Application Filming Guidelines

As part of your application process, we require submission of both the completed online application form and film footage of the piece by 12noon on Friday 1 December 2023.  

Kobika Senior Dance Company: JUMP START – U.Dance South East 2023. Photo Jane Russell

For U.Dance on Stage applications please submit the finished version of your filmed dance piece, or as close to being complete as possible. This does not need to be a professional quality film. Filming on your phone or device is fine, as long as the footage is clear, well lit and shows all the dancers. For more helpful tips, please read on…

Filming your Dance Piece

Please use the Dos and Don’ts to help you make sure that you give your group and dance piece the best possible chance with our panel.

Dos	Don’ts
Do provide film footage of a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes in duration.	Don’t supply short clips of only a few seconds or footage longer than 5 minutes.
Do use your final choice of music that will be in the final dance piece.	Don’t include ‘place holder’ music. The panel make their decision based on all artistic choices in the application dance film, including the music.
Do have the dancers in costume or in clothes as close as possible to the final costume choice.	Don’t forget to help our panel picture what it will look like if the dancers are not in the final choice of costume. You can include these details in your application form.
Do make sure that you film the piece in a clear space (move bags or chairs out of shot where possible). Think about what is in shot and making the space as clear as possible.	Don’t distract the panel with clutter in the room - they may be mistaken for props.
Do include all dancers in the filming (or as close to all). Do include the same group of dancers who will attend HOSTED, if selected.	Don’t film a piece that should have 20 dancers with only 2 present. If selected don’t bring a completely different set of dancers to HOSTED than appeared in the application film footage.
Do make sure that the music can be heard.	Don’t use a phone to play music out of whilst filming - a sound system/stereo is much better. Don’t have anyone chatting in the background.
Do make sure that your dance piece and group are well lit and clearly visible.	Don’t film in the dark. (Unless that is part of the piece)
Do make sure that there is a clear start and clear finish	Don’t have the dancers stood chatting casually at the back (unless this is part of your piece)
Do film the piece in a way that allows the panel to see it as it will appear on stage – showing all the dancers and filmed from the front.	Don’t film the piece as dance for screen. For example, don’t use close-ups, film effects & editing, or from different angles etc.
Do try to make sure that the piece is as close to finished as possible.	Don’t just submit small clips of the piece on their own- it is hard for the panel to picture what the final piece will look like if they only seen this and have no information about what the finished piece will look like.

How to send your footage

In the online application form include the URL link (e.g. YouTube link or Vimeo link) to your dance piece.
If this is a private password protected link please make sure you also include the password on your application form.

Do’s	Don’ts
Do check that your URL link works before sending	Don’t just send it in without checking it works
Do check that we have received your footage/application if you do not hear from us within 10 working days.	Don’t feel like you are pestering us, we would rather make sure that all applications come through successfully.
Do send any passwords that we need to be able to view your URL link (if a private YouTube link)	Don’t make your footage so private that our panel cannot watch it Don’t assume that the panel have a vimeo or youtube account. It must be accessible for panel members to view without needing their own vimeo, dropbox or youtube accounts.
Do submit the film of your dance piece as a URL link. For example to vimeo, youtube or dropbox.	Don’t submit a link to a downloadable file. South East Dance and the panel members do not have the facility to store everyone’s films as film files on their laptops or devices.
Do contact us if you have any questions	Don’t let footage submission be stressful and confusing – talk to us before the application deadline.
Do make sure that when played on a laptop, or any device, the footage plays the correct way up and not on its side (you may need to change the orientation that you film it).	Don’t forget to test this before submitting the clip to us.