Dance On Camera Festival
January 3-7, 12-13, 2007
15 programs at The Walter Reade Theatre, Lincoln Center Plaza
165 West 65th Street, Plaza Level
Return to schedule at a glance

Program 1: RAPT, JOSÉPHINE BAKER, BONE
(1/3, 6pm; repeat 1/12, 1pm)

RAPT
Sara Joel and Jody Oberfelder, USA, 2006, 6m
Cinematography: Lesley Avery Gould. A very pregnant woman rolls into the water and into the world of her unborn child. Introduced the directors

JOSÉPHINE BAKER - BLACK DIVA IN A WHITE MAN'S WORLD **JURY FINALIST
Annette von Wangenheim, Germany, 2006, 45m
This production of WDR Cologne features Joséphine Baker, one of the most popular artists of the 20th century. Her legendary banana belt dance created theater history; her song "J'ai deux amours" became her hymn. She was the queen of the Charleston during the Roaring Twenties, Diva of the Folies-Bergère, and the darling of the Casino de Paris. Baker was 19 years old when she arrived in Paris in 1925 with "La Revue Nègre." 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 clichés and presents her as an activist of the Black Consciousness movement. Pioneers of black dance, such as Geoffrey Holder, Arthur Mitchell, Carmen de Lavallade introduced the first program. Maurice Hines introduced the January 12th program.

BONE **JURY FINALIST
Mila Aung-Thwin, Canada, 2005, 48m
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. Introduced by the Director

Program 2 - SERGE LIFAR MUSAGETE
(1/3, 8:30pm; repeat on 1/4, 1pm)

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 Chauviré, Nina Vyroubova, Jean Babilée, Isabelle Guerin, Monique Loudieres, Manuel Legris, Janine Charrat, Marcia Haydée, and the dancers of Paris National Opera. Introduced by the Director

Program 3 - ONE FLAT THING, REPRODUCED, BIPED
(1/4. 3:30pm, repeat 1/12, 8:30pm)

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, acclaimed for his screen adaptations of works by Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker, brings us insights into his 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 penetrates 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. Introduced by Charlie Atlas and Paul Kaiser on 1/12

Program 4 - EZEIZA, BAREHANDED, BABEL, OPIUM
(1/4,6pm; repeat 1/6, 8:30pm)

EZEIZA
Andrea Servera, Argentina, 2005, 27m
This magical film that 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 can 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 Fundación Teatro del Sur/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. For more info. on the director www.arteamundo.com

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 Michèle Noiret's choreography. With light and shadow as her partners, Michèle approaches, confronts, and captures the world created by her dance. Introduced by Director

BABEL
Peter Sparling, USA, 2005, 7:22m
A former member of Martha Graham Dance Company returns 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. Introduced by director on Saturday

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. Introduced by the co-directors

Program 5 - LUCINDA CHILDS, CARTES POSTALES
(1/4, 8:00; repeat 1/6, 3:30pm)

LUCINDA CHILDS **JURY FINALIST ........See clip
Patrick Bensard, France, 2006, 56m
Lucinda Childs' work dates back to the sixties, the period in which New York’s “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 PRODUCTIONS To be introduced by the director and dancer www.lieurac.com

CARTES POSTALES
Richard Copans, France, 2005, 26min
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?

Program 6 – WILL TIME TELL?, CAMBODIAN STORIES, SEASONS OF MIGRATION (1/5,1pm; repeat 1/6, 1pm)

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 if the Reyum Art Institute Daravuth Ly.

SEASONS OF MIGRATION
John Bishop, USA, 2006, 56.08m
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. Introduced by the director & producer www.khmerartsacademy.org

Program 7 - TERPSICHORE'S CAPTIVES I & II, CAUGHT IN PAINT
(1/5, 3:30pm; repeat 1/7, 1pm)

CAUGHT IN PAINT **JURY FINALIST
Rita Blitt, USA, 2003, 6m
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, 52m
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 folllow-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. To be introduced by Alla Kovgan (1/7).

