Video taping and editing dance has it's own special rules and it needs to be done well, as the edits are used for many purposes:

- fundraising
- audience building
- getting representation
- booking shows
- promoting shows
- addition to grant proposals.
- to show at tradeshows(APAP etc)

PRODUCTION:

Make sure you have a line item in your budget for the taping of your show. Too often it's a last minute thing, you improvise, and risk having a crappy video of your work.

Discuss with you videographer what the piece is about so, he/she can help you tape the work just right. Invite them to a rehearsal! Discuss the venue and make sure the venue knows a videographer is coming.

2 camera shoots are always better:

- the camera person on the closer shot can take risks and go "in" more, because there's always a camera for the wide shot, no great moments will get lost.
- editing back and forth between the 2 camera's is much more interesting and always represents your work better(unless it's a solo, but even then!)

One camera in the back of the house without a camera person doesn't work. It'll feel static and dull. And there's not much to edit. Make sure your videographer knows about shooting dance, look at their work! The camera needs to move smoothly with the movement, without cutting off of heads and feet as possible.. If the work has patterns( for example a Balanchine work) you should be able to see those patterns.

POST-PRODUCTION

PROMO:

It's a good idea to have a 2min(or less) promo edited. A good promo will propel a presenter or funder to see the full works or an audience to go see the show. Keep this promo short and sweet, musical, and exciting! You can add quotes from reviews, logo, contact info and or a message about an upcoming show.

Edit the full works as any presenter wants to see what they're buying, put the length of each work on the thumbnail as well.

I love editing dance. I was a dancer and choreographer for years. I feel that editing is "like" dance. It's both about flow or stopping the flow, give it more of a legato or staccato feel, tell a story, of course this always changes as it depends on the work. I love the collaboration with a choreographer to make sure the work comes across just right.

If you have any questions about shooting and/or editing dance.
Call me!

cheers,

Gerrit Vooren
917.566.3046
gerrit@reels4artists.com

Voted "Best reels in NYC'"
Backstage Magazine Readers Poll 2009
reels4artists.com/backstage.html