Archive for the ‘Dance film’ Category

Iconic Moments in Dance History

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Throughout history, dance has always reflected – and influenced – historic events. On Sunday, June 19, three remarkable documentaries show why dance is central to who we are.  “Claude Bessy: Lignes d’une vie (Traces of a Life)” provides an intimate look at the legendary rising star of the Paris Opera Ballet during World War II who went on to become a dance partner of Gene Kelly. In “Never Stand Still,” Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris and others share the remarkable story of how an abandoned Massachusetts farm evolved after the Great Depression into the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and an internationally renowned nexus for dance. In “Sutra,” celebrated choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents a profoundly imagined show inspired by the skill, strength and spirituality of the Buddhist monks of the Shaolin Temple of Henan Province, established 495 AD in China.

A unique Q&A with Director Fabrice Herrault will follow “Claude Bessy: Lignes d’une vie (Traces of a Life)”; Director Ron Honsa and Producer Nan Penman will introduce Never Stand Still in person. Both of these showings are West Coast Premieres.

The screenings will be held at Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theatre from 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m on Sunday, June 19. All festival events are FREE and open to the public. Guaranteed seating through a special DCW Membership Pass is highly recommended.

For complete information, click here

For directions, click here

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Nowness

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

WOW is all we can say about this video from digital artist Matt Pyke, whose chiseled dancers disintegrate (in the extended version of this dance media short) across a 69-feet-wide wall before transforming into bubbles. His is the first major exhibit at Paris’s newly opened La Gaîté Lyrique.  We’re instant fans here at Dance Camera West.

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32 films, 10 countries, 4 days, 0 dollars

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Never Stand Still explores why dance matters to those who make it and those who watch it.

Thirty-two dance media shorts, documentaries and features from ten countries will be screened and a dozen more will be discussed with excerpts shown.  Nations represented include The Netherlands, Armenia, Spain, U.K., Scotland, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the United States.

The four-day festival, which is free to the public, features dance media films and artists unified by the modern task of creating work with a multitude of platforms in mind. The “active spectrum” of opportunity includes handhelds, websites, online social networks, and more.  Seating at all public events is first come, first served; guaranteed seating is through a special DCW Membership Pass is highly recommended.

The festival opens on Thursday, June 16, 2011, with a private reception at the Getty Center for invited guests and DCW Membership Pass holders. Kicking off the festival that evening is “Global Screendance 1,” a collection of nine short dance films, including several U.S. premieres.

A complete list of films and show times is available here ›

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Mike Figgis to speak at 10th Annual DCW Festival

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

Mike FiggisAcademy Award nominated director Mike Figgis will attend the 10th annual Dance Camera West Dance Media Film Festival June 16-19 in Los Angeles, which features the American premiere of his award-winning “The Co(te)lette Film.”

A pre-screening director’s talk with Mr. Figgis on Saturday, June 18, will explore the cinematic adaptation of the dance performance by choreographer Ann Van den Broek.

“As a celebrated photographer as well as director, Mr. Figgis uses the camera to frame forms in an aesthetic and visceral way, as would a choreographer creating work for the stage,” said Lynette Kessler, artistic and executive director of Dance Camera West. “He’s a multi-faceted artist whose passion and depth is authentically communicated across multiple platforms.”

Cotelette

“Co(te)lette” is an intimate piece for three female dancers caught in a vicious circle between desire and fulfillment. The dance is a portrait of women, torn between attractiveness, sensuality, lust, carnality, fame, success, reflection, control and stillness.

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