DANCE ON CAMERA FESTIVAL

Symphony Space
Feb. 21 – 24

The city’s premiere Dance on Camera Festival returns. Housed in the upper West Side’s Symphony Space, the 53rd edition of the Festival runs from Feb. 21-24. An eclectic mix of narrative, performance and documentary films pay homage to dance forms developed both here and abroad. Running over the space of 4 days, the festivals will feature 28 films.

The opening night film Resilient Man is Stephane Carrel’s penetrating look at what happens to an elite dancer after a career-threatening injury. Australian ballet dancer Steven McRae stood at the top of the Australian Ballet pyramid until he ruptured his Achilles after dismissing physical clues for months. A family man whose wife gave up her career as a ballerina to raise their family, McRae dives into a grueling physical therapy regimen — never really certain he will ever regain his stature. Intimate photography draws the viewer into McCrae’s physical trauma as well as the psychological echoes of a woman (his wife) who purposefully cut her career short — while still longing to perform. Carrel sensitively captures dance rehearsals and classes, understanding when to keep a full body shot versus a close-up of a body part.

For Flamenco enthusiasts, El baile de la alquimistal/The alchemist’s dance Arantaxa Vela Buendia, an exhilarating documentary on Maria Pages, concentrates on an artist’s passion and devotion to every single aspect of a dance’s existence.

In tribute to Carmen deLavallade, the festival has programmed Lester Horton’s short film, Caribbean Nights originally filmed on March 19, 1953.This historic color footage of The Lester Horton Dancers featuring Carmen de Lavallade and James Truitte has never been seen by the public. It’s a treat to see the young deLavallade and Truitte, his long powerful body and her willowy form moving to the Caribbean infused choreography by Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey’s mentor.

A companion documentary to Caribbean Nights, Linda Atkinson and. Nick Doob’s film Carmen and Geoffrey serves as a valentine to the great partnership between these two famed dancers and artists. Archival footage, performances and interviews of friends and colleagues contribute to the charming frame.

In one of the very finest presentations on the union between Irish and African American dance and music traditions, Susan Wittenberg’s Two Roads traces the 200 year-old story of the intersection between these two cultures and politics. Legendary folklorist and banjo rambler Mick Molony and choreographer and performer Lenwood Sloan serve as the viewers insightful guides. This film deserves to be screened in every classroom in the USA. Thoroughly enjoyable, this mind expanding film is excellently structured and is a “not to be missed” event.

For more information, please visit dancefilms.org.

C. Ipiotis