The combination of dance and filmmaking goes by many names, including: Dance on Camera, Dance for the Camera, Dance Media, Dance-film, and so on. What makes it original art is that it's a visual medium that has its content be dance-art but with the intent of evoking the experience of dance. Since it's still in its beginnings, a clear description of the differences in connotation may help clarify what dance and film means to the various people who use various monikers for such marrying of two mediums.
In "Dancing on Camera" the operative thing here is dance- this suggests not a hybrid form, but dance that has a camera aimed at it. Dance on Camera feels wide open-any dance shot with any camera. This term suggests simple archiving. The guy crumping in his living room on YouTube is Dance on Camera. Fred Astaire is Dance on Camera. But the camera on those dancers could have been placed in any one of a dozen positions and the result would have been nearly identical, because the film component is minimally involved for its intrinsic artistry-it's merely involved for its ability to record.
The understood idea of "Dancing for Camera" is that it is a dance that's made to be recorded. It suggests the notion of camera-specific choreography and how to dance when it's for a camera. But the expectation of "Dance for Camera" is still the same, for the product will ultimately be dance.
Screendance is an interesting word, where the second word in the pair is the essence of the first. "Dance" appears to be a noun and "screen" is the modifier. It suggests a dance that happens on the screen. Its still less about the cinematic artistry and more about dance.
Dance-video is a filmic term where the second word shows that the result is something on screen. The fact that there's an existing term "music video" helps one understand that "Dance-video" is a creative construction, a third new entity born of its two components. But its resemblance to "music video" is also a hindrance as there's an association with a pop, commercial product. And the word "video" has consumer, perhaps less artistic, connotations. Videos are what are on YouTube, or America's Funniest Home Videos. However, "Dance-film" has all the right things of "Dance-video" going for it, without the association with music videos. And the word "film" suggests a finer, more artistic medium. Universities have departments of Film Studies because "Film" is an art that deserves respect and deep inquiry. "Dance-film" is utilitarian-but direct and appropriately descriptive. In "Dance-film" there are two words that hit you with equal force. They feel like equal partners. But it's clear that a dance-film is primarily a film, and one that will convey an experience of dance.
In "Dancing on Camera" the operative thing here is dance- this suggests not a hybrid form, but dance that has a camera aimed at it. Dance on Camera feels wide open-any dance shot with any camera. This term suggests simple archiving. The guy crumping in his living room on YouTube is Dance on Camera. Fred Astaire is Dance on Camera. But the camera on those dancers could have been placed in any one of a dozen positions and the result would have been nearly identical, because the film component is minimally involved for its intrinsic artistry-it's merely involved for its ability to record.
The understood idea of "Dancing for Camera" is that it is a dance that's made to be recorded. It suggests the notion of camera-specific choreography and how to dance when it's for a camera. But the expectation of "Dance for Camera" is still the same, for the product will ultimately be dance.
Screendance is an interesting word, where the second word in the pair is the essence of the first. "Dance" appears to be a noun and "screen" is the modifier. It suggests a dance that happens on the screen. Its still less about the cinematic artistry and more about dance.
Dance-video is a filmic term where the second word shows that the result is something on screen. The fact that there's an existing term "music video" helps one understand that "Dance-video" is a creative construction, a third new entity born of its two components. But its resemblance to "music video" is also a hindrance as there's an association with a pop, commercial product. And the word "video" has consumer, perhaps less artistic, connotations. Videos are what are on YouTube, or America's Funniest Home Videos. However, "Dance-film" has all the right things of "Dance-video" going for it, without the association with music videos. And the word "film" suggests a finer, more artistic medium. Universities have departments of Film Studies because "Film" is an art that deserves respect and deep inquiry. "Dance-film" is utilitarian-but direct and appropriately descriptive. In "Dance-film" there are two words that hit you with equal force. They feel like equal partners. But it's clear that a dance-film is primarily a film, and one that will convey an experience of dance.
About the Author:
Tony and Melanie have been dancing, teaching, choreographing and developing wonderful choreography for over 30 years. The own New York City's top-notch dance center. If you are want to know more history of any dances make sure you check out their site. They are now teaching dance lessons in NYC.
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