How to Start a Dance Crew
Have you ever dreamed of having your own dance crew? Maybe you’ve imagined yourself and a group of friends performing for tips in Times Square, or competing for fun in a nightclub, or even just boasting your moves on TikTok. No matter what your idea of what a great dance crew consists of, you can make your vision come to life.
Check out a few tips on how you can start your own dance crew this summer!
Brainstorm
Take a moment to brainstorm the ideal outcome of your dance crew. Is this something you want to put together just for fun, or do you hope to book paid gigs someday? What type of dances do you want to perform and where? For example, are there certain events and venues in your community where you’d like to showcase your moves? How many people do you want in your crew, and what kinds of personalities and skills do you hope they’ll have? You can also brainstorm ideas for your dance crew’s name.
Related: 9 Popular Types of Dance
Build your Core Team
Behind every successful idea is a team of passionate and committed people working together to make magic. As you start to map out the goals and tasks for your dance crew, you’ll want to consider the workload. Will you do all the work yourself, or would you rather work with a group of people who have specialized skills in choreography, marketing, etc.? On the other hand, you can appoint dance crew members for these spots later.
Host Auditions
Other than your core team, you can find talented dancers to join your crew by hosting auditions. You can post flyers in your neighborhood or use social media to get the word out for your auditions (with an adult’s permission!). Auditions can be held virtually or in-person, depending on your preference. Consider creating an audition piece for interested dancers, or ask them to perform independently choreographed pieces. Before the auditions take place, make sure you have a small group of well-rounded judges, as well as a clear-cut criteria for how you will rate each dancer.
Be Organized
Once you’ve assembled your dance crew, keep communication open, clear, and organized. You’ll want to keep everyone informed on meetings, practice times, expectations, rules, and more. The easiest way to do this is to start a group chat! Some group texting apps allow you to create sub-chats for different topics. That way you can prevent important announcements from getting lost in the mix of other conversations you and your crew may have.
Perform
Once you’ve got a few pieces choreographed, tap back into the performance goals you outlined during your brainstorming phase. Do you need a permit to accept tips as street performers? Who do you need to contact to schedule performances at the venues in your community? Are there other dance crews in your area that you’re interested in collaborating with? Or, do you need to start a social media page for your dance crew, where you can upload your videos online? Once you’ve sorted this out, you’re ready to show off all of your hard work!
Extra Credit
While this is totally optional, it’s a good idea to think about what will make your dance crew unique and memorable. In other words, what will your reputation be? Perhaps you always wear a certain uniform, color, or costume. Maybe it’s your dance style that makes you unique. Do you dance for a certain cause? Do you perform at certain venues, or at a unique time of day? Get creative with your ideas, but never forget the most important part - have fun!
Thinking about starting your own dance crew, or do you already have one we should know about? Let us know in the comments below!