How to Make a TikTok Dance Video on the App

Jumping into a TikTok dance trend can feel intimidating, but it's one of the best ways to go viral, connect with a massive audience, and build your brand. The good news is you don’t need to be a professional dancer or video editor to create something great. This guide breaks down the entire process step-by-step, from finding a trending dance to filming and posting a polished video directly on the app.

Step 1: Find and Choose Your Dance

Before you can make a video, you need to find a dance. TikTok trends move fast, so the best way to stay relevant is to see what’s currently popular. Your goal here is to find a dance that is trending but also fits your skill level and brand vibe.

How to Find Trending Dances

• Scroll Your "For You" Page (FYP): This is your most valuable resource. Spend 15-20 minutes actively scrolling your FYP. If you see the same dance performed to the same sound three or four times, you’ve found a trend.
• Check the "Discover" Page: Tap the magnifying glass icon and see what sounds and hashtags are currently trending. TikTok often curates popular challenges here.
• Look at Creator Profiles: Visit the profiles of popular dancers or creators in your niche. See what they’ve posted recently, as they are often on top of the newest trends.
• Save As You Go: When you find a video with a dance you like, don't just scroll past. Press and hold on the video to save it to your "Favorites." Also, tap the spinning sound icon at the bottom right and add the sound to your "Favorites" too. This creates a library of ideas you can come back to.

Choosing the Right Dance for You

Once you’ve found a few options, pick one to start with. If you're new to TikTok dances, start with something simple. Look for challenges with repetitive, straightforward moves. Don't feel pressured to tackle a complex, 60-second routine on your first try. A simple 15-second dance that you perform with energy and confidence will always get more engagement than a complicated one you struggle through.

Step 2: Learn and Practice the Moves

This is where the real work begins. Your goal isn’t just to copy the moves but to perform them cleanly and with confidence. The best way to do this is by breaking down the choreography into small, manageable chunks.

Break Down the Choreography

1. Watch the Original Video on Repeat: Go back to the video (or videos) you saved. Watch it several times without trying to do anything. Just get a feel for the rhythm and flow of the movements.
2. Mirror the Creator: Stand up and try to mirror the dancer’s motions. A lot of dance videos filmed on a front-facing camera are already mirrored, making them easier to copy. If it's not mirrored, just do your best to follow along.
3. Learn in 8-Count Sections: Most music is structured in 8-count phrases. Try to learn just the first 8 counts of the dance. For example, if the lyrics say "one, two, buckle my shoe," learn the moves that go with that line. Practice just that small section until it feels automatic. Then, move on to the next one.
4. Use Slow-Motion to Your Advantage: One of the best, most underutilized learning tools is screen recording. Start a screen recording on your phone, open TikTok, and play the dance video. In your phone's camera roll, you can now slow down the screen recording to see every single move in detail.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice: It sounds cliche, but muscle memory is everything. Repeat the dance sections over and over again until you don’t have to actively think about what comes next. That’s when your performance will start to look natural and fun instead of stiff and rehearsed.

Step 3: Set The Scene for Filming

A great dance can fall flat if your filming setup is distracting or poorly lit. You don’t need a professional studio, but paying attention to a few key details will instantly elevate the quality of your video.

Find Good Lighting

Lighting is the most important element for a quality video. Poor lighting makes a video look grainy and unprofessional.

• Natural Light is Your Best Friend: The best and cheapest option is to face a window during the day. The soft, diffused light is flattering and makes colors look great. Avoid standing with a window behind you, as this will turn you into a dark silhouette.
• Use a Ring Light (If You Have One): If you’re filming at night or in a dark room, a ring light is a great investment. It provides even, direct light that eliminates shadows on your face. You can get an affordable one online with a built-in tripod.

Choose Your Background

Your background sets the tone for your video. A cluttered, messy room is distracting and takes the focus away from you.

• Keep It Clean and Simple: The easiest solution is a plain, solid-colored wall. It’s clean, professional, and keeps the focus entirely on your dance.
• Create an Aesthetic Space: If you want something with more personality, make sure your background is intentionally styled. A tidy bookshelf, a wall with some art, or a corner with a nice plant can add visual interest without being messy.

Position Your Camera

An unstable, shaky camera is a quick way to make viewers scroll away. Always use a tripod or prop your phone up securely on a stack of books or a shelf.

