BORA BORA
February 2025 // In collaboration with Aluminati Dance, DO x IT produced, filmed, and edited a full length creative dance video to the song Bora Bora by AP Dhillon (feat. Ayra Star).Despite a delayed start to music video planning, the creative team pulled together the Bora Bora concept segment by segment, pulling inspiration from various dancers South Asian and otherwise. Different segments were intended to showcase the breadth of fusion dance, inclusive of elements originating from South Asian roots (e.g., Bhangra, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Bollywood) and other dance cultures / parts of the world (e.g., African dance, jazz, hip hop/street styles, whaacking, house). Some original planning based on the song Bora Bora was followed by constant iteration to develop the final list of segments and respective choreographers.
DOxIT entered heavily for the planning phase, with a well-planned shot list and storyboard to fuel the videography of a complex video. Given both of the DOxIT team was dancing, meticulous planning was required to ensure continuity of videography, accurate formations, and appropriate distribution of dancers. After hours of discussion, transitions were finalized, formations were imported, and finally, a full storyboard was created to guide every shot.
Rehearsal for a music video is as much about dance and choreography, as it is the videography and camera-oriented setup. Formations have to change to match camera angles, transitions have to adapt to camera depth, and a choreography of its own is created for the videographer to complement the dancing. Rehearsal was well planned with a focus on using one day to develop an initial ‘draft’, followed by a morning of refinement, before the final video was shot on the evening of January 18th.
When it was time to execute, every minute was planned with specific runs, contingencies, focus points, complex shots delineated, and a proper ordering of segments to optimize the 5 hours of allotted filming. Given the team had less than 24 hours to sit with formations and prepare for execution, filming required a lot of cleaning-on-the-go. Furthermore, building in time for videographers and directors to review shots, adapt visions, and determine / adapt time distribution was crucial.