---
{"title": "Sort practice videos by length for dance instructors in 2026", "description": "A plain guide for dance instructors to put the shortest practice videos first, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.", "url": "https://xpdaily.com/how-to-sort-practice-videos-by-length-for-dance-instructors/", "date": "2026-10-20"}
---
A plain guide for dance instructors to put the shortest practice videos first, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.

Put the shortest practice videos first so a dancer warms up with the quickest run-throughs and saves the long full runs for when there is time. Find the length of each video, order the playlist from shortest to longest, and start at the top. You can do it by hand on paper or in a spreadsheet.

| Option | How it orders videos |
|---|---|
| Paper list or sticky note | You rank by hand |
| Spreadsheet | You sort by a length column you fill in |
| YTSort | Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first [^1] |

## What you need before you start

Sorting practice videos short first takes only a few things.

- **A playlist you own.** Reordering a playlist in place only works on one that belongs to your account. For someone else's playlist, you can copy the videos into your own first or work from a written list.
- **The length of each video.** YouTube shows it on each thumbnail. You need it to rank the videos.
- **A reason for going short first.** It might be to fit a quick warm-up before class or to start with shorter run-throughs. Know which, because it decides what you do with the long videos.
- **A place to keep the order.** The playlist itself, a paper list or a spreadsheet all work. What matters is that the order lives in one place, so the group always sees the same list.
- **A web browser.** Only needed if you want a tool to do the sorting. Add the tool to your browser once, before you start, following its own instructions.

Set aside a short block before you begin a practice session. Sorting while you are already teaching tends to break your flow.

## Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

1. **Open the practice playlist you want to sort.** Make sure you can access the playlist before choosing a way to put shorter videos first.
2. **List every video with its length.** Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
3. **Mark videos that must stay in order.** Some routines build on earlier sections. If a later drill needs an earlier one, keep those two together.
4. **Rank the rest from shortest to longest.** Put the shortest at the top.
5. **Decide what happens to the very long videos.** Full run-throughs take the most time. You can leave them at the end or schedule them for a longer free block.
6. **Check the order before you commit.** Read the new list once from top to bottom and look for drills that now sit in a confusing place.
7. **Apply the order.** Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
8. **Start with the shortest video and move down.** A dancer warms up on quick run-throughs and works toward the longer ones.
9. **Keep notes as you go.** Short videos pass quickly, so a line or two per video helps the steps stick.
10. **Review after the first few sessions.** If the order is not helping practice, change it.

## Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

**Paper list or sticky note.** You write each title and length and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

**A spreadsheet.** A column for the title, a column for length and a sort on the length column gives you a shortest-first list. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it away from your desk. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

**YTSort.** YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. It reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [^1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. [^1] It sends the reorder to YouTube's own system using your existing session, so there is no dragging or scrolling. [^1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [^1] It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [^1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end, so short warm-ups come first and long full runs go to the back. [^1] It also reports total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. [^1]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. [^1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [^1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [^1]

## Common mistakes to avoid

**Sorting a practice that builds drill by drill.** If later drills rely on earlier ones, a pure shortest-first order can leave a dancer confused. Keep dependent drills together.

**Trusting the order without a look.** Read the new order once before you start. A quick check catches drills that ended up in an odd spot.

**Forgetting the long videos.** Moving full run-throughs to the end is fine, but schedule time to watch them or they never get done.

**Trying to reorder a playlist that is not yours.** Check who owns it first. If it is not yours, copy the videos into your own playlist or keep a written list.

**Practicing without notes.** Short videos go by fast, so notes can help you keep track of what each run-through covered.

**Never reviewing the order.** If the order is not working for your class schedule, change the approach instead of sticking with it.

## Frequently asked questions

### How to put the shortest practice videos first in a YouTube playlist?

List each video with its length, rank them from shortest to longest, then apply that order to the playlist by hand. If a group shares the playlist, agree on the order first so no one is surprised when the list changes.

### How to sort a YouTube playlist from shortest to longest?

List each video with its length, rank them from shortest to longest, then apply that order by hand in the playlist. Check each tool's current details before choosing how to sort the playlist.

### Can the new playlist order be checked before it is applied?

With YTSort, yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. [^1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before you start.

### Which browsers work with YTSort?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. The script works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey, a small add-on that runs scripts for you. [^1] It can also be run from a bookmark. [^1]

### Can YTSort sort only some of the practice videos?

Yes. YTSort can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [^1] That helps when short warm-ups should come first and long full runs go to the back.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [^1] - [Visit YTSort](/go/start-ytsort)

## Sources

[^1]: YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-ytsort)