Dance for Camera Fundamentals:
Harmonious Camera Movement with the Dancer
Instructor: Enki Andrews
This free, predominantly online course will provide aspiring dancemakers for film with a fundamental knowledge of how to operate consumer-grade cameras and cellphones to capture the aesthetics of dance successfully. The focus will be on achieving harmonious camera movement with dancing bodies. Guest speakers and mini-projects, where you will apply skills and techniques taught during each workshop, will supplement Enki’s teaching. (Please note: This course will focus on camera capture, not address post-production editing.) Requirements include a cellphone, tripod, webcam and internet access. Students will also be required to be their own performers and share their weekly at-home performances with the group.
While there is no cost for the workshops, registration is required for each of them. Video recordings of each workshop will be available for free on SCD’s Vimeo channel after each event. COVID-19 protocols permitting, there will be two collaborative workdays where students will work together both outdoors and in an indoor studio setting. You do not need to be an SCD member to register; non-dancers are welcome to participate.
The course is broken up into two sections.
- Static Camera Basics
Workshops 1 – 4 are three-hour sessions that address technical knowledge of the camera as well as basic aesthetic approaches and influences. - Moving Camera Methods
Workshops 5 & 6 last three hours each and will focus on the technical aspects of using a camera in motion as well as creating harmonious camera movement. Guest speakers to be announced.Workshops 7 & 8 last six hours each. These collaborative project days will be in an outdoor setting on one day and in a studio on the other day (weather and COVID-19 protocols permitting).
In 2022, SCD will present a second series of Dance for Camera workshops that will focus on editing, marketing, and submission to film festivals. Along with more advanced training and mentorship, there will be an opportunity to receive a small grant to support your dance film. We strongly recommend that you participate in at least half of the workshops this fall so you have the skills to apply for the Year 2 workshops in 2022. SCD anticipates publishing a call for proposals around the new year.
Photo Credit: Nejla Yatkin by Enki Andrews.
Photo Caption: A woman in a black top wearing a long red skirt flowing behind her in the lake front breeze. Her arms stretched above her head, palms open, behind her we can see the dark blue of the lake and the light blue of the sky, in the distance there is a lone white sailed boat.