How to get noticed on Zoom: online dance class tips
Wandering pets, laggy connection, bumping into furniture during an extension...The list of problems during a Zoom dance class goes on. While online classes have allowed us to quickly jump from our beds to our barres, getting the same quality of instruction isn’t as easy with the limits imposed by camera angles and small grid-view boxes.
Though, after being out of the studio for half a year, we’ve picked up on 5 tips that we use to be more visible and to get more corrections in online dance classes.
This article was adapted from one of our vlogs: Get noticed on Zoom - ballet teacher’s tips & make-up routine.
1. Avoid dark clothing
Fun fact: darker colors reduce contrast much more than lighter colors. The darkness reduces visible shadows, making imperfections harder to spot (McGoff, 2014). Notice how creases are always more visible on a light-colored shirt?
Creases are more visible on light-colored clothing as opposed to dark-colored ones.
Image credit: American Apparel
The same principle applies when your teacher tries to see your alignment.
On the left is a photo of Colleen, one of Teacher Lina’s students from Level 2. Although her background is dark, her form is still visible because of the light-colored clothing she wears.
On the right is a photo of Nicole, one of Teacher Lina’s students from Level 4. Nicole’s legs are visible because of her lighting, but the same can’t be said for her upper body as the color of her leotard blends with her background.
Image credits (L-R): Studio Dance by Lina, Nicole Kabigting
If your background is too dark or you don’t have the means to acquire light-colored dance clothing, we recommend purchasing a cheap ring light to improve your video’s contrast. You can also use a small lamp or flashlight that you already own. Remember to also angle the additional lighting towards your body (and not towards your camera) to avoid any glare that might make you harder to see.
2. Invest in a good fisheye or wide-angle lens
Fisheye lenses are great for getting a wide, panoramic shot -- which is essential if you can’t balance your Zoom device on an angle that shows your whole body with its built-in camera.
Having a fisheye or wide-angle lens clipped to your phone allows it to capture a wider shot.
Image credits: Dance by Lina
Both of these photos were taken with the same phone camera, from the same angle, with Teacher Lina doing the same tendu. From these two photos, which one gives you more information about how Teacher Lina is dancing? The photos speak for themselves. The only difference between how these two photos were shot is that the photo on the right had a wide-angle lens clipped onto it, while the photo on the left did not.
Take note of the word “invest” in this tip, too! (So, no, please don’t buy the one worth Php 50 on Shopee if you can afford better). Cheaper fisheye lenses will often blur your video and would have their edges visible on your camera, taking up valuable screen space.
If you liked the wide-angle lens that was used in the photo on the right, you can purchase it through Digital Walker’s flagship Lazada store (Philippines), Black Eye’s Amazon store (International), or through Black Eye’s website.
3. Do some trial and error (& consult your teacher!)
Try taking classes with different camera angles. You can also do this before class by sending your teacher short clips of your dancing shot from different angles to ask which they prefer most. Different teachers might also have individual student preferences because of a students’ dance space (e.g. lighting, background cleanliness or contrast, etc.) Be receptive to their feedback and open to experimentation.
4. Take inspiration from your classmates
A classmate of yours might have discovered an unconventional way of shooting, placing their devices, or setting up their dance space that might work for you. If you have some time before class officially starts, try observing how other people set up their cameras and dance spaces. You might find something that works for you, your space, and your device.
5. For barre, go for the side angle
In her 6 months of teaching during quarantine, Teacher Lina has found this to be the camera angle that shows the most accurate and visible depiction of someone’s technique online. Corner angles and front angles make it easier to hide bad habits. For instance, it’s harder to see a dancer’s back (i.e. whether if it’s arched or not) from a front angle as opposed to a side angle.
Front angle vs. side angle: the curve of the back, pull-up, and placement of the arms are much more visible from a side angle as compared to a front angle.
Sitting on the hips is also much easier to “cheat” with a diagonal angle.
Image credits: Dance by Lina
A side angle is also the most sensible. If you think about it, our teachers have always been seeing us from the side for barre exercises since it’s the same angle they see us in when we’re at the studio. Although online classes will never be at par with physical classes, this is one of the small ways that we can attempt to replicate that quality on a virtual platform.
There’s also a lot of value in doing what we can with what we have. This situation is uncharted territory, but as long as we keep doing what we can, we might even be pleasantly surprised by the results! Who knows, maybe all of these experimental angles and adjustments will help your teacher zone in on a bad habit they may not have picked up on before.
These are our Zoom camera tips. We’d love to hear yours!