Photo Poses · Dance Photography
Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
Five easy dance poses that look beautiful, even if you’re not a dancer yourself.
Easy Dance Photography Poses for Beginners
Have you ever done a dance photo shoot? If so, what was it like? Ask yourself, “What was the hardest part?” If you’re not a dancer, one of the hardest parts is knowing how to pose dancers and what will look good.
That’s why I’m sharing five easy dance poses that are sure to work, so you never have that problem again!
Start Simple
Easy positions like first position and passé look elegant and work for dancers of any level.
Play With the Arms
The same leg position can feel totally different depending on where the dancer puts their arms.
Add Movement
Having the dancer throw their skirt adds a playful feel. Just raise your shutter speed to catch it.
Pose 01
Passé
This is a pretty easy pose, but it looks great. Ask the dancer to bend one leg at the knee and bring their toes to their other knee.
Then choose what to do with the arms. An easy option is to hold the arms in high fifth. My personal favorite is to lift the opposite arm parallel to the ground, lift the arm on the same side as the bent leg at a slant a little higher, and have the dancer look up at their hand. It gives the picture a more elegant feel.
My very favorite way to use this pose is to have the dancer throw their skirt, then pose. It gives the picture a playful feel.
Tip
Bump up your shutter speed when the dancer throws their skirt, because it only stays in the air for a moment. Read my shutter speed guide to learn why.
Behind the shot
My Camera Settings
1/500
Shutter speed
f/4.5
Aperture
250
ISO
56mm
Focal length
These are the exact settings for the skirt-throw photo in front of the cornfield, taken on a Canon EOS R6 Mark III.
Pose 02
The Splits
This one is simple, as long as your dancer is flexible. Ask them to do the splits! Then experiment with the arms: hold them in high fifth, stretch both straight out parallel to the ground, or do what I did and hold one arm parallel to the ground with the other reaching straight up to the sky. It’s your choice!
Pose 03
Arabesque
This one is similar to passé, but it allows for more extension. The goal is for the dancer to lift their leg at least parallel to the ground. If they can go higher, encourage them to, because the higher the leg, the better it looks. You can use the same arm positions as passé, or experiment!
Pose 04
Fourth Position
In fourth position, the dancer stands with one foot in front of the other, feet turned outward, which gives them more balance and room to move. The distance between the feet can change depending on what looks good, but I prefer a slightly wider stance.
Pose 05
First Position
This is a really easy pose to use in any setting. Just tell the dancer to put their heels together and turn out from the hips. It’s simple, but it lets you really play with the arms and decide which artistic direction you want to take. My favorite way to use this one is, once again, throwing the skirt!
A word of advice
Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up
If something doesn’t look right, find a way to change it. Experiment! What do you have to lose? It could turn into an amazing photo you weren’t even expecting.
Common questions
Dance Photography Questions Beginners Ask
What are easy dance poses for photos?
Passé, the splits, arabesque, fourth position and first position are all easy poses that look great for dancers of most levels.
What shutter speed should I use for dance photos?
Use a faster shutter speed when the dancer is moving, like throwing a skirt. I used 1/500 for the skirt-throw photo in this post.
How do I pose a dancer if I’m not a dancer?
Start with simple positions and focus on the arms. Ask the dancer what feels natural, and don’t be afraid to adjust if something doesn’t look right.
“Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!”
Keep learning
More Posing Ideas
Looking for more easy poses? These guides are a great next step.
