Films.Dance, International Free Film Series Featuring Artists from More Than 25 Countries Concludes 15-Week Run with Final Three Original Films
I love watching talented people dance and am excited to celebrate International Dance Day on April 29th with the global film series Films.Dance produced by LA-based Jacob Jonas of The Company. Under his direction, 15 original dance films have streamed to audiences across the world with over 1 million views on digital platforms. The series began on January 25th and concludes with the final film on May 3rd.
TORN, April 19
Featuring Conal Finn Francis-Martin, Robert Robinson, Jamal Uhlmann
PLUME, April 26
Featuring 21 Acrobats with Music Performed by Violinist Hilary Hahn
WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH, May 3
Featuring Jacob Jonas The Company
The films will premiere at 9 a.m. PST on the Web at Films.Dance, on Instagram on the @films.danceaccount, and the Films.Dance Facebook page. Films.Dance is co-presented by the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Chicago’s Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater.
About TORN, April 19, 2021
In this visual exploration of the expectations of manhood, three men fight for dominance while exposing the internal fight and dialogue with the self, embodied by the three protagonists. While each of them fights for dominance, they simultaneously expose their weaknesses, tearing each other down, lifting each other up and struggling to find support in moments of fading strength. Berlin-based director Torben Loth captures the original choreography of London-based Waddah Sinada, founder of FUBUNATION. The work is performed by Conal Finn Francis-Martin, Robert Robinson and Jamal Uhlmann, all dancers with State Ballet Hanover, and features an original sound design by Peter Duffy, original score by Pete Fraser and wardrobe by Chinese-born, London-based designer Feng Chen Wang.
About PLUME, April 26, 2021
21 acrobats from around the world, from Australia to the United States to Russia, performed and filmed their unique movement styles which were then layered with animation to create PLUME. Despite clipped wings, the artists in Plume perform in full flight underscored by the brilliant music played by noted violinist Hillary Hahn. Co-directed by Francisco Cruz and Beren D’Amico, the film features an original score by Gaelynn Lea, an American folk singer, violinist, public speaker and disability advocate, with arrangement by Steve Hackman.
About WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH, May 3, 2021
Los Angeles-based Jacob Jonas virtually co-directs with Ireland-based Kevin McGloughlin, intersecting dance and visual design. Performed by Jacob Jonas The Company’s Emma Rosenzweig-Bock, WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH features original music by Max Cooper, working at the intersection between electronic music, visual art, technology and science, the vocals of Hindustani Classical trained Samad Khan, and the cinematography of Shaun Boyte.
About Films.Dance
One of the most ambitious international dance film projects ever undertaken, Films.Dance engages more than 150 artists from 52 cities in 25 countries, culminating in 15 short films that have been shot during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Films.Dance is being made available to the public at no charge. Two of Los Angeles’ foremost cultural organizations—the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts—have teamed up with Chicago’s Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater to present Films.Dance.
Through non-traditional collaborations across cultures and continents, and led by the vision of Jacob Jonas, the series connects the perspectives of diverse artists from a range of disciplines, dance genres, abilities, and experiences. Filmed in locations ranging from Amsterdam, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, and London, to Los Angeles, New York, Nigeria, and Spain—Films.Dance exists at the intersection of dance, music, fashion, and film.
The films will premiere for free at 9 a.m. PST on the Web at Films.Dance, on Instagram on the @films.dance account, and the Films.Dance Facebook page. A series of weekly conversations and engagement events is in development and will allow for deeper exploration of the series themes, creative process, and perspectives of collaborating artists.
The initiative is presented in partnership with Somewhere Magazine, and co-presented by the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, and Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts/CSUN.
The full listing of films and trailer are available here.
Photos are available here.
About the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance (The Harris)
Opened in November 2003 in Millennium Park, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater was the first multi-use performance venue built in downtown Chicago since 1929. As Chicago’s home for music and dance, the Harris features the most diverse arts and culture offerings of any venue in the city, and is a distinctive model for artistic quality, collaboration, and making the performing arts relevant and accessible to the widest possible audience.
About the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis)
The Wallis is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international artists share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. The campus, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is committed to robust and distinctive presentations and education programs curated with both creativity and social impact in mind. Distinguished by its eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its location in the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis has produced and presented more than 300 dance, theater, opera, classical music, cinema and family programs since its doors opened in October 2013.
