Every choreographer needs extensive dance training, talent, people skills and communication capabilities. Though not palpable, two key tools for moving into choreography are musicality and imagination. Whether someone is designing a dance for a college concert or a home town recital, she'll need to have exposure to numerous genres of music and a wide range of abilities -- from helping in the planning stages to making sure each dancer gets his part down properly. The choreographer combines all of these tools to visualize the overall performance and break each dance down into required steps and sequences.
The location where any choreographer works will determine tools pertinent to each performance or event. Locations vary from TV studios, theater stages, film sets, ice rinks, sporting arenas, community centers, town halls, a banquet room at a restaurant, or a dance studio. Each of these will require some adjustment from the choreographer. The tools a choreographer will have to work with also varies, but typically include the script of a play, show, or film, so as to coordinate with the musical and stage director. The sets and lighting become tools to work with or around. Entrances and exits, curtains, scrims and so forth also set limits or provide new opportunities.
An obvious tool a choreographer might need is music -- live or recorded. A dance studio might have a piano (with someone to play it) or simply a tape or CD player. But larger performances often have orchestras, bands, and soloists. Sheet music may be desired. These are the musical tools choreographers have to work with. Sometimes a group of drummers will hold the rhythm for rehearsals but when the dancers move to the stage, additional musicians join in. The choreographer needs to know how many musicians will be involved, where they're staged, who is responsible for operating the sound devices and so forth. Some choreography involves no music whatsoever, and the critical tools are simply the choreographer's mind and the space to create.
Aside from the standard dance garb such as tights, sweats, leotards and dance shoes, some choreographers will have their own metronomes, stopwatches, timers and props. In major theatrical productions where prop houses supply everything, this is not an issue, but may be desirable for playing and experimenting during rehearsals for small-town productions or dance studio recitals. Charts, drawing boards, books and DVDs about dance are also helpful tools.