American Video Productions

Dance Recital Video

Have you ever videotaped your child’s dance or music recital?  How about those excitement-filled recitals where the auditorium is full of nervous parents and dancers from age 4 to 24?  Everyone would like to have a front row seat or at least a clear view of their favorite performer (child, grandchild, brother, sister, nephew, niece…) in order to get that once-in-a-lifetime photo or perfect video clip.

We’ve videotaped several of those recitals over the past 27+ years.  Some or better organized than others and the venue can range from a school lunch room with a small stage to a full-blown professional theater with multiple curtains, backdrops, stage props, professional lighting and a million dollar audio/visual system.

Regardless of the size, budget, location or number of participants – similar to weddings, sporting events and funerals – you only get one chance to create a high quality video.  Our primary concern is creating a product that is good enough for the CBS evening news or a PBS special.  In order to create that type of quality, you need, at the very least, a 3-chip, broadcast-quality camera, tripod and support gear.

Ideally, especially in a large auditorium or theater, 3 to 4 cameras would be my optimal setup.  For good quality sound, a combination of on-camera shot gun microphones and access to the venue’s audio board for a “line-out” connection into one of the cameras or mixing board would be our preference.  At minimum, 2 cameras, one as a constant wide shot of the performance and the other providing close-ups and mid-range views of the stage is needed.

When space and budget allows, we often utilize a multi-camera system where several cameras are connected to a central switcher that is controlled by a director.  The director, via an intercom system, will communicate with each camera operator in an effort to record the “best” angles and shots possible.  That footage is recorded to a central video tape machine and/or computer hard drive.  It’s basically a miniature television studio on wheels.

After the shoot has ended our work is only partially done.  More often than not we spend more time in the post-production (editing) process than in the actual videotaping.  If we had 2 or more isolated cameras (each camera recording the entire event on tape or hard drives), we must then transfer that footage to our computer system, log the raw footage and prepare for the final edit.  This requires a mixing of the audio (from the camera microphones and the venue’s audio board), creating titles, transitions and special effects where appropriate.  The final DVD is often divided into chapters or menus that serve as an index for each performance or program section.  Some recitals will span over a 2 or 3 day period.  Therefore, the DVD menu could have a chapter for each day and sub-chapters for each performance.

Regardless of when and where your recital takes place it is suggested that you use a videographer with experience in producing professional videos and request at minimum – a 2-camera setup.

The cost could range from $500 to $6500.00.  It all depends on the time commitment, equipment, labor and post-production needed to produce a high quality DVD.  In some instances you might be able to work out a shared-profit arrangement (through the sale of DVDs) with the videographer to cover some or all of the production costs.

In addition to producing a quality DVD, American Video Productions can also create internet-ready digital files for posting on YouTube and other video-sharing web sites.

Sample dance recital clip: http://www.americanvideoproductions.net/html/dance_recital.htm

For additional information or to set up a no-obligation consultation please email us at: info@americanvideoproductions.net or call: 888-433-6554.