Most dance classes end with a close of session performance opportunity like a dance recital or concert. But in the case of a dance class my girl, Katherine, was teaching – it ended with shooting a dance music video. Super cool, right?
From January to April, she met with her dance students once a week and taught choreography, worked through spacing and developed their performance facials and energy so that they were ready for the big day – the video shoot.
I had the opportunity to assist Katherine, working as her “second pair of eyes” when she was in front of the camera dancing to make sure the choreo, spacing and angles were on point via the camera feed. I also snapped a few photos throughout the day which brings us to today’s post – A behind the scenes look of making a dance music video.
#realtime // How I’m spending my Friday. 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 pic.twitter.com/uZT8SaVqMt
— Setarra (@Setarra) April 1, 2016
The music video was shot inside the Graffiti Warehouse in Baltimore which is a non-profit organization that oversees the Graffiti Alley. Where the Alley is an outside free for all production of street art, the Warehouse works as it’s complimentary indoor venue (with a/c – important on a hot day) located right next door to the alley.
We were up at 6am for hair and makeup, started shooting the different scenes around 8am and weren’t done until about 5pm. Overall, it was such a fun, learning experience and I’m thankful to have played a helping hand.
A couple weeks ago, her studio premiered the final cut of the dance music video and obviously, I had to share it with you! Scroll through the photos below to see the video for yourself. :)
^^ Katherine going over a few steps with the dancers before we shot the scene.
^^ That’s me – being a “slate girl”. Before every take, I would hold up the slate in front of the camera. Very important job ;)
A little background – the age of Katherine’s students ranged from 14- 40, some having never really danced before to others having alot of dance training. What I loved about her class was that the students were so supportive of each other and put 100% into the shoot and their dancing. Their hard work and positive energy really shines through in the music video.
Also, make sure to peep Katherine in the opening scene of the video with the curly pixie hair – she was about 5 months pregnant at the time and dancing her ass off. Mama was killin it :)
Final product below – Hope you enjoy!
Watching the video makes me want to get up and shake my lady lumps all over the place haha. With that said, I wish you a very happy humpday! xo, Setarra
