In the port city of Buenaventura, Columbia, a young man and his friends struggle to escape their poverty. Their weapon in this war is dance. In We Are the Heat, Harvey and his crew battle corruption, drug traffickers, and other dance crews as they try to find not just a new life, but redemption from… [Read More]
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms – A New Take on an Old Tale
The Nutcracker has become an established holiday tradition. Most of us know it as the ballet and its Tchaikovsky music and now, Disney is bringing forth a new incarnation of the story in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. The credits say the film is “suggested by the short story ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse… [Read More]
Bobbi Jene – Pushing Boundaries
After ten years as part of the Batsheva Dance Company in Israel, Bobbi Jene Smith is returning to the U.S. to create her own avant garde works. Elvira Lind’s documentary Bobbi Jene chronicles her two year journey, her work, and the personal struggles it entails. The film opens with Bobbi Jene telling her mentor Ohed… [Read More]
Polina: Failed Dreams
For me, dance movies are very similar to sports movies. The protagonist works hard to reach the goal of recognition and success. They must overcome obstacles, but they grow through the process. Polina is not quite that kind of film.
Leap! – Why Do You Dance (or Whatever)?
Leap! is a story of dreams and heart, of overcoming failure, of finding the answers to the questions that matter most. It’s not unlike any number of films, yet sometimes hearing a familiar story in a new setting can bring us joy.
Kiki – Community for the Marginalized
In New York City, young LGBT people of color may take part in the Kiki scene. This has been chronicled by Sara Jordenö in her Spirit Award nominated (for “Truer than Fiction”) documentary Kiki.
High Strung – Can music and dance bring happiness?
In High Strung a group of young musicians and dancers strut their stuff in a fairly predictable and formulaic story about finding fulfillment in their art—and finding love along the way.
