RAPT
Sara Joel and Jody Oberfelder, USA, 2006, 6m
A very pregnant woman rolls into the water and into the world of her unborn child. Cinematography by Lesley Avery Gould.
JOSEPHINE BAKER – BLACK DIVA IN A WHITE MAN’S WORLD
Annette von Wangenheim, Germany, 2006, 45m
(Nominated for the Jury Prize)
This production of WDR Cologne features Josephine Baker, one of the most popular artists of the 20th century. Her legendary banana belt dance created theater history; her ”J’ai deux amours” became her hymn. She was the queen of the Charleston during the Roaring Twenties, Diva of the Folies-Bergere, and the darling of the Casino de Paris. Baker was 19 years old when she arrived in Paris in 1925 with “La Revue Negre”. Her exotic beauty had allowed audiences to identify with her and in their own African fantasies. This documentary portrays the artist in the mirror of European colonial cliches and presents her as an activist of the Black Consciousness movement.
BONE
Mila Aung-Thwin, Canada, 2005, 48m
(Nominated for the Jury Prize)
A collaboration of two extremely different cultures created by the Beijing Modern Dance Company and Snell Thouin Project of Canada. This unusual documentary reveals the raw excitement of discovery by young Chinese artists as they absorb the choreographic ways of the West in the first ever China-Canada co-production.
SERGE LIFAR MUSAGETE
Dominique Delouche, France, 2005, 88m
Produced by Les Films du Prieuré, this documentary is a tribute to the lasting legacy of the French-Russian dancer/choreographer Serge Lifar (1905-1988) who carried on the Diaghilev tradition of the Ballets Russes, developed a strong presence for male dancers, and who employed renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Leonnide Massine, and Frederick Ashton. In his autobiography, Lifar coyly stated that “dance is my mistress.” Filmmaker Dominique Delouche, known for singling out the essential gifts of ballet legends, offers footage of Serge Lifar, Yvette Chauvire, Nina Vyroubova, Jean Babile, Isabelle Guerin, Monique Loudieres, Manuel Legris, Janine Charrat, Marcia Haydee, and the dancers of Paris National Opera.
ONE FLAT THING, REPRODUCED
Thierry de Mey, France, 2006, 26m
William Forsythe carved a formidable career in Europe with infrequent returns to NYC. His collaboration with Thierry de Mey, himself acclaimed for his screen adaptations of works by Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker, brings us insights into Forsythe’s ingenious choreography. Thierry de Mey follows a formal strategy to capture “the play of triggers, moments of waiting, visual and sonic cues, and to follow the conducting voices of Forsythe’s choreographic melodic montage and contrasting mounting rhythms that penetrate inside the playing space.”
BIPED
Charles Atlas, USA, 2006, 52m
A brilliant capture of the multi-media production created in 1999, a collaboration between digital artists Paul Kaiser and Shelley Eshkar and choreographer Merce Cunningham and performed by his company. The animation sequences are largely derived from motion-captured phrases from the choreography, which drive abstracted images of hand-drawn dancers moving through spare and evocative spaces. In performance, the imagery is projected on a huge transparent scrim covering the front of a large proscenium stage, giving the illusion that it floats in front of and among the live dancers behind it.
EZEIZA
Andrea Servera, Argentina, 2005, 27m
This magical film captures the essence of a women’s prison in Buenos Aires while demonstrating how the inmates, who may never have had such a gentle experience ever in their lives, are all drawn into the creative process. Choreographer/teacher Andrea Severa worked for two years with these women so that they could leave the prison somehow enriched. Without elaborate choreography, their simple movements became dance and reveal a sense of joy and of being. Composed by Sebastian Schactel, this project was supported by The Secretary of Culture of Buenos Aires City Government, Arts International, and the Fundacion Teatro del Sur/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
BARE-HANDED
Thierry Knauff, Belgium, 2006, 26m
After his acclaimed film SOLO in 2004, Thierry Knauff has created a new bridge between dance and cinema inspired by the text of Joseph Noiret, co-founder of the famous artists’ group Cobra, and his daughter Michelle Noiret’s choreography. With light and shadow as her partners, Michelle approaches, confronts, and captures the world created by her dance.
BABEL
Peter Sparling, USA, 2005, 7:22m
A former member of Martha Graham Dance Company in a solo that would only be possible on screen. Mirroring the voices in Arvo Part’s score, he reveals four physical personalities. He transcends boundaries of gender and character while charting a man’s struggle to embody his own metamorphosis.
OPIUM
Miles Lowry and David Ferguson, Canada, 2006, 24m
Suddenly Dance Theatre’s narrative is inspired by a three-month episode in the life of the French artist Jean Cocteau (1889-1963). Originally written as a visual poem for the stage by Canadian author Miles Lowry, OPIUM imagines Cocteau’s harrowing stay at a clinic near Paris in 1929, where he hoped for a cure for his addiction to opium. Grania Litwin of the Times-Colonist wrote that OPIUM is “a tight, clever, troubling, moody and intense dance drama that starts out looking like a Masterpiece Theatre, but soon moves into new territory”. Produced in association with Bravo! Canada, a division of CHUM Limited; in collaboration with ARTV.