About the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2021, The Soraya has quickly become one of the cultural jewels of greater Los Angeles. Under the leadership of Executive Director Thor Steingraber, The Soraya continues to expand its programming and outstanding multidisciplinary performances both onstage and online. The mission of The Soraya is to present a wide variety of performances that not only includes new and original work from the Los Angeles region but also work from around the world that appeal to all of LA’s rich and diverse communities.
| Films.Dance January 25 – May 3, 2021 Films.Dance January 25, 2021 KADUNA Self-taught dancers and brothers Victory and Marvel Ebinum explore familial bonds against the landscape of their native Nigeria. With original choreography by New York City-based Vinson Fraley, a member of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Kaduna features an original score by Los Angeles-based composer Anibal Sandoval, and is co-directed by Ridwan Adeniyi, member of the Nigeria-based Critics Company, and Jacob Jonas. Directors: Ridwan Adeniyi + Jacob Jonas Choreographer: Vinson Fraley Featuring: Ebinum Brothers Composer: Anibal Sandoval Women Singing: Gbagyii Tribe Cinematographer: Raymond Yusuff Wardrobe: Khadijah Yunusa Produced By: Jacob Jonas The Company February 1, 2021 TOKE Set in the urban metropolis of London, Toke is an intimate portrait of Danish-born dancer Toke Broni Strandby. An inspiring story about triumph, Toke is a celebration of the beautiful resilience of the human spirit. London-based award-winning filmmaker NONO and cinematographer Eira Wyn Jones captured Toke’s unique story, set to an original score by Paulo Gallo and with an original costume by Japanese designer Kazuya Kojima. Director: NONO Choreographer: Stuart Shugg Featuring: Toke Broni Strandby Composer: Paulo Gallo Cinematographer: Eira Wyn Jones Costume Designed By: Kazuya Kojima Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company February 8, 2021 PÁSSARO DISTANTE When the pandemic hit, dancers Luís Fernando, Jovani Furlan, Luanna Gondim and Maitê Nunes reunited in their hometown of Joinville, Brazil and dance together as a shadow of one another, in a familiar yet alien place that allows for contemplative self-examination. Directed by Gabriela Mo and with cinematography by Larissa Zaidan, Pássaro Distante features original choreography by Cassi Abranches, choreographer for São Paolo Companhia de Dança and Grupo Corpo, and original music from Andrei Martinez Kozyreff, Ju Strassacapa and Malu Magri, members of Latin Grammy-nominated group, Francisco, El Hombre Director: Gabriela Mo Choreographer: Cassi Abranches Featuring: Luís Fernando, Jovani Furlan, Luanna Gondim, Maitê Nunes Music Production: Ju Strassacapa + Malu Magri Composer: Andrei Martinez Kozyreff Cinematographer: Larissa Zaidan Stylist: Bru Fernandes Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company February 15, 2021 MATCH Five choreographers, 46 dancers, 20 countries—Match is dance not bound by theater walls or limited by international borders. Dancers from the world’s leading companies join together in Match; with original choreography by Emily Kikta (New York City Ballet), Jamar Roberts (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Oliver Starpov (Royal Danish Ballet), Peter Walker (New York City Ballet) and Xin Ying (Martha Graham Dance Company). Directors & Editors: Peter Walker & Emily Kikta Choreographers: Emily Kikta, Jamar Roberts, Oliver Starpov, Peter Walker, Xin Ying Composer: Jay Wadley Featuring: Rocio Agüero, Marcel Anselmé, Edson Barbosa, Rishan Benjamin, Nardia Boodoo, Renan Cerdeiro, Adji Cissoko, Monike Cristina, Christopher D’Ariano, Patricia Delgado, Michaela DePrince, Naoya Ebe, Kiara Felder, Ruan Galdino, Angelica Generosa, James Gilmer, Stanley Glover, Alejandro Gonzalez, Dara Holmes, Michael Jackson Jr., Drew Jacoby, Emily Kikta, Lloyd Knight, Joseph Kudra, Christopher Kunzelmann, Chun-Wing Lam, Allister Madin, Oliver Marcus Starpov, Heather Ogden, Nancy Osbaldeston, Jamar Roberts, Robert Robinson, Emma Rosenzweig-Bock, Kanika Skye Carr, Gabrielle Sprauve, Eleftheria Stamou, Addie Tapp, Mike Tyus, Jon Vallejo, Tess Voelker, Peter Walker, Jill Wilson, Xin Ying, Patricia Zhou Produced By: Jacob Jonas The Company February 22, 2021 EDGING NORMAL Desmond Richardson, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, dances a new work choreographed by Jacob Jonas. Edging Normal is a metaphorical tale of a man’s struggle to shed his past in order to feel completely free. Directed by Andre Bato, Edging Normal features music co-composed by visionary Steve Hackman and jazz icon Dave Koz, a nine-time Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist. Director: Andre Bato Choreographer: Jacob Jonas Featuring: Desmond Richardson Composer: Dave Koz & Steve Hackman Cinematographer: Arseni Khachaturan Stylist: Tracey Nicholson Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company March 1, 2021 正念 – NOW Shanghai-based director Robin Mahieux focuses the lens on a young woman, Li Kehua (Lico), dancer with BeijingDance/LDTX company, as she awakens to the fullness of the present moment,. Choreographed by Gypsy Snider, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The 7 Fingers, and set to. original music from Rosie Lowe, singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in London, 正念 – NOW steps into now, forsaking the past and mindfully moving into the future. Director: Robin Mahieux Choreographer: Gypsy Snider Featuring: Li Kehua (Lico) Composer: Rosie Lowe Cinematographer: Marcus Tang Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company March 8, 2021 DