Dance on Camera Festival

DANCE ON CAMERA FESTIVAL, 2017!
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Marie’s Attitude by Kristi Grunditz

Jessica and Clara returned to the Dance on Camera Festival this year. We were on-site on Saturday, February 4th, interviewing interns, filmmakers, dancers and audience members about a range of films including documentary, narrative and choreography.  Here’s a quick breakdown of the topics you’ll hear covered in this episode, as well as an extended version with information about each segment after the “Read More” tag:

Minute 0-5:40 – Into Sunlight (feature)

5:40-15:54 – Jonah (short)

15:54-39:53 – Marie’s Attitude (feature) and Broken Memories (short)

39:53-54:14 – VR (Virtual Reality) Projects

54:14-End – Shorts Program (various short films) (more…)

WE ARE NOT THE FOCUS: Nel Shelby

CHRISTOPHER_NEL_RETOUCHED-3We were delighted to sit down again with Nel Shelby, dance videographer and entrepreneur, to follow up on our brief conversation from earlier this year at the Dance on Camera Festival. In this episode we delve deeper into Nel’s filmmaking process for PS DANCE!, her highly successful new documentary about dance education in public schools that has spawned a movement to bring dance to every child. (You can find our interviews with PS DANCE! viewers here.) We also learn about Nel’s intuitive, collaborative approach to making documentaries and dance films and about how she built her own company, Nel Shelby Productions, over time. Nel articulates her learnings about drawing out interviewees by being present without becoming the focus and shares a positive, optimistic attitude about the future of dance.

Nel Shelby is the founder of Nel Shelby Productions, a production company based in NYC and focused specifically on preserving and promoting dance through dance videography. (more…)

EVERY DANCER IS MUSICAL: Miro Magloire

Magloire_reh_Gardner_1We sat down with Miro Magloire, choreographer of New Chamber Ballet, to learn how his musical background influences his expressive style of contemporary ballet choreography, what it was like being a piano accompanist for ballet class, and how he selects fascinating contemporary composers for his work, like Karlheinz Stockhausen.  We also had an interesting chat about the definition of musicality and how he uses his dancers to express his unique vision.

You can see his work on April 15th and 16th at City Center Studios (130 W. 56th Street) and also on May 19th at Florence Gould Hall (55 East 59th Street). Learn more about New Chamber Ballet and upcoming shows at  www.newchamberballet.com

DOCF: SHORT FILMS PROGRAM I


Indigo-Grey-Esteban-Robles_3We talked to a few audience members about highlights from a strong roster of creative short films presented in the Shorts Program I at Dance On Camera Festival. We heard a lot about Indigo Grey and enthusiastic commentary about the rest of the roster as well. It was a great way to end our day at Dance on Camera Festival!

The following short films were presented:

A Portrait of Marc Brew, A Tap Dance in a Circle, Abismo, Approaching the Puddle, Honeymoon, Indigo Grey: The Passage, SajakThor, Still Light, Targeted Advertising, Tebe Tasi,

DOCF: SHORTS PROGRAM I – HONEYMOON

HoneyMoonWe spoke to Marta Renzi, choreographer and director of Honeymoon, a hot short film with a surprising twist featuring dancers Carlos Gonzalez and Tina Vasquez. She gave us a sneak peek into her inspiration and process behind the film before we saw it on the big screen. 

DOCF: THE OTHER SIDE OF STILLNESS

alexx_dev_sun2Each year, the Dance on Camera Festival at Lincoln Center screens one Work-in-Progress. through the Dance Film Association‘s Production Grant, Alexandra Shilling’s latest video project The Other Side of Stillness | Installation was selected and screened as a special event on February 13.  Alex talked to Pod de Deux about the process of making the project and what it was like working with DFA to present her work.

 

DOCF: BAJARI

Bajari-1200x600-32Flamenco is one of the world’s few art forms that is believed to be passed down exclusively through bloodlines. For Barcelona’s Gypsy community, it can’t be learned at a school or on paper. It is lived within the home, created at the bar and perfected on the street corner. Bajari, directed by Eva Vila, goes to all those places with the dancer Karime Amaya, who is working with some of the most talented up-and-coming musicians and dancers to create an innovative show, and little 5-year old Juanito Manzano who takes his first steps to earn his white flamenco boots. We talked to Ron Honsa, board member of Dance Films Association about the film. 

DOCF: Ballerina Program 1: “Body and Soul”

LunaAudience members of all ages shared their love for Natalia Makarova after a screening of her self-directed Ballerina Program 1: Body and Soul–the first section of a four part BBC Documentary series. They gushed over her career, partnerships, free spirit, charm, and her lasting influence on ballet.

