "one" or "five" beat. This initial beat serves as a reference point for timing.
Transitions: As dancers progress through their routine, they often switch from one movement to another at the start of a new eight-count. This allows for smooth transitions and helps maintain the overall flow of the dance.
Musical Emphasis: Dancers can use the eight-count to emphasize certain movements. For instance, they might execute a dramatic pose or a high-energy jump on the "one" beat of a new eight-count to create a visually striking moment that aligns with the music.
Creativity: While an eight-count provides a structured framework, it also allows for creativity. Dancers can interpret the music differently within each eight-count, infusing their movements with their unique style and artistic expression.

Pay Attention to Patterns

Steezy’s blog post describes how to interpret sounds in dance music, best, by giving the “sounds” a name:

Lyrics‍

The words that the singer is singing to, also referred to as “the melody.”

The lyrics are probably the easiest to distinguish, but hardest to count / dance to, since vocals don't always match the strict structure of 8-counts.
Sometimes, choreographers will make moves that correlate with the lyrics, like miming actions or using certain body parts.

Bass

The bass is the lowest of the standard four voice ranges (bass, tenor, alto, soprano), or, the lowest melodic line in a musical composition, that supports the harmony.
Different instruments can produce a bass sound (drums, guitar…)

Dancers often use the onomatopoeia “boom” to describe a bass drum.

Snare

It's the sharp, staccato sound you hear, like the sound you make when you snap a rubber band.
Dancers often describe as snare as “ka!”

Hi-Hat

A hi-hat is produced by a hi- hat cymbal.
Dancers often describe this sound as “tss tss.”

Synth

A sound synthesizer produces electric signals converted to sound through amps and loudspeakers.
A common reference to a synth is the synth piano, which may sound like a long, slow bass, “wobba wobba.”

Strings

Guitar strums and melodies are also useful to take note of, for more instrumental / acoustic songs.

Keyboard/Piano

The piano sounds will also accent, or set the melody/harmony of the song.

You'll start to see patterns of sounds as you keep studying a song. Maybe there's a bass on each odd count, and a snare on every even count – "boom ka, boom ka." Paying attention to those patterns will get you even more fluent with dance musicality.

As you can see the 8-count is not just a tool for technical precision; it also serves as a canvas for artistic expression. Dancers can infuse their routines with emotion, storytelling, and creativity by using the 8-count as a guide whether that is from their instructors, or their choreographers this structured rhythm allows dancers to connect with the music on a profound level, creating performances that resonate deeply with audiences.

What is Dance Musicality?