Research on the Dissemination of Dance on Short-video Platforms: A Case Study of TikTok Dance Content

Li Yangzi

Department of Dance, Sangmyung University

Abstract：

In recent years, with the rapid development of digital media technology, short-video platforms have not only become important channels for cultural dissemination but have also fundamentally transformed the ways in which dance art is communicated. Represented byTikTok, globally popular short-video platforms, through their unique algorithmic recommendation systems and mass participation mechanisms, enable dance content to transcend the limitations of geography, culture, and artistic categories, achieving rapid and wide dissemination.Focusing on TikTok dance content as the core research subject, this study applies theories from communication studies and digital media to systematically analyze the production characteristics, modes of dissemination, and audience reception of dance in the short-video environment. The findings indicate that, in terms of production, short-video dance creation exhibits features of simplification and high recognizability. At the level of dissemination, platform algorithms and social interaction jointly construct a "decentralized" networked communication model.Regarding reception, users engage in imitation, learning, and re-creation of preferred dance content, which not only reflects cultural identification, reshapes social values, and expresses social emotions, but also transforms their identities— from passive viewers into active participants. At the same time, while TikTok facilitates the spread of dance art and cultural expression, it also raises issues such as the superficialization of dance and the homogenization of aesthetics. This study further suggests that, in the context of rapid digital technological development, dance creators need to balance the efficiency afforded by technology with the intrinsic value of art, thereby forming a relatively stable equilibrium. Such a balance will ultimately contribute to the creative development and sustained value of dance art.

Key Words：

TikTok short-video platform; dance dissemination; digital media; mass participation