Practice guide / Direction
Same move.
Which side?
A mirrored dance video is a horizontal flip of the original image. If a dancer faces the camera and you want to use the same anatomical side as that dancer, a mirrored view puts their right-hand movement on your screen’s right. You can then follow with your own right hand. First check whether the source has already been mirrored.
Follow one hand through the flip
Original front view
Screen left → still the performer’s right hand.
Horizontally mirrored
Screen right → use your right hand.
In the original front view, raising your hand on the same screen side would use your left hand, opposite to the performer’s right. To learn from that original view, deliberately translate their right to your right. Mirroring saves that translation for a front-facing reference.
A flip changes the image, not the name of the original body part. It also flips travel directions and formations in the image. Agree on the intended direction when learning for a group or a performance.
Choose according to the view and your task
| Reference | Starting choice | Check before learning |
|---|---|---|
| Unmirrored, front-facing dancer | Try one horizontal flip for same-side following. | Confirm one clearly identified right/left action. |
| Already mirrored tutorial | Keep its existing orientation. | A second flip returns the original orientation. |
| Unmirrored rear-view tutorial | Usually keep it unflipped: you and the dancer face the same way. | Check spoken side cues and any changes of camera view. |
| Group formation or partner choreography | Use the agreed role and stage directions. | Screen left/right alone does not define your place in a formation. |
How to check an unfamiliar video
- Read the creator’s title and notes. Look for a mirrored label, a front/back explanation or an explicit side cue.
- Compare one asymmetric detail with a known original. A raised hand, outfit detail or a clear move can help. Reversed text is a clue, but captions may have been added after the flip.
- Check once before learning a long section. If the orientation remains uncertain, ask the creator or use a reference with clear instructions. A selfie preview does not prove how the saved video is oriented.
In the DanceFlowW example, toggle the video mirror and watch which screen side changes. The control flips the video image; it does not mirror the 3D skeleton or change the music. Do not expect the video and skeleton to become a matched mirrored pair.
Is mirrored always better?
No. It is a viewing aid for a particular orientation and task. You may already be comfortable translating sides from an original performance, or you may need the original stage directions. Keep a consistent reference while learning, then check against the direction required for your performance.
STEEZY also describes mirroring as a tool for following a front-facing instructor. That supports the viewing convention; it does not establish that mirroring makes every person learn faster. STEEZY’s official class tools.
Try it with a dance video
The prepared DanceFlowW example has video looping, speed and mirror controls, music stems and a 3D movement reference. It needs no account; allow time for the media to load.
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