Dance, oh dance

Through "Dance, Oh Dance", I wanted to showcase my journey with dance—how something I once loved deeply could become a source of frustration and how difficult it was to find that love again. The photo essay reflects this emotional journey, using imagery and sound to capture both the highs and lows of my experience.

One of the key challenges I faced was finding people to help me take photos that aligned with my vision. They didn't always turn out as expected even after explaining how I wanted the shots. I realized that clearer communication was essential, and moving forward, I’ll provide reference photos or even take test shots myself to better convey my ideas. Another issue was securing clearance to shoot in the dance studio. Although I had other locations in mind, they weren’t available, so I had to adjust my plans. Luckily, I managed to get access to a dance studio, and while it wasn’t my first choice, I made it work. A third challenge was not planning the specific shots I needed in the studio. In hindsight, having a detailed shot list or storyboard would have been extremely helpful. I’ll improve on this in future projects by creating a document outlining all the necessary key shots.

One of the aspects I’m proud of is the use of colour grading to reflect the emotional tone of the journey. I used Adobe Lightroom to edit the photos and Adobe Premiere Pro for the photo essay. For happier moments, like when my friend encouraged me to return to dance, I used vibrant colours to highlight us as the focus while desaturating and blurring the background to show the contrast.

I struggled a bit with the music and the use of non-diegetic sound, a topic we explored in class. According to the lectures, the sound should complement the visuals but tell a slightly different story. I tried to apply this by using chaotic Chinese opera music at the start, followed by quieter, solemn music, and finally ending with Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro. This choice mirrored my internal struggle. Just as the opera character begs her father to let her marry the man she loves, I was pleading with myself to break down the barriers of self-doubt and fear and allow myself to return to dance.

This project has taught me the importance of clear communication, detailed planning, and the effective use of sound and colour to enhance storytelling. I plan to apply these lessons to future projects to continue growing my skills.