• Shoot at Eye Level: For the most flattering angle, position your camera at eye level or slightly above. A low angle looking up is generally not flattering and can distort your proportions.
• Get Your Whole Body in Frame: Dance videos work best when viewers can see your entire body, from head to toe. Before you start recording, do a quick test to make sure you won't dance out of frame halfway through the video.

Step 4: Film Your Video with TikTok’s Tools

Once you’ve practiced the dance and set up your shot, it’s time to film right inside the TikTok app. Using the built-in tools correctly is the secret to a smooth, hands-free recording process.

1. Get to the Camera Screen: Open the TikTok app and tap the "+" icon at the bottom center of the screen to open the camera.

2. Select Your Sound: At the top of the camera screen, tap "Add sound." Go to your "Favorites" tab and select the song for the dance you've been practicing. The music will now be loaded and ready to go.

3. Use the Timer for Hands-Free Recording: This is the most crucial tool for filming a dance solo. On the right-hand panel of the camera screen, find the icon that looks like a stopwatch labeled "Timer."

• Tap it to open the timing options. You can choose a 3-second or 10-second countdown. A 10-second countdown gives you more time to get into position.
• Next, you'll see a red bar along the bottom of the soundwave. Drag the end of this bar to where you want the recording to automatically stop. For most dances, you can just drag it all the way to the end of the song clip.
• Hit "Start countdown." Your phone will count down from 3 (or 10), and then start recording automatically.

4. Get Multiple Takes: Don't expect to nail it perfectly on the first try. Almost no one does. Film the dance five, ten, or even twenty times if you need to. The more you do it, the more relaxed and confident you'll look on camera. Review your takes and choose the one with the best energy and cleanest moves.

Step 5: Edit and Finalize Your Video

With a great take recorded, a few simple edits can add a final layer of polish before you post.

Trim Your Clips

A common mistake is having a few awkward seconds at the beginning or end of the video where you’re walking to or from the camera. Fix this on the edit screen by tapping "Adjust clips." You'll see a filmstrip of your video. Simply drag the handles at the beginning and end to trim out the unwanted parts for a tight, clean start and finish.

Add Text and Choose a Cover

• Text: Add a short line of text that adds context, like "Finally got this dance!" or "This trend was harder than it looked." This can boost engagement. Make sure to place the text where it won’t be covered by the TikTok UI icons (usually higher up and in the center).
• Cover: Before posting, you can select a Cover. This is the thumbnail people will see on your profile grid. Don’t let TikTok choose a random, blurry frame. Scroll through the video timeline and pick a clear, dynamic shot of you mid-motion.

Step 6: Craft Your Caption, Hashtags, and Post

Your caption and hashtags help the TikTok algorithm understand what your video is about and show it to the right people.

Write an Engaging Caption

Keep your caption short and sweet. Ask a question to encourage comments, like "How many tries did this take you?" or "Who should I do a dance with next?" Engagement signals to the algorithm that people are enjoying your content.

Use a Smart Hashtag Strategy

You don't need to use 30 hashtags. A focused strategy is more effective. Include a mix of:

• The Trend Hashtag: Include the specific hashtag for a challenge (e.g., #savagechallenge).
• Broad, Popular Hashtags: Use 2-3 massive hashtags like #fyp, #foryou, and #dancetrend to maximize reach.
• Niche Hashtags: Add 1-2 hashtags relevant to your specific community or brand, like #dancetutorial or #beginnersdances.

After you’ve added your caption and hashtags, hit the "Post" button and your dance is live!

Final Thoughts

Creating a TikTok dance video is a learnable skill that boils down to a few key steps: find a popular trend you enjoy, break it down to learn the moves, set up a clean and well-lit shot, and use the app’s built-in tools to film and edit. It’s an incredibly rewarding way to participate in culture, build community, and grow your audience.

Of course, making great content is only half the battle, successfully managing it for growth is the other. Posting consistently during peak hours can be tough, especially when you're managing multiple social platforms. That's why we created Postbase - a scheduler designed for the video-first world of TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. You can visually plan your content, schedule your videos to go live at the perfect moment, and manage all your comments in one unified inbox, keeping your momentum going long after a video goes viral.