A pirate’s life — A Dog Dance Choreography

A relationship-first dog dance experience set to Disney Studio Chorus’ “A Pirate’s Life.”

Welcome to “A pirate’s life”

This choreography is part of Lineage of Love Dog Training’s approach to dog dance: relationship-first, consent-led, and joy-forward. This page is your home base for the work.

There’s no required order, no checklist to complete, and no “right” version to reach. You’re not here to replicate a routine; you’re here to play with movement as a shared language and to enjoy spending time with your dog.

In this programme, dog dance isn’t a performance to perfect; it’s a playful conversation you return to.

Move slowly. Laugh often. Listen closely.

And have more fun, on purpose.

First Choreography?

Learn the foundation skills first

Finished your foundations?

Jump to A Pirate's Life choreography

Choreography

Stylized drawing of a dog wearing a white blouse with lace details and a bow around the neck, and a red headscarf.

Stepping Onto the Dance Floor

This is where we begin to play with the music together.

The choreography in this programme is organized around musical phrases rather than individual tricks. Each section responds to what the music is doing — its rhythm, mood, and energy — and offers multiple ways to move together inside that moment.

There is no single correct version of this dance.

You’re encouraged to adapt, simplify, skip, repeat, or change anything to suit the dog you have today. A quiet walk, a pause, or a moment of stillness all count as choreography when they’re chosen together.

You don’t need to wait until every foundation feels solid before starting. Many teams move back and forth between foundations and choreography, letting each inform the other.

This section is an invitation to explore, respond, and enjoy the conversation that unfolds when you and your dog listen to the same song.

Bring curiosity. Bring patience.
And bring your sense of play.

“A pirat'e’s life” Song Sections

Establish

0:00 – 0:20

Calm before the mischief — the character and the relationship get set.

Build

0:21 – 0:46

Things start slipping. The dog's behaviour drifts from obedient to having ideas of its own.

Turn

0:47 – 1:07

The pivot — working around each other gives way to working together, right before it flips.

Resolve

1:08 – fade

The mutiny lands. Short, fast, all payoff.

Download the Pirate Persona worksheet

Get the full A Pirate's Life choreography (PDF)

“A PIrate’s life” establish

This is where the character gets set, before anything goes sideways. A stumble, a bow, a settle, a recall. Nothing here needs the story to have started yet; you're just establishing who this pirate is and how the dog fits alongside them. The mischief in the sections that follow only lands because of how ordinary this one feels first.

  
    
        Time
        Section
        Frame
        Movement
        Tips
      

    
        0:00–0:07
        SectionMusical introduction
        FrameLeft
        MovementCo-spin as though you're trying to locate your dog.
        TipsKeep it loose. Let the spin be a little unsteady — that's character, not a mistake.
      

        0:08–0:10
        Section“Yo ho…”
        FrameLeft
        MovementDiagonal stumble right, three steps, dog in left heel, dog circles behind to right frame (side switch).
        TipsFaster stumble = more time for your dog to reposition. Trailing behind instead of a clean switch still reads as character.
      

        0:11–0:12
        Section“A pirate's…”
        FrameRight
        MovementDiagonal stumble left, three steps, dog in right heel, dog circles behind to left frame (side switch).
        TipsSame idea, mirrored.
      

        0:13–0:14
        Section“We pillage…”
        FrameLeft
        MovementGuardian sweeps into a low bow, as though tipping a hat to the crowd.
        TipsThink about how your pirate bows. Is it elegant? Sloppy? Unsteady? Shallow?
      

        0:14–0:20
        Section“Drink up…”
        FrameFront
        MovementDog drops into a down, guardian looks down at them, hands on hips.
        TipsIf your dog is slow to settle, that reads as a pirate ignoring the captain's orders — which is funny either way.
      

       
    

  

“A PIrate’s life” Build

This is where things start slipping. The leg weaves throw off your balance, the orbit turns into a game of who's tracking whom, and that second "drink up" tips your dog's mood from curious to unmistakably mischievous. Nothing dramatic happens yet — but by the end of this section, the dog you started with isn't quite the dog you have anymore.

  
    
        Time
        Section
        Frame
        Movement
        Tips
      

    
         0:21–0:25
        Section“Yo ho…”
        FrameLeft
        MovementRecall dog up from the down, stumble right and left.
        TipsUse the stumble itself as the release cue — an unsteady approach gives your dog a natural reason to get up and follow.
      
0:26–0:33
        Section“We extort…”
        FrameLeft
        MovementExaggerated steps for leg weaves.
        TipsHeavier steps with dramatic weight shifts read as a pirate catching their balance. You may only get one or two leg weaves in here.
      

        0:34–0:37
        Section“Yo ho…”
        FrameLeft/Right
        MovementStumble right and left.
        TipsThird and final stumble mark — you've lost your coordination again after the weaves.
      

        0:38–0:44
        Section“We kindle…”
        FrameLeft/Right
        MovementDog orbits guardian while guardian spins in the counter direction.
        TipsPretend you're having a hard time tracking your dog as they go around you.
      

        0:45–0:46
        Section“Drink up…”
        FrameFront
        MovementDog offers a play bow, guardian reacts with surprise or delight.
        TipsMarks the shift into more excitement — the calm “drink up” from before is starting to turn playful and unpredictable.
      

       
    

  

“A PIrate’s life” Turn

This is the pivot point, physically and narratively. The dog moves from circling you to standing with you in Middle, and for a moment it looks like order's been restored. But that shared stillness is exactly what sets up the flip: two pirates sizing each other up, right before one of them decides they're done following.

  
    
        Time
        Section
        Frame
        Movement
        Tips
      

    
      0:47–0:54
        Section“We're rascals…”
        FrameLeft/Right
        MovementDog orbits guardian, building energy toward the finish.
        TipsThink about why your pirate is rallying now — rounding up the crew, calling the dog back to order.
      

        0:55–0:58
        Section“Yo ho…”
        FrameStraddle
        MovementDog moves to middle position between guardian's legs.
        TipsA smooth transition from orbit to middle. Raised arms read as “conducting” the chaos into order.
      

        0:59–1:07
        Section“We're beggars…”
        FrameStraddle
        MovementGuardian and dog move forward or backward together, dog in middle.
        TipsForward reads as advancing together; backward reads as retreating — pick whichever suits your pirate's story here.
      

  

“A PIrate’s life” Resolve

The mutiny lands. No buildup left to do — just the flip itself, and the chase that follows it. Keep this short and let the finish be big; everything before this section earns the payoff, so the payoff doesn't need to work hard.

  
    
        Time
        Section
        Frame
        Movement
        Tips
      

    
        1:08–1:11
        Section“Yo ho…”
        FrameLeft/Right
        MovementGuardian and dog orbit each other (mutual circle, no centre point).
        TipsLast “yo ho” before it all goes wrong — this orbit should feel like two pirates sizing each other up.
      

        1:12–1:21
        Section“We pillage…”
        FrameFront
        MovementGuardian backs away as dog approaches, front position held.
        TipsThis is where the dynamic flips — your dog is no longer just following, they're pursuing.
      

        1:22–fade
        Section“Yo ho…”
        FrameFront
        MovementGuardian runs, dog chases in recall, exit together.
        TipsBig, happy finish — no hold or retrieve needed, just an enthusiastic chase off.
      

  

Watch the whole dance

Establish, Build, Turn, Resolve: here’s how the read as one continuous dance, start to fade.

Want to acquire a few more moves?

The Tricks Library is a good place to start.

Want to build your own routine?

Building Your Own Dog Dance Routine awaits.

Want more personalised support?
1:1 mentoring is available for teams who want guidance tailored to their dog.