Dance formations by number of dancers
Pick how many dancers you have, from 2 to 30: the 19 Stancz presets redraw for that number, to scale on a 10 × 6 m stage. Each diagram comes from the same calculation the editor uses when you apply the preset.
Essentials
CircleMin. gap: 1.61 m SemicircleMin. gap: 1.30 m LineMin. gap: 1.03 m RowsMin. gap: 2.40 m VMin. gap: 1.10 m DiamondMin. gap: 1.48 m
Columns
1 columnMin. gap: 0.70 m 2 columnsMin. gap: 1.40 m 3 columnsMin. gap: 2.10 m 4 columnsMin. gap: 2.18 m
Curves
ArcMin. gap: 0.93 m SpiralMin. gap: 1.36 m DiagonalMin. gap: 0.85 m
Dynamics
GridMin. gap: 2.10 m StarMin. gap: 1.34 m TriangleMin. gap: 1.21 m WedgeMin. gap: 1.72 m ZigzagMin. gap: 1.10 m StaircaseMin. gap: 1.40 m
The figure under each diagram is the smallest distance between two dancers, centre to centre. Below 40.5 cm the circles overlap: the formation is too tight for this stage.
Choosing a formation for your group size
2 to 5 dancers: every position reads clearly. A line, a diagonal, a V or a circle is enough. With 2 dancers, several presets give the same drawing.
6 to 12 dancers: rows, a V, a triangle or a diamond give a clean shape; a circle or a semicircle opens up the stage.
13 and more: a single line or a single column runs out of room. On a 10 m wide stage, a line of 30 dancers leaves 0.33 m between neighbours, and a column 0.19 m. Work in sections instead: a grid, 3 or 4 columns, rows, or several small groups that swap places in turn.
Odd or even number of dancers
With an odd number, one dancer can hold the centre: the point of the V, the middle of a line. With an even number, the formation splits into two mirrored halves and nobody stands at the exact centre: put two dancers either side of the centre line, or keep the centre free for a soloist's entrance. Slide from 8 to 9 and the V gains a point.
Sightlines: make sure every dancer is seen
A dancer standing right behind another disappears for part of the audience. Offset each row by half a place, so every dancer at the back fills the gap between two dancers in front (staggered rows). In a line, a diagonal or a V, nobody stands behind anyone. Columns hide the dancers at the back when seen from the front: keep them for an entrance, an exit or a deliberate picture.
About Stancz
Stancz is a dance formation app: it opens in the browser on a PC or a Mac with nothing to install, and runs as an app on iPhone, iPad and Android with the same account. Its 19 presets adapt to the number of dancers, up to 500 per choreography, and the free plan covers 3 choreographies of 4 formations each. Pro costs €3.99/month.