Listen to the song several times all the way through to get a feel for the music, paying attention to the highs and lows that occur in the song.
Listen to the song again, this time writing down at which times in the song a significant high or low occurs and also making note of any words that promote a strong dance visual. For example, song lyrics that include words like "falling" or "ground" allow the choreographer to reflect the actual lyrics by planning in a move that takes the dancer to the floor.
Consider formations for the dance as well as how many dancers you will have in the number. The song can impact the change of formations or even the entrances and exits of dancers. For example, if you are choreographing for a large group of dancers, you may only be able to have a small group of them on stage at a time. Use transitional music within the song or strong highs and lows to transition the dancers on and off stage.
Reflect on the overall tone and feel of the song. For a melancholy or sad song, the dance moves should reflect sadness and deep emotion. For an upbeat and cheerful song, the dance moves will likewise be spirited and energetic.
Listen in the music for a repetition of beats and words. If there is a strongly heard repetition of beats or words, this could lend itself well to the choreography. For example, give each dancer a highlight move on each prominent beat or word to accentuate the lyrics and the music.
Count the music, which is typically counted in eighths in dance, with your choreography. This helps to ensure the steps coordinate with the beats in the music. The beats will not always line up with the lyrics and words you want to highlight, however, so you may need to break from your counts at some points in the dance.
Develop an entrance and exit for the dancers. The music can guide you to select whether you want the dancers to start onstage or enter onstage with the music, and likewise if you want the dancers to end onstage with a pose or exit the stage to the music. A fast and sharp beginning to the song, for example, may denote that it is better to start the dance on stage to capitalize on the dramatic element of the song. An ending to the song that lingers makes it more visually appealing to have the dancers slowly exit the stage. Use the music itself for your cues for how to choreograph the song.
Practice all of the steps in the dance to the music to verify that all the steps fit in with the song and with the beats of the music.