Reimagining Dance on Screen : A Practical Guide to Dance-Filmmaking

Reimagining Dance on Screen is a hands-on guide for dancers, choreographers, filmmakers, and independent artists who want to create compelling dance-films. Written from a dancer’s perspective, it approaches dance on camera as a cinematic art form—not simply choreography documented on video.

Reimagining Dance on Screen is a hands-on guide for dancers, choreographers, filmmakers, and independent artists who want to create compelling dance-films. Written from a dancer’s perspective, it approaches dance on camera as a cinematic art form—not simply choreography documented on video. This volume is aimed at makers rather than theorists—the book emphasizes practical, experience-based guidance over academic study. Its central premise is straightforward: when dance moves onto the screen, the result is not a filmed dance, but a film shaped by cinematic choices. It covers essential filmmaking techniques such as visual storytelling, shot design, camera movement, and editing—tailored to transform dance into a cinematic experience. The book includes 12 video tutorials and 50 downloadable dance clips for editing practice. Designed for both classroom use and independent practice, it supports artists working solo or with limited resources and assumes no prior editing experience. With an emphasis on creativity over expensive equipment, its clear and encouraging tone invites artists to think cinematically and approach dance-film as a playful, rigorous, and deeply expressive form. It is ideal for students and professionals in dance, film, and the performing arts, whether exploring new artistic mediums or the intersection of movement and cinema.