Robbins' choreography emphasized tough, masculine movements, indicative of the street-gang story which it encompasses.
When "West Side Story" was first released, dance critics commented on its complex dancing, designed to convey violence without explicitly showing it.
Because the characters in "West Side Story" belong to street gangs, many of the dances feature large numbers of performers moving in unison--emphasizing their common allegiances.
The dance moves also illustrate some of the racial difference between the two gangs, particularly in the Sharks' Latin-based number "America."
At points in the story, the dances in "West Side Story" convey the narrative solely without words. The opening sequence, for example, charts the rise and development of the tale's two street gangs--the Sharks and the Jets--solely through dance.