Key takeaways
  • Use EDM's beat drops for clear choreography changes.
  • Map specific drills to the song's energy shifts.
  • Don't over-choreograph every single beat.
  • Remember to learn rider names for better rapport.

A rider asked me after my Tuesday class why I program so much house and EDM when I'm not a choreography guy. I told her the truth. I don't use EDM to dance, I use it because it tells you exactly what to do.

Why EDM Works for My Classes

EDM is built on discrete changes. You get the build, the tension, the drop, and the recovery. As a push coach who runs simple drills like hills, sprints, and pace work, that structure makes my job dead simple.

Okay, so you know how a standard pop song works? The chorus hits, but the energy doesn't actually shift that much.

Now imagine a heavy EDM track. The build creates massive tension, and when the beat drops, the whole room knows it is time to work.

I map everything I do to the music. If I'm being blunt, finding those drops used to take me hours of unpaid prep on the train. Now I use On the Beat to find the drops and map my intervals so I can actually sleep.

My Go-To EDM Tracks and How I Use Them

Here are eight heavy-hitters with those massive, discrete energy shifts I love.

  • ..FEISTY
    Fred again.., BIA
    2:52102 BPM
    Beat drops
    Drop 10:41Drop 21:37
  • (It Goes Like) Nanana - Edit
    Peggy Gou
    3:52130 BPM
  • 1,2 Step
    Joel Fletcher
    2:29133 BPM
  • 10:35
    Tiësto, Tate McRae
    2:52120 BPM
  • 4eva
    Shygirl, Empress Of, Kingdom, Club Shy
    2:21127 BPM
  • Afterlife
    STRLGHT
    3:38128 BPM
  • All Guys
    Killrude
    3:01140 BPM
  • All The Small Things
    Timmy Trumpet, STVW
    1:52170 BPM

Mistakes I Still Make With EDM

  • Ignoring the recovery. I get so hyped on the drops that I forget riders need the breakdown just to breathe. I have to remind myself to actually let them rest.
  • Overcomplicating the drill. EDM already has so much going on musically. If you try to add wild moves on top of a massive drop, people lose their form. Keep it simple and just push the pace.
  • Forgetting the room. I get so into the workout and the heavy beat that I forget some people are just proud they showed up. I have to actively look up and celebrate them instead of just yelling about the next sprint.

Try throwing one of these heavy drops into your next profile and just watch the room shift. Let me know how they ride for you.