As a photographer and dance enthusiast based in Newcastle upon Tyne, I recently had the opportunity to create a dance showreel for a talented local performer. In this blog post, I’ll share the challenges, solutions, and execution of this exciting project.
The Challenge
Dancers in the North East often struggle to find videographers specialising in creating impactful dance reels, especially when compared to the opportunities available in London. As a lover of dance and photography, I wanted to bridge this gap by offering a service that helps local dancers showcase their talent through captivating showreels, enhancing their portfolios and increasing their chances of landing jobs.
The Solution
To gauge interest in my dance reel videography service, I reached out to dancers around the North East via Instagram. After receiving positive responses from several performers, I realised there was a demand for this service. To select the right dancer for my test showreel, I asked interested individuals to send me videos of their performances. This gave me an opportunity to see what they could do and if they would fit with what i wanted to create.
The Execution
For the dance showreel, I decided to showcase the dancer’s versatility by incorporating three different songs. This approach allowed me to highlight the performer’s various techniques while keeping the video engaging for viewers. To ensure the video could be shared on social media without the risk of sound removal, I used royalty free licenced music that is copyright safe. Once the music was merged, I sent it to the dancer, Libby, to choreograph her performance. I also wanted to find a small but light studio space, and as I had experience using Studio Ninety Four for my photography I knew the space would also work well for video.
On the day of the shoot, we had a chat and discussed the types of shots I wanted to capture, and gave Libby time to practice her choreography in the space. Once Libby felt comfortable dancing in the space, I recorded the full routine to give me a chance to see which points I might want close ups shots or shots from different angles. We then split the dance into three sections and recored these separately with different outfits. As I was using three different songs I wanted to add extra interest to the video with different clothing to match the style of dance. We also filmed transitions between each clothing change.
Results
I was thrilled with the final result of the test showreel video. It successfully showcased Libby’s talent and technical ability through dynamic shots and cuts. However, I also learned valuable lessons during the process that I will apply to future shoots. The lighting setup will be improved by adding an extra light to avoid grainy images, and I will book a longer studio slot to ensure we have ample time to capture all the necessary footage as we had to rush near the end. This was a steep learning curve for me and I learned a lot during this test shoot I am so excited to continue my videography journey, improve my skills further and keep creating dance show reels for North East dancers.
Testimonial
“Hey Tracy, just watched!!! Amazing you have done so well, it looks great!!! Honestly, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this, loved working with you and so happy you are deciding to do reels!!!” – Libby
If you’re a dancer in Newcastle upon Tyne or the North East looking to create a stunning showreel that showcases your talent and helps you stand out in the industry, I’d love to work with you. Contact me today to discuss how we can create a dance reel video that will take your career to the next level.