Program 8 - THE COLOR OF POMEGRANATES
(1/5, 6pm; 1/8, 8:30pm)

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. For more extensive reviews, please see www.amazon.com/

Program 9 - Minotaur-Ex, Movement (R)evolution Africa, Chimeras
(1/5, 8:30pm)

MINOTAUR-EX **JURY FINALIST
Bruno Aveillan, France, 2001, 9m
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. Introduced by dancer Natalia Aveillan for more information, see cie-cavecanem.com/

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. See website for more info. www.rhodopsin.ca To be introduced by the director and choreographer

MOVEMENT (R)EVOLUTION AFRICA (A story of an art form In four acts) **JURY FINALIST
Joan Frosch & Alla Kovgan, USA, 65m
In an astonishing exposition of choreographic formentation, 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 Téria (Burkina Faso), Company Rary
(Madagascar), Sello Pesa (South Africa), Company TchéTché (Côte 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)

Program 10 - BREAK, TEATIME, DANCING FIGURE (Táncalak)
(1/6, 6pm)

BREAK **JURY WINNER
Shona McCullagh, New Zealand, 2006, 14m
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 the Arts Council England and Dance Bristol. Performed by Dan Canham, Tiago Bambogi, Laura Dannequin with sound design by Jonny Crew.

DANCING FIGURE (Táncalak) ....See Quicktime Clip
Ferenc Grunwalsky, Hungary, 2003, 70m
An extraordinary symbiosis of the modern dance of Andrea Ladányi, the music of György Kurtág, and the vision of director Ferenc Grunwalsky, who has been a long time collaborator with Miklós Jancsó, 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.

Program 11 - American Cinedance Pioneers -
MOVING BODIES AFTER MAYA DEREN (1/7, 4:00pm)

In the 1960s a new form of dance film emerged in the US—one that made free use of editing, camera movement, and the manipulation of time. With a readiness to fracture images of bodies and their movement through space, these films violated all of the previous rules of filming dance. They expanded the earlier innovations of Maya Deren and outlined a whole new genre where cinema shaped dance--not the contrary. In these works the context could be changed, dancers moved off the stage, out into the larger world. In this program, for example, are films where Pooh Kaye dances on air and with a shadow; where Kenneth Anger projects his performer into a garden of fountains; where Bruce Conner’s dancer is seen in forward and reverse; where Ed Emshwiller’s three dancers “swim through” each other; where Amy Greenfield uses hundreds of edits and overlapping images to enter the mind of a dancer; where Hilary Harris transforms a single movement phrase into nine configurations—all as ways to enlarge the realm of movement and imagination.

While this is a film-maker’s medium, this is not to say that it is not a dancer’s world. Carolyn Carlson, who is in Film With Three Dancers, says that Ed Emshwiller “allowed us to create with him …. It was a real joy to be in action before his camera eye. Intuitively I knew what he was filming and what he wanted, it was …. the freedom to be who you were within his direction.” Introduced by the curator Robert Haller with a panel discussion following the screening with filmmaker Pooh Kaye, Amy Greenfield, and scholar Catherine Romano

Kenneth Anger: EAUX D'ARTIFICE (1953) 13m
Bruce Conner: BREAKAWAY (1966) 5m
Maya Deren: MEDITATION ON VIOLENCE (1948) 13m*
Ed Emshwiller: THANATOPSIS (1962) 5 minutes*, Film With Three Dancers (1970) 20m
Amy Greenfield: TRANSPORT(1971) 6 minutes*, DARK SEQUINS (2005) 12m
Walter Gutman: MAN WALKING DOWN THE SIDE OF A BUILDING (1981) 8m
Hilary Harris: NINE VARIATIONS ON A DANCE THEME (1967) 13m*
Pooh Kaye: WILD GIRL; WAKE UP CALL (1988) 7m
Norman McLaren: PAS DE DEUX (1968) 14m
James Davis: DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION
* Archivally preserved by Anthology Film Archive

Program 12 - GEORGIANS IN MARYINSKI, ALBERTO & CARMEN
(1/7, 7pm; Repeat 1/12, 6:15PM)

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. Introduced by director

ALBERTO & CARMEN
Ani Collier/Katia Karadjova, USA/Bulgaria, 2006, 30min.
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 as performed as Alessandra Ferri, Alicia Alonso, and others. To be introduced by the director, and choreographer

Program 13 - FALLING, BAHUDHA, INVITATION TO DANCE, BODY & TABOO
(Friday, 1/12, 3:30pm)

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. Introduced by directors

BAHUDHA **JURY FINALIST .....See Clip
Ranan, India, 2006, 12m
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. Introduced by the director

Program 14 - DIDO AND AENEAS with choreographer Mark Morris
(1/13, 2pm)

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. Introduced by the director and choreographer in a discussion led by writer Joan Acocella.

Program 15 - INVITATION TO THE DANCE - recommended for families!
(1/13, 4pm)

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. Introduced by critic Anna Kisselgoff