LUCINDA CHILDS
Patrick Bensard, France, 2006, 56m
Lucinda Childs’ work dates back to the sixties, the period in which New York ”downtown” circle of artists pushed each other to explore and experiment beyond convention. Now, after decades based in Paris, Lucinda lives in Martha’s Vineyard where she takes time to reflect between choreographic assignments around the world. The documentary includes performances and interviews with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Philip Glass, Anna Kisselgoff, Yvonne Rainer, Susan Sontag, and Robert Wilson. To be broadcast by ARTE in Europe in March, 2007. Photo Images and film excerpts by Patrick Bensard, Renato Berta, Peter Hujar, Robert Lockyer, Hans Namuth, Sol LeWitt, Babette Mangolte, Michael O’Neill, & Thomas Victor. Coproducers: Helena Van Dantzig, Lieurac Prodcutions.
CARTES POSTALES
Richard Copans, France, 2005, 26m
Choreographer/performer Raimund Hoghe explores an encounter with a man who is much taller and much younger. While listening to music of melancholy and sadness, we begin to question wheter is it the beginning of a love affiar or a dialogue? Or is it simply movement towards another? How close can they come without ever touching?
WILL TIME TELL?
Sue Healey, Australia, 2006, 12:30m
Funded by Asia Link, OZCO, this short plays with rhythms and counterrhythms in this meditative, playful piece shot in Japan that gives one a sense of the outsider’s experience.
THE MAKING OF CAMBODIAN STORIES
Eiko and Koma, USA, 2006, 23m
Focusing on the mentorship of Eiko and Koma with the young artists who study and work at the Reyum Institute of Arts and Culture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, CAMBODIAN STORIES evokes questions of tradition, innovation, and the role of the artist in fostering social change and discoveries of new ways to leap from the canvas to the stage. Eiko & Koma’s collaboration hones in on these young painters’ collective energy and explores the challenges they face pursuing artistic careers in a country with little opportunity. Also seen in the video are two other collaborating artists representing different generations of Cambodia: Cambodian-American composer Sam-Ang Sam, the first Asian recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, and the charismatic co-founder and director of the Reyum Art Institute Daravuth Ly.
SEASONS OF MIGRATION
John Bishop, USA, 2006, 56m
An exploration of the transformation of identity among Cambodian immigrants in Long Beach, California and their exquisite, highly stylized classical dance that is rooted in and reflective upon their current life. Using dancers from the Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh, award-winning choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro incorporates original and traditional music, lyrics, and choreography that creates a true miracle.
CAUGHT IN PAINT
Rita Blitt, USA, 2003, 6m
(Nominated for the Jury Prize)
A film that has been shown at over 60 film festivals nationally and has won seven awards, CAUGHT IN PAINT is a film that brings together the painter Rita Blitt, choreographer David Parsons and his Parsons Dance Company, and photographer Lois Greenfield, in a union of paint, dance and photography.
TERPSICHORE’S CAPTIVES I & II
Efim Reznkov, Russia, (I) 1995, 52m; (II) 2006
Recalling the series 7up, TERPSICHORE’S CAPTIVES I and II presents a fascinating opportunity to examine the balance of ego and art. Created by Efim Reznikov, the director of photography for the Russian film LITTLE VERA, and written by Leonid Gurevich, the first documentary focuses on the tempestuous relationship between the artistic director of Perm Ballet School, Ludmila Pavolvna Sakharova and a teenage ballet student Natasha Balakhnecheva. The Russians have a saying: “Hatred is only a step away from love.” It is this complicated love-hate relationship to ballet that is explored in this provocative documentary.
Ten years later, Natasha Balakhnecheva decided to try to break free of ballet and experience modern dance. With the aid of DFA and Alla Kovgan, Efim Reznikov created a follow-up to TERPSICHORE’S CAPTIVES in which Natasha attempts to absorb the teachings of American modern dance rebel Bill T. Jones. In the first film, Ludmila Pavolvna Sakharova demands that Natasha loose her ego and in the second one, Bill T. Jones insists that she find it, claim it, and use it to express herself through dance.
COLOR OF POMEGRANATES
Sergei Paradjanov, Russia, 1969, 88m
Paradjanov’s poetic masterpiece is a classic example of choreographic cinema. The wealth of imagination, the tableau presentation, and the complexity of thought and rhythm is awe-inspiring. The story depicts the life and spiritual odyssey of the medieval Armenian poet and troubadour Sayat Nova, and his rise from carpet weaver to archbishop and martyr.
MINOTAUR-EX
Bruno Aveillan, France, 2001, 9m (Nominated for the Jury Prize)
Inspired by the Greek myth of the Minotaur, this cine-dream brings us into the struggle of a three-faced monster attempting a metamorphosis of his being. Choreographer Philippe Combes worked with a score by Herve Taminiaux.