DOCF: Horizontes & Cubano Bas (paired program)

Cubano BasHorizontes is a documentary featuring dancers from three generations in Cuba, including the famous Alicia Alonso. It screened with the whimsical short film Cubano Bas, made by Kathy Rose with the original composition of Greg Boyer. We spoke to an audience member about Horizontes and to Kathy and Greg about Cubano Bas.

 

DOCF: DFA’s Galen Bremer

Galen_Bremer_Headshot-150x150One thing we learned about Galen Bremer, Associate Director of Dance Films Association, is that he likes to pontificate about dance (his words)! Enjoy a few fun minutes of pontification that we managed to squeeze out of his busy day in between screenings.

DOCF: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts

High school interviewsDid you know that Dance Films Association gives high school students the opportunity to screen their work to the festival via Capturing Motion NYC? Neither did we – until we encountered a bunch of students on site! Here are our interviews with student filmmakers and their film teacher from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. Find Justin Rodriguez’s film, Take 5, and Tillie’s film, This Town, on Vimeo.

DOCF: Patricia Dye

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Patricia Dye is one of the awe-inspiring educators featured in the film PS Dance!. As we learned in this interview, she teaches a wide range of techniques to high school students at Science Skills High School for Science, Technology and the Creative Arts in Brooklyn. You can learn more about Patricia and the other educators in the film at http://psdancenyc.com/dance-educators/.

DOCF: PS Dance!


psdance-1600x900-c-defaultPS Dance! is a New York Emmy nominated documentary about dance education in New York City public schools that has now spawned a movement to expand dance education. We found that audience members felt very strongly about this film, and it was a thrill to get such a rush of enthusiastic feedback – about the film itself as well as the need for dance education.

DOCF: Nel Shelby

PSDance_Panel_byChristopherDugganWe kicked off our day at the Dance on Camera Festival with Nel Shelby, Director and Producer of PS Dance!, a documentary about dance education in New York City public schools that has now spawned a movement to expand dance education. Nel runs a thriving dance video production company, which she founded based on her background in broadcast and dance.

*Remember we were on site using mobile equipment, so the audio quality is less polished than usual – but stay tuned for a studio interview with Nel coming soon!

 

Dance on Camera Festival Interviews

On12741974_1055623527812688_5617432183316382426_n February 13th, Jess and Clara played reporter at the Dance on Camera Festival in New York City, interviewing filmmakers and audience members on the spot. It was a whole new experience after our exclusively in-studio interviews to date, and we had a fantastic time. We were able to capitalize on the excitement of the moment and get great raw feedback about the films that were presented. We weren’t working in our usual soundproof studio environment, so be prepared for background noise; we think it’s kind of fun to feel immersed!

The festival took place at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and was produced by Dance Films Association.

THEY WERE ROAD WARRIORS: Ron Honsa

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In this episode with Ron Honsa, Filmmaker and Executive Director of Moving Pictures, we continue coverage of the Dance on Camera Festival (DOCF), leading up to PDD’s “takeover” on Saturday, February 13th! Ron Honsa’s documentary about Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers, The Men Who Danced, will be honored this year at DOCF, 30 years after its initial release. Jessica sat down with Ron and learned more about his historical and contextual approach to documentary filmmaking, as well as the importance of Jacob’s Pillow, Ted Shawn, Ruth St. Denis, and the Denishawn Dance Company to the development of American modern dance.  Ron also revealed how he learned to film dance through a chance encounter with Alwin Nikolais and shared advice for dance filmmakers. The Men Who Danced will screen on Sunday, 2/14 followed by a moderated discussion with Norton Owen and Ron Honsa. The festival runs February 12th – 16th; tickets are still available here!

DANCE FILMMAKERS HAVE TO MAKE BOLD CHOICES: Brighid Greene

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This episode with Brighid Greene, Programs Director of Dance Films Association (DFA), kicks off PDD’s 2016 partnership with DFA’s annual Dance on Camera Festival (DOCF)! This year, the festival runs February 12th-16th. Get tickets here!

In conversation with Brighid, we learned how DFA selects films for this longstanding festival in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center and how Brighid herself defines dance film. We were encouraged to hear that the dedication and vision of the filmmakers is distinctly important to festival programmers, and we were fascinated by Brighid’s interpretation of dance film as “visual physicality.” We also learned about 2016 festival programming and discussed Brighid’s experience as a performer in Then She Fell, the critically acclaimed immersive dance theater production.

Find Jessica and Clara conducting on-site interviews at DOCF on February 13th!