If you run a dance school, filming the show is one of those jobs that lands on your desk every year alongside costumes, tickets and a hundred parent emails. And one of the first questions is always the same: how much does it cost to have a dance show filmed properly?
The honest answer is that it depends on the show. A one act showcase in a studio and a two night production with a dress run are not the same job. I film and photograph dance and theatre shows across Liverpool and Merseyside and quote every show against what it takes to cover it. Here is exactly what sets the price, so you can plan a budget that works for your school and your families.
The short version
- Running time and performances set the base: one show, or several across a weekend.
- One camera or multicam is the biggest choice you make.
- Photography alongside the film adds stills from the same performance.
- Editing the full show, a highlights film and vertical clips all take time.
- Digital delivery to a private gallery replaces discs and USB sticks.
1. What sets the price
Running time
How long the show runs, and how many performances you want covered.
Cameras
One locked wide camera, or multicam with closer coverage for a bigger production.
Photography
Production stills from the dress run and the show, or film only.
Editing
The full show on its own, or a trailer, a highlights film and cut down clips as well.
Live streaming
The show streamed on a private link for families who cannot be in the room.
Travel
Liverpool, the Wirral, Sefton and St Helens are home ground. Further afield is quoted with the job.
Pre show content shot before opening night to sell tickets can be added too, and it is often worth it. A trailer and a few clips while tickets are still on sale work much harder than content that only exists once the show has closed.
2. One camera or multicam?
One locked camera
- A wide shot of the whole stage, curtain to curtain
- Never misses a routine, whatever happens
- The simplest and most affordable option
- Suits studio showcases and smaller shows
Multicam
- The wide shot plus a closer camera for faces and detail
- Cut together so it feels like a proper film
- More editing time, so it costs more
- Suits bigger productions in theatres
Either way, the show is filmed on the stage lighting with no flash, and sound is taken from the desk where there is one, rather than a camera microphone at the back of the hall.
3. What families actually want
Before deciding what to book, it helps to think about who the film is for. Most families want three things: to see their child clearly, to watch the whole show again, and to share a moment on their phone. That usually means:
- The full show, edited to your running order with routines labelled and chaptered
- Every group covered, not only the senior and exam classes
- A short highlights film of two to three minutes to share
- Vertical clips for Reels, TikTok and the group chat
- Photographs they can download, not just stills pulled from the video
4. How delivery works now
I deliver digitally rather than on discs or USB sticks, to a private, password protected gallery. You get the link, you decide who gets the password, and families stream or download the film themselves. Nothing is published publicly unless you say so in writing. My guide to DVD or digital download compares the options in more detail.
5. Ways schools cover the cost
Every school does this differently, and there is no right answer. Common approaches include:
- Included in the show fee or the costume fee, so every family gets the film
- Parent pre orders before the show, so you know the numbers up front
- Added to the ticket price as a small amount per ticket
- A mix: the highlights film free for everyone, the full show for families who want it
Whichever you choose, deciding before tickets go on sale makes it much easier to explain to parents.
6. Book early
Show dates cluster. Christmas shows start booking in September, summer showcases from February, and competition weekends go quickly because everyone is on the same dates. If your date is in the diary, it is worth pinning down. My guide on how to get your dance show filmed covers the planning from booking to delivery.
What to send for a show quote
The show
- Date, venue and running time
- How many performances, and any dress run
- Roughly how many routines and groups
What you need
- Film, photography or both
- One camera or multicam
- Highlights, vertical clips or a trailer
- Live streaming on the night
- Any deadline for delivery
Questions dance schools ask
How much does it cost to film a dance show?
It depends on how long the show runs, how many performances you want covered, one camera or multicam, whether you want photography too, live streaming, and how much editing sits behind it. I quote every show individually against what it takes to cover it.
Is one camera enough to film a dance show?
For a studio showcase or a smaller show, one locked wide camera covers every routine reliably. For bigger productions, a second camera closer in adds faces and detail and makes the film feel more like a proper production.
How do parents get the film?
Through a private, password protected gallery. You get the link and decide who receives the password, and families stream or download the film themselves.
How long does it take to get the film back?
Most shows are edited and delivered within 4 to 7 days, depending on the size of the project. If you are working to a deadline, tell me when you enquire.
Can we have photographs as well as the film?
Yes, and it is usually the same booking. Production stills come mostly from the dress run, with more taken during the show itself.
More guides for dance schools: Live streaming your dance show · How to plan a dance school photo day.
Got a show date?
Tell me about your show and I’ll quote it properly
Send the date, the venue, how long it runs and what you need afterwards, and you will get a quote and a delivery date against it.