Behind the Lens: A Season with Groove Dance Competition
This year, I had the opportunity to work as a Dance Photographer for Groove Dance Competition, combining two things that have been a major part of my life: dance and digital media.
As a former competitive dancer, returning to the competition environment from behind the camera was a unique experience. Instead of performing on stage, I was responsible for capturing the hard work that dancers, families, and studios spent months to create and execute. Throughout the season, a number of my photographs were selected for Groove's social media platforms, and the images featured throughout this post are examples of that work.
The role extended far beyond photography alone. Each weekend involved traveling to a new venue, helping with event setup and breakdown, managing stage lighting, troubleshooting equipment, and working alongside a small production team to transform empty auditoriums into competition spaces. Once the event began, I spent long days photographing performances from the judges' table while simultaneously operating lighting elements that helped shape the atmosphere of the stage.
One of my favorite aspects of the position was the travel. Every event brought a new city, new venue, and new group of dancers to watch perform. While the schedule didn't allow for much sightseeing, I genuinely enjoyed the experience of traveling. From airports and hotel stays to the occasional opportunity to explore a destination after an event, the travel aspect added a sense of adventure that made each weekend memorable. Some of my favorite opportunities outside of competition was having the chance to visit Niagara Falls after an early finish, day trip in Philadelphia, PA driving home from a New Jersey event, and flying into and out of Tampa, FL for a solo short stay vacation.
The work itself was both rewarding and demanding. Competition weekends often started before sunrise and ended late at night, requiring focus and consistency through long production days. As a five-foot-tall photographer, I had to get creative with positioning, camera angles, and muscle support supplies to capture dancers from the most flattering perspectives while remaining within my designated shooting area.
Like any live production environment, there were challenges. The pace was fast, expectations were high, and there was always something new to learn. Some aspects of the production setup and technical responsibilities had a steeper learning curve than I expected, particularly when balancing photography with event operations. However, each event strengthened my problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to work as part of a team under pressure.
Looking back, what stands out most is how much this experience reinforced my passion for both photography and the dance industry. It challenged me creatively, expanded my understanding of live event production, and gave me the opportunity to combine my background as a dancer with my career in digital media. The photographs throughout this post represent some of my featured work from the season.
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