5 Steps to Creating a Quality Dance Reel
One of the most important things you need to succeed as a dancer is a quality dance reel. In any career, a portfolio or resume is necessary to showcase the applicant’s experience and job history. Whether you are trying to land a spot in major performances, small dance gigs, or secure other opportunities such as scholarships and summer intensives, your dance reel can serve as a visual resume to get casting directors interested in your talent.
A dance reel is a short video that displays a collection of your past performances and dance experience. Sometimes, a dance reel will be requested in addition to an in-person audition. Other times, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic, your dance reel could be used in lieu of an audition altogether.
Just like a resume, you should always have a dance reel handy so that you can quickly and easily send it to someone who’s interested in working with you. To help you get started, we compiled a list of 5 steps you can take to create a professional, creative dance reel that will get you hired!
1. Record Yourself Dancing
The first thing you’ll need to do is stock up on videos of yourself dancing.
When it comes to when and where you should film yourself, don’t overthink it. You can record a video of yourself dancing in performances, at practice, or even at home. Record yourself doing a variety of dance styles and movements. You want to be able to show your versatility and talent. The more clips your record, the more options you’ll have to choose from later.
Be sure to use a camera or smartphone with good video quality. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help. Make sure you can be easily spotted in the video, and that it is not shot at an odd angle. To avoid shakiness, mount the camera on a tripod or make sure whoever records you has a steady hand.
2. Research
Now that you’ve recorded loads of footage, you’ll need to make sure your clips are relevant to what the audition is calling for. Are the casting directors searching for contemporary or classical dancers? Will the performance be upbeat and quirky or dramatic and cinematic? What types of poses might be expected of you? Is the audition for a summer intensive or scholarship, where the judges are looking for potential over perfection?
Locate and make note of these details in the calling description so that you can ensure the clips you choose are relevant. This will also show that you took the time to follow the directions in the description and that you aren’t using the same reel for every single opportunity.
On the other hand, some opportunities may be much less specific about their casting requirements. If that’s the case, you can create a generic dance reel, which should be comprised of your best dance clips in a variety of styles and settings.
3. Choose Your Clips
Before compiling and editing your dance reel, you’ll need to use your research to sort through your footage and choose the best, most relevant clips. Pick clips that are up-to-date and showcase your personality as a dancer. Perhaps you have a niche style of dancing and prefer to only showcase your moves in that genre. That’s okay too, as long as you still find a variety of clips that will exemplify your diversity within that genre.
Once you begin to narrow down your videos, trim each clip to its best, most relevant section. You’ll want to make sure you can be easily spotted in the clip, so solo performances or those where you’re the primary focus of the video are best. Choose clips with limited distractions, such as neat backgrounds, simple costumes, and distance between you and the other dancers. The last thing you want is for the viewer to have a hard time locating or concentrating on you.
4. Create Your Video
Now that you’ve picked out all of your best, most relevant clips, it’s time to piece it all together! You may be fortunate enough to pay someone to edit your video, but if you are on a budget, or prefer to do things yourself, it wouldn’t be too difficult to finish this step on your own. If you have access to a smartphone or computer, there are plenty of free apps and services that allow you to easily combine video clips. Since your dance reel needs to be simple and easy-flowing, you won’t need to do any intense editing or intricate transitions.
You’ll want to keep your final video between 1-3 minutes long. Remember, this is a short preview of your skills as a dancer and does not need to be an exhaustive demonstration of your performance. Clips can be as short as 10-15 seconds each and can be adjusted based on how many different clips you’re aiming to include. Make sure to put your clips in an order that captures the viewer’s attention by putting a few of your best clips at the beginning and ending with a memorable clip.
Find music that fits well with the rhythm of the video and reflects your personality and dancing style. You should only pick one or two songs to play so that the music isn't too distracting. Consider avoiding copyright issues by using royalty-free music, which can be found online.
For an extra touch, you can add captions to your video that would add context, such as the name of the production, what event you’re practicing for, or the style of dancing in each clip. Make sure the captions are easily legible and do not distract the viewer. The viewer should be able to read it without missing out on what you’re doing on the video, so be mindful of timing.
At the end of your video, include a brief slide with your name, email address, and social media account so that the viewer can easily reach out to you if needed.
5. Share It Widely
Once you’ve completed your dance reel and perfected it to your liking, it’s time to share it!
Other than sharing it with the casting directors for the opportunity you’re applying for, you could also benefit from sharing your video on your social media accounts or website. This will give more people access to see your skills, and you may even pick up some interesting leads for other opportunities that you weren’t even looking for.
A dance reel is a sure-fire way to show the world how serious you are about pursuing a successful career in dancing. Taking the time to invest in this project will benefit you in the long run. Remember to always have fun with it. This is an opportunity to show the work you’re most proud of and to express your personality!
Share your dance reel tips and clips in the comments below!