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Dance Films Association celebrates
its 10th year of collaboration with its partner,
the Film Society of Lincoln Center, with a diverse
selection of documentaries and dance films from around
the world at the Walter Reade Theater. The annual
festival is made possible through the generous support
of the Howard Gilman Foundation, the National Endowment
for the Arts, Capezio-Ballet Makers Foundation and
Lifestyle Media. Fourteen programs will feature some
New York premieres, retrospectives, as well as several
special events. Programmed and organized by Deirdre
Towers (DFA) and Joanna Ney (FSLC). Grateful thanks
to the John Cocchi Collection and Patrick Bensard
at the Cinemathèque de la danse at the Cinemathèque
FranÁaise for assistance with the Vincent Paterson
program.
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In their 1930’s heyday the five
women, who are the heart of this inspiring film,
were tap dancing showgirls who appeared in the hottest
clubs in New York with legendary band leaders like
Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. These days, aged
84-96, they perform regularly to standing ovations
at venues from the Apollo to Carnegie Hall. They
may get pacemakers and break their bones, but they
heal and keep on dancing. Director MacDonald deftly
weaves their individual stories into a collective
tapestry that is rich in anecdotal incident and cultural
meaning. Marion Coles, Fay Ray, Cleo Hayes and Elaine
Ellis, along with the filmmaker, will appear at the
screenings and participate in the Q&As.
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Wed
Jan 4: 6:15 (Intro/
Q&A)
Sat
Jan 14: 3:30 (Intro/Q&A)
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First-time director Ramanathan
creates an exciting narrative set in southern India
and depicting the life of a temple dancer, or devadasi.
The devadasis lived in the Thanjavur district in
the 20s and occupied a privileged position under
the protection of the state. The film tells the story
of one of these girls, caught in a conflict between
her role as mistress to a wealthy landlord and her
passion for her dance. An engrossing tale of love
and liberation, Sringaram features wonderful ethnic
dance and original music played by some of India’s
leading classical musicians. Ms. Ramanathan and her
cinematographer will introduce the screenings.
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Wed
Jan 4: 8:30 (Intro by filmmakers)
Thurs
Jan 5: 1 (Intro by filmmakers)
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A graphic feat, a mysterious puzzle
that reveals itself fully only in the last moments.
Traces of movement, choreographed by Garry Stewart
of the Australian Dance Theatre, appear as blips
in transmission or digital “vibrations.”
Previously shown on PBS in a 60m version, this 90m portrait of one of the most beloved and significant figures in contemporary arts is an opportunity to enjoy the expanded profile of the choreographer who pioneered new concepts of movement, computer technology and dance, and created pieces that have inspired peers, fascinated critics and astounded the public for over fifty years. Charles Atlas includes archival footage along with the new, and he knows how to keep your eye and ear focused and concentrated without strain, an experience that reflects the structure of the Cunninghamís creative approach as well. Charles Atlas will introduce the Friday evening screening.
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Thurs Jan 5: 3:30
Fri Jan 6: 6:15
(Intro by Charles Atlas) |
A taciturn Pina Bausch smiles, nods, and takes notes for the marvelous dancers of her Wuppertal Dance Theatre, seen rehearsing and performing in Istanbul. Enigmatic as always, the choreographer nevertheless offers a privileged glimpse of herself at work.
Two veterans of wordless theater productions, Ria Marks and Titus Tiel Groenestege, offer a duet by turns absurd, outrageous and poignant, exploring an embattled yet bizarrely enduring relationship in ways that recall Buster Keaton and Samuel Beckett simultaneously.
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Thurs Jan 5: 6:15
Fri Jan 6: 1
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This is an engrossing portrait of promising young Paris-based choreographer and dancer Faustin Linyekula. The film traces his roots in the Congo as well as his evolution as a modern dancer in France. His dance theater work gives us a window on the ways he explores his African heritage and uses his modern dance training to create a meaningful dramatic narrative
A waiting room in a train station is momentarily transformed into a frenetic free-for-all for a motley cast of characters before order is restored.
Conceived, choreographed and directed by the audacious Vandekeybus, this is a dazzling voyage that shifts from the intensely beautiful landscapes and seascapes of Corsica to the slummiest areas of Brussels. Based on a performance of the eponymous Ultima Vez to a rock score by David Eugene Edwards, Blush is a primal experience in which discomfort becomes desire and confrontation and attraction merge.
