In addition to the emerging artistry of Videodance online, there is a big initiative happening online with Media Marketing for dancers, including promotional videos, dance instructional videos, and social networking.

With such growing trends in Media Marketing, new terms seem necessary for dancers.

Reel Dancer is a term we’ve come up with at Movement Media to describe the growing trend of dance exploding on screens everywhere; the increasing need for dancers to have a strong presence online; and the importance of producing quality videos and exciting dance reels to get bookings.

Movement Media is conducting a survey to learn about dancers current Media Marketing choices.  We are specifically interested in discovering dancers needs for creating promotional materials and artistic works.  We are also interested in learning about how successful dancers have been at utilizing promotional videos, web-based video dance instruction, and creating a presence online in other ways.

In addition to the survey for artists, this posting offers an opportunity to our readers to discuss the topic of Media Marketing.   We would love to learn about your experiences and perspectives.  (Read on to see the questions listed below….)

Artist Survey of Reel Dancers

Movement Media is a project serving dancers and media artists make dance for screen and use media to market their dance work more effectively.

An Artist Survey was developed to specifically identify the needs of artists looking to develop Media Marketing, for promotional purposes, or for artistic pursuits such as Videodances and Dance Films.

To participate in our artist survey, CLICK HERE.  We will publish the results of the survey in the upcoming weeks.  Thanks for your participation!

Reel Dancers & Media Marketing

More and more dancers are creating a strong presence on the web.  The three trends in Media Marketing for dancers include:

• Promotional Videos
• Dance Instructional Videos
• Social Networking

Dance Promotional Videos

It is becoming increasingly important for dancers to have quality videos and exciting dance reels to market themselves more efficiently over the web.  But who should dancers turn to for these materials?  Should they have a friend shoot a video of them, or should they invest a lot of money and have a professional produce and edit their video?  Will the quality of the video affect their chances of getting bookings?

Many dancers are faced with this dilemma, and need help creating promo reels and developing video profiles online.   Planning one’s Media Marketing campaign is important for Reel Dancers. Once they have finished making a promo video, where do they showcase their work?  What are the best options to help them professionally?

One platform dancers are utilizing to showcase individual video profiles is Dance Plug, an online community for dancers looking to have videos of their dance brand posted for viewers.  Based in Los Angles, California, Dance Plug is responding to the need for dancers to create and showcase high quality videos.  Dance Plug offers dancers services with their ‘Lights, Camera, You!’ filming sessions.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dance Plug is able to serve the LA community of dancers looking to create promotional videos, and Movement Media hopes that more filming services will develop to help dancers in other regions.

Dance Instructional Videos

One trend in Media Marketing is to offer dance instruction online.  Teachers can be found on YouTube, Vimeo, BlipTV, Howcast, and a variety of websites which offer dance instructional videos.  The quality of these instructional videos vary considerably.  Some videos have poor audio or visual components.  Some have poor instruction.  Some are excellent in all of these areas.

View some examples of dance instructional videos offered on these sites and give us your feedback on the quality of video and the quality of instruction.

YouTube Video Example

Click here to view the embedded video.

BlipTV Video Example

Vimeo Video Example

Click here to view the embedded video.

All of these dance teachers are using instructional videos as Media Marketing tools for self-promotion.  What do you think of the quality of these videos and the quality of the instruction?

The variety of content on different sites makes finding quality instructional videos extremely difficult.  However, more recently an organized approach to dance instruction and video content has been emerging on the web.

One of the most professional platforms we have seen offering online dance instruction is Dance Plug.  Students have an opportunity to learn dance that is exciting to watch on camera, at affordable rates.  They offer levels of instruction and monthly courses, and a series of videos to meet the needs of different types of dance students, including beginners.

• Movement Media wants to hear from teachers who are interested in distance learning dance instruction.  What do you need to get your name out there as a teacher?  What types of students will you attract?  We’re curious to learn how popular these course are, and future directions and opportunities for dance teachers.

• Movement Media is excited about the opportunities dancers have to interact with media.  Education through media is new territory for dancers.  We want to hear what you think of teaching dance moves over the web, and what improvements or suggestions people may have regarding online dance instruction.

Social Networking

Dance-Tech.net is one social networking site which helps professional dancers and other dance enthusiasts post videos and network with other dancers.  Interviews with choreographers and dance companies are one style of video found on Dance-Tech.  To learn more about dance-tech, CLICK HERE.

In addition, Dance Plug offers opportunities to teachers and ‘pluggers’ to network as dancers, and learn about news, events, and other dancers.  To read more about  Dance Plug CLICK HERE.

As dancers need to continue to utilize Media Marketing, they will also need to utilize the video platforms that will benefit them professionally.  Sites like Dance-Tech and Dance Plug will attract other dancers, and sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Howcast will help to attract a general audience of online viewers.

With the multitude of choices, it can be difficult for dancers to know which platform to use, and how.  More education and discussion regarding these Media Marketing efforts is needed to help dancers make informed choices.  Movement Media looks forward to your comments and discussion on the matter.