Trance

Trance was a mobile social video platform built around dance, giving performers a dedicated space to record, share and discover short-form routines. Established by alumni of Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Human-Computer Interaction programme, it combined video creation tools with a community focused on dancers and their work.

The platform addressed the limited individual recognition dancers often received in music videos. Its approach placed performers at the centre of their own content, allowing them to publish directly to an audience interested in choreography and performance. The community encompassed street, hip-hop, contemporary and studio dance.

A dedicated social dancefloor

Trance’s iOS application launched publicly in April 2014. Dancers could record and edit routines of up to 60 seconds, then distribute them through the platform’s video feeds. Discovery combined algorithmic and community-driven features, helping viewers find performances and connect with their creators.

Social features included following artists, commenting and liking or hearting videos. Together, these tools supported both viewing and participation: dancers could promote their work, build connections and engage with an audience around individual performances.

Trance operated as an independent, venture-backed startup. Its product brought mobile video creation, dance-focused discovery and performer networking into a single application, positioning dance itself as the organising focus of the community.