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Thurs
Jan 5: 8:30
Fri Jan 13: 3:30
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This valentine to a very special
figure in the ballet world was produced by Michael
M. Smith, the son of the subject. On the occasion
of the 25th anniversary of “Népo’s” death,
this film brings together a group of his friends,
including ballerinas Yvette ChauvirÈ, Violette Verdi
and choreographers Janine Charrat and Pierre Lacotte,
for a celebratory dinner and some delightful recollections
of the charismatic costume and set designer on whom
ChauvirÈ relied professionally for more than fifteen
years. Archival photos and excerpts round out the
portrait. Producer Michael M. Smith will introduce
the film at both screenings.
Homer Avila, an extraordinary dancer who lost a leg to cancer, is the subject of this moving documentary that features the creation of a duet by San Francisco-based choreographer Alonzo King. Watching Avila collaborate with the affable but demanding King is to see the magic that can take place when heart and will are joined to make the impossible happen.
A deeply personal film about a
Quebecois choreographer who originally stated that
he didn’t like to dance and referred to himself as
a painter. Yet he managed to leave behind a theatrical
dance legacy that is uniquely his. Perreaultís vision
of a group of faceless average “Joes,” boot-clad
and black-hatted, moving as a block of humanity through
inhospitable space, made a profound impression on
audiences.
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Fri Jan 6: 3:30 (Intro by producer)
Sat Jan 7: 8:30 (Intro by producer)
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Michael Clark has been described
as “British dance’s true iconoclast” and
his work as both “raw” and “refined.” That
description could also apply to Charlie Atlas and
his work as a video and filmmaker. The two artists
collaborated on this punk odyssey filmed in the streets
of London, at clubs, parties and in Clark’s loft.
Clark was trained in Scottish dance and at London’s
Royal Ballet, then strayed into the punk world only
to re-emerge with a triumphant stage comeback this
year. A delicious slice of 80s history. Director
Charles Atlas will introduce.
Charles Atlas captures a Merce Cunningham work with a steady wide shot on his dancers and a subtle touch of hi-tech magic for spice.
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Fri
Jan 6: 8:45 IIntro by Charles Atlas)
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This BBC4 documentary captures
an evening of choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton
celebrating his 100th birthday. Featuring the Royal
Ballet Company and many star attractions — Darcey
Bussell, Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta, among them.
The film also includes priceless archival footage
of rehearsals, interviews with former Royal Ballet
stars, and biographical insights into an extraordinary
artist. Dance performance highlights include “Brahms
Waltzes in the style of Isadora” and “Daphnis
and Chloe.”
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Sat
Jan 7: 1
Tue
Jan 10 :
3:30
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Across the country every fall, ballet companies rehearse
the seasonís favorite, “The Nutcracker.” Director
Virginia Brooks and producer Delia Peters give us
an unprecedented inside look at the School of American
Ballet’s children in the 2003 production of George
Balanchineís “The Nutcracker” with rehearsals,
archival footage, and interviews with former Maries.
Director Brooks will introduce.
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Sat
Jan 7: 4 (Intro by director)
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Roland Barthes called striptease “particles of eroticism”
and said that it “transplanted the body into legend
and romance.” This certainly holds true for some of
the strippers on view — the movie stars who took it
off, ever so discreetly, for the cameras. But what
about the real strippers? The ones whose profession
was to tease and tantalize, who created acts that took
advantage of their talents and became, if not household
names like Marilyn and Rita, at least marquee names
like Sally Rand and Lili St. Cyr. One burlesque star
took virtually nothing off and still managed to become
a superstar in her day. With a name like Gypsy Rose
Lee, how could you miss? The way striptease, through
a series of virtuoso performers, became an American
folk art and found its way into the movies is part
of the story of this pocket guide to an American pastime.
Moderated by Rachel Shteir, author of Striptease: The
Untold History of the Girlie Show, with film clips
selected by Joanna Ney, the evening will raise the
questions: Is striptease dance? Extreme self-invention
before Madonna? Or just a kind of seduction that allows
for interpretation, creating, as Anne Hollander wrote,
a ìvisual self-regardî? Stay tunedÖand toned!
