With International Dance Day just upon us, we have been carefully selecting these months additions to join our What to Watch family. This month’s edition includes a behind the scenes from The Motion Dance Collective, a love story told as dance film courtesy of The Wilder Project, a short film from a research & development project from dance artist Susanna Dye & photographer Manon Ouimet, and finally – two feature lengths in honour of International Dance Day, one from Dior in collaboration with Rome Opera Ballet, and a selection of mini commissions from the Dance Centre. We loved them all – which one is your favourite? #GDWhatToWatch
Under 5 Minutes
1. Vibes - The Motion Dance Collective & Pavilion Dance Digital
This is the first part of a three part series called VIBES – a project by Pavilion Dance South West and The Motion Dance Collective, with Deaf Men Dancing. VIBES is an exploration of what happens when a deaf dancer, Vibrotactile floor and body percussion intersect.
A story in 3 parts, these behind the scenes films show what happened during a 4 day R&D at Pavilion Dance South West in Bournemouth. Enjoy watching the first part of this series – and don’t forget to check out the other two!
With direction and choreography by Omari ‘Motion’ Carter, performed by Hearns Sebuado and Omari ‘Motion’ Carter.
Feature Length
2. Stimming Research & Development - Susanna Dye
This digital installation takes you on a journey of mesmerising and playful movement loops, allowing you to explore how your attention wanders, where it lingers, and what sensations you might feel as you encounter different movement patterns.
The installation was developed in collaboration with photographer Manon Ouimet from a dance research process led by Susanna Dye exploring how leaning in to movement as a self-soothing, and sensory seeking experience might enable them and their collaborators Aby Watson and Danni Spooner, to challenge the norms and cultures that create the access barriers they experience as neurodivergent dance artists.
Their creative process came from asking how we can bring our full selves to the process? What happens when we focus on how movement feels rather than how it looks? -and what happens when we lean in to what feels good?
The short film lets you drop in to the studio with them, and explores how to open up the sensory experiences of their dance processes through language for audio description.
Dance on Screen
3. Angelina - Wilder Project
Angelina is a queer love story that slips into your heart and lingers for a while after, reminding you so sweetly of a love that’s slipped away.
Directed and choreographed by Holly Wilder, performed by dancers Yoshie Fujimoto Kateada & Victoria Daylor.
Enjoy this short dance film, and here is what Curve Magazine had to say about Angelina: “Dance filmmaking force, Wilder Project, has submerged a queer female love story into a stunning naturalistic setting to deliver the heartbreaking new short that is Angelina… The use of McAlpine’s whispered musical delivery, Holly’s raw and narrative choreography, and her brother Duncan’s sweeping cinematography gives the viewer the feeling that they are not just watching a film, but uncovering a memory that has long been buried.”
Dance On Screen
4. International Dance Day 2022: Micro Commissions - The Dance Centre
In celebration of International Dance Day 2022, we are finishing our selection by sharing a few more – all in one film!
This is a program of short dance films specially commissioned by The Dance Centre for International Dance Day:
· AMOK PROJECT’s Chapter 5: time-based dances unfolds notions of time and how we can modify its perception through movement and video. Movement director Carol Mendes | Performers/co-creators: Kylie Miller, Eirini Smith, Lucie Price | Photography Carol Gandra
· Erin Lum: Dancer, writer and filmmaker Erin Lum will premiere a new short film. Performance, choreography Erin Lum, Joanne Park, Juan Imperial | Original music Hayden Pereira
· Sarah U 余衍晴 explores how the glorification of over-stimulation and over-consumption could transform our bodies 300 years from now in Forthcoming. Dancer, choreographer, videographer, editor Sarah U 余衍晴 · Jhoely Triana Flamenco’s Mi Piel is a solo specially adapted for film, focusing on lighting, angles, editing and other film techniques to communicate the essence of flamenco through the camera. Dancer, choreographer, film maker Jhoely Triana
· Kinesis Dance somatheatro’s Aethernet began in response to the isolation of the pandemic. Conceived and choreographed by Paras Terezakis, the film features over 50 participants in a celebration of how we are connected. Concept/choreography Paras Terezakis | Video montage & editing Yasuhiro Okada | Music Zhar by Acid Arab – Versatile Record
Feature Length
5. Nuit Romaine - Dior & Rome Opera Ballet
To celebrate International Dance Day, “Nuit Romaine,” directed by Angelin Preljocaj and set in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, follows the story of the goddess of the night, Nox, who comes to the Palazzo Farnese, bringing darkness and mystery into this place of power. Mesmerizing costumes by Maria Grazia Chiuri extend the movements of the dancers, with the site’s sculptures seemingly coming to life to interpret stories of love and passion.