AFTERNOON OF THE CHIMERAS
Daniel Conrad, Canada, 2006, 15m
Filmed in collaboration with choreographer Aszure Barton, this dance for camera merges humanity, movement, and the environment with admirable simplicity.
MOVEMENT (R)EVOLUTION AFRICA (A story of an art form in four acts)
Joan Frosch & Alla Kovgan, USA, 65m
(Nominated for the Jury Prize)
In an astonishing exposition of choreographic fomentation, eight African choreographers tell stories of an emergent art form and their diverse and deeply contemporary expressions of self. Stunning choreography and riveting critiques challenge stale stereotypes of “traditional Africa” to unveil soul-shaking responses to the beauty and tragedy of 21st century Africa. Artists: Company Kongo Ba Teeacuteria (Burkina Faso), Company Rary (Madagascar), Sello Pesa (South Africa), Company TcheTche Cote d’Ivoire), Company Raiz di Polon (Cape Verde), Company Jant Bi (Senegal) and Kota Yamazaki (Japan), Nora Chipaumire (Zimbabwe), Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (USA), Faustin Linyekula (Democratic Republic of Congo)
BREAK, DOCF 2008
BREAK
Shona McCullagh, New Zealand, 2006, 14m
(Winner of the 2008 Jury Prize)
A moving tribute to a family’s dynamic from the perspective of a young boy that plays inventively with rhythm and narrative. From the director of wildly popular dance short FLY and the choreographer for KING KONG and the THE LION, WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE.
TEATIME
Lisa May Thomas,UK, 2006, 7m
TEATIME explores the ritual and its particpants in this dance short sponsored by Arts Council England and Dance Bristol. Performed by Dan Canham, Tiago Bambogi, Laura Dannequin with sound design by Jonny Crew.
DANCING FIGURE (Tancalak)
Ferenc Grunwalsky, Hungary, 2003, 70m
An extraordinary symbiosis of the modern dance of Andrea Ladenyi, the music of Gyorgy Kurteg, and the vision of director Ferenc Grunwalsky, who has been a long-time collaborator with Mikles Jancse, one of the most famous Hungarian directors. DANCING FIGURE is a phantasmagoric narrative with dark humor and sarcasm, surreal sets and design, combined with romantic sadness and the eternal quest for perfection and redemption of the soul.
GEORGIANS IN MARYINSKI
Zurab Inashvili, Georgia, 2003, 47m
Manana Kvachadze produced this documentary rich with information, interviews and archival footage. A treat for ballet lovers with background on George Balanchine, Vakhtang Chabukiani, and others. Produced with the help of the Historical Cultural Foundation.
ALBERTO & CARMEN
Ani Collier/Katia Karadjova, USA/Bulgaria, 2006, 30m
Cuban-born choreographer Alberto Alonso, who has been living in the US since 1993, created CARMEN in 1967 for prima Ballerina Maya Plisetskaya of Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre. In this documentary on the 30th anniversary of the ballet, Alberto Alonso remininisces about the making of the ballet. Rodion Shchedrin, the composer and husband of Plisetskaya, talks about his take on Bizet’s famous opera, and we see performances of the same ballet performed by Alessandra Ferri, Alicia Alonso, and others.
FALLING
Ayelen Liberona & Naya Guzman, USA, 2006, 4:28m
From sky to sea, from cocoon to human, this short skillfully makes us wonder about transformation through the elements of nature.
BAHUDHA
Ranan, India, 2006, 12m
(Nominated for the Jury Prize)
Bahudha is originally a part of a series of Kathak duets interacting with other art forms) that was first conceived, choreographed and performed by Debashree Bhattacharya and Vikram lyengar in January 2002. When performed on stage, the two dancers perform before projected images of themselves.
INVITATION TO THE DANCE: BODY AND TABOO
Gerhard Schick, Germany, 2006, 89m
Despite her muscular dystrophy, German dancer Gerda Koenig has toured the world uniting abled and disabled dancers in performances. She delights in the process of confronting taboos while inviting dancers to explore the parts of their body that have given them the most grief. This documentary shot in Kenya is a heartwarming example of how dance can heal and how dancers can effect social change.
DIDO AND AENEAS
Barbara Willis Sweete, Canada, 1995, 55m
An adaptation by choreographer Mark Morris and his Mark Morris Dance Group, of the Henry Purcell baroque opera. Dido, the noble queen of Carthage has fallen in love the the Trojan prince, Aeneas. While the court celebrates the imminent union of the two monarchs, the evil sorceress with her coven of witches, plots their downfall. Romance leads to heartbreak and tragedy.
INVITATION TO THE DANCE
Gene Kelly, USA, 1956, 93m
On its fiftieth anniversary, we salute Gene Kelly’s first effort as a solo director-choreographer with three ballets, the third of which – Sinbad the Sailor – featured live action and animation provided by Hanna-Barbera studios. Especially memorable is the duet for snake and Gene. Among the cast are ballet dancers Igor Youskevitch, Tamara Toumanova, Diana Adams, and the fetching jazz dancer Carol Haney.
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