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Sat
Jan 7: 6:15
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A tantalizing tease of a short with all the suspense of a thriller, shot in an indoor pool.
The Danish dancer Nikolaj Hübbe
teams again with fellow Dane Ulrik Wivel to bring
fresh insights to the mime and dramatic significance
of “La Sylphide.” Director Wivel will introduce.
On the occasion of the 300th anniversary
of St. Petersburg, the birthplace of George Balanchine,
NYC Ballet was invited to participate in the “White
Nights Festival.” This was a chance for the
Russians to see Balanchine repertory danced by the
company he founded and which had not visited since
1972. The film, shot by one of Hollywood’s
expert cinematographers, Dick Pope, features Peter
Martins, Valery Gergiev and many principals, soloists
and corps members, among them Darci Kistler, Wendy
Whelan, Jack Soto, Benjamin Millepied and former
NYC ballet principal Alexandra Ánsanelli. Moments
of excitement mingle with crises and triumphs as
the company tests itself before one of the worldís
most discriminating audiences. Producer Christopher
Ramsey will introduce.
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Tue Jan 10: 1 (Intro by director Ulrik Wivel and producer Christopher Ramsey)
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An ancient Chinese fairy tale, this ballet depicts a love story choreographed by Huang Dou Dou for himself and Ding Yue-Hong to a Chinese violin concerto composed by He Zhan-Hao and Chen Gang. The film features violinist Takako Nishizaki and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Picturesque in its conception, this film blends traditional Chinese ballet with contemporary dance and is the result of a truly multicultural collaboration.
Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair at 80 stands tall as the most venerated Kathakali actor of today. Kerala in southwest India, where his story takes place is, probably the most progressive and artistically advanced in all of India. Born to a poor family, Ramankutty Nair was chosen for training by the venerated guru,Pattikkanthodi Ravunni Menon, as well as by the Indian poet Vallathol. To see the rigorous training process, the elaborate preparations of makeup and costume, followed by the exquisitely filmed after-dark performances of the repertory, with their specific gestures and meanings, is to get a unique personal perspective on a whole other world.
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Fri Jan 13: 1
Sat Jan 14: 1
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Vincent Paterson is that special artist who crosses
all boundaries, refusing to be typecast. As a director
and choreographer he has had an impressive career:
choreography for film includes Mike Nichols’s The
Birdcage and Closer,
Alan Parker’s Evita, and most significantly,
Lars von Trier’s controversial Dancer
in the Dark. Paterson
has directed and continues to direct and choreograph
operas, along with musicals, such as Hal Prince’s production
of Kiss of the Spider Woman for which he won
a Tony nomination, and Peter Hall’s Lenny at
London’s West End. His collaborations with Michael
Jackson and Madonna are examples of his talent for
creating visually exciting forms of dance for the camera.
This will be an evening of investigation and discussion
of his work. You will see commercials, film work, and
rare music videos and have an opportunity to meet an
artist whom the Smithsonian publication Masters of
Movement has selected as one of America’s outstanding
choreographers.
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Fri
Jan 13 :
6:15
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Dancer/choreographer Rousseve explores the relationships of three women of color to their husbands, lovers, and to one another in this alternately lyrical and violent look at race and gender politics.
In this winner of VideoDansa competition 2004, a lean, exhausted dancer/choreographer Olga Sasplugas struggles beneath a pool of light. Is she trapped or attempting to escape? Or caught in an endless loop between the two?
Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant’s
Style Wars, released in 1984, tackled the art and
culture of graffiti. Now they return with a fresh
look at a subject close to their hearts. Chalfant
and Silver will introduce an excerpt from their new
film.
A more recent generation know
it as the place where, out of the ashes, hip hop
and break dancing were born. An older generation
remembers when this turf produced salsa. We are in
the South Bronx and the speakers are not camera shy.
In fact, you would be hard-put to find a more gregarious
bunch of folks who chronicle the rise and fall and
rise of a vibrant neighborhood and its generations
of survivors who can testify to the neighborhood’s
power to revitalize itself through music and dance
and to take the world’s pop culture by storm. Henry
Chalfant will introduce.
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Fri Jan 13: 8:30 (Intro by Henry Chalfant)
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