A sunset gas station, one friend dancing on the empty forecourt, one filming a selfie mid-party, one stepping out of a sports car to close it out — cut together with whip pans in a vertical clip. That's the Gas Station Dance, and it's built for three. Here's how to make yours from three photos (or two, with a trick).
Made with apt video ai from three AI sample photos: the dance, the selfie and the car entrance.
What is the Gas Station Dance?
A vertical clip that went viral on TikTok and Reels. Each person gets one shot:
- Photo 1 — the opening dance. On the empty forecourt: hands on hips, then a dance that keeps building until both arms go up over the head. It runs a full seven seconds.
- Photo 2 — the sunset selfie. Phone out at arm's length, free hand waving to the beat, the canopy and the low sun behind — and back at the end for a big laugh at the sky.
- Photo 3 — the car entrance. Out of a sports car, a lean into the lens with a huge grin, then a pose between two cars. It's the biggest close-up in the clip.
The moves, the camera work and the whip-pan transitions follow the original; hair and outfits come from your photos.
How to make the Gas Station Dance AI video
- Open the Gas Station Dance template.
- Add three photos. Photo 1 dances, photo 2 takes the selfie, photo 3 steps out of the car. One person per photo, face clearly visible. No prompt needed.
- Pick a version and quality. Premium makes the full ~20-second video; Balanced makes a ~14-second highlight for fewer credits.
- Generate and download. Photos are reviewed first, then the render takes a few minutes. The 9:16 clip comes with the original soundtrack, ready for TikTok, Reels or Shorts.
Only two of you?
Put the same person's photo in two slots and they appear in both shots — for example one friend does the dance and the car entrance, the other takes the selfie.
Photo tips
- Front-facing, sharp, evenly lit. Nothing covering the face — no hair, hands or sunglasses in the way.
- A closer shot for the selfie role. Photo 2 works best as an upper-body photo.
- Hair follows the photo. Length, curl and colour are kept, so pick photos with hair you like.
- So does the outfit. A T-shirt or shirt gives the clip a summer feel.
- Cast by personality. Your best dancer goes in photo 1; the friend who loves a close-up goes in photo 3.
Gas Station Dance CapCut template vs Dreamina vs this template
The search results for "gas station dance capcut template" show CapCut templates for the trend (one dated April 2026), TikTok tutorials and a Dreamina guide that has you write prompts for each shot. Here's how they differ:
| CapCut template | Dreamina (by CapCut) | apt video ai | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you make it | The CapCut app | Browser | Browser |
| How the shots are made | The template's edit around your media | A text prompt for each shot; the AI improvises | A depth map of the original three-shot clip |
| Three people | Depends on the template | You describe each one | Three photo slots, one per shot |
| Sound | The template's audio | Added while editing | The original soundtrack, synced |
| Price | Free | Plans from $15/month; daily free credits | Premium 35 credits at 480p; Balanced from 15 |
Pick the CapCut template if you want it free and you're happy editing in the app. Pick Dreamina if you'd rather write your own scene. Pick the template here if you want the original choreography and camera with your three friends in it, from photos, in a browser.
What does it cost?
Premium makes the full ~20-second video: 35 credits at 480p, 80 at 720p and 140 at 1080p. Balanced makes a ~14-second highlight from 15 credits. Each account's first full 480p video costs just 20 credits, so the $9.90 pack (20 credits) covers it. If a photo isn't approved or the render fails, the credits come back automatically.
Caption ideas
- "Us after filling up at $5 a gallon"
- "When the group trip finally happens"
- "POV: you took the long way home on purpose"
- "Main character energy, one gas station at a time"
Add #GasStationDance and post with the original sound so it's grouped with the rest of the trend.
FAQ
Can we make it with two people? Yes — put the same person's photo in two slots and they appear in both shots.
Is there a Gas Station Dance CapCut template? Yes, there are CapCut templates for the trend; they open in the CapCut app. This template runs in any browser and recreates the original three shots from your photos.
Does the video have sound? Yes. The render itself is silent; the original track is added in your browser when you play or download it, synced to the picture.
How long is the video? About 20 seconds, vertical 9:16, on Premium; Balanced makes a ~14-second highlight that still shows all three of you.
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