Virtual Dance Livestream | 92nd Street Y at Dance Education Laboratory (DEL)’s Movement Sentence Choir
In early February, we live-streamed a virtual dance made by Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) participants, Yin Yue, and Taryn Vander Hoop.
We have been filming Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) at 92nd Street Y’s Movement Sentence Choir for years, and for the past seven, we’ve been live-streaming the event to reach an even bigger audience.

Each year, DEL facilitators bring in dance artists to create a brand new piece with participants. Creating, moving, collaborating, DANCING… this workshop is a beautiful reminder of why dance education is so incredibly important.
I get butterflies in my stomach right before we go live (so many opportunities for something to go awry!!) but I always remind myself that my team has had years to perfect our practice!
The thing is, I have an incredible team of livestream and virtual dance event wizards (shout-out to Amber Schmiesing and Benjamin Richards)!
From start to finish, we collaborate as a team:
- organizing a big run-of-show spreadsheet
- scheduling several meetings internally and with the client
- planning dress rehearsals
- sharing media via Dropbox or Drive
- discussing the client’s overall mission of the livestream or virtual dance event
- deciding on what we call “Zoomography”
- creating graphics for lower thirds and transitions
- and more!!
While we have live-streamed Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) at 92nd Street Y’s Movement Sentence Choir in years past, this was the very first time the 3.5 hour workshop was held virtually, as well.
I’m so impressed with how much the DEL participants created with Yin and Taryn. Based on the theme “come together and unite” and the movement sentence “flow, root, cut, connect,” the artists and dancers created a gorgeous, dynamic virtual dance, had one quick rehearsal, then we went live!!!
Watch the dance film we put together of the finished piece!!

Nel Shelby is Owner & Filmmaker for Nel Shelby Productions, her New York City-based company dedicated to dance videography and editing. Nel shares her mission to preserve and promote the art of dance with her husband, Christopher Duggan, a dance and wedding photographer. They collaborate on projects with dance companies of worldwide renown, up-and-coming choreographers, dance educators, dance schools and more. Nel is Video Producer at Jacob’s Pillow and Vail Dance Festival and is also the proud Director and Producer of PS DANCE! — a New York Emmy-nominated documentary about dance education in NYC’s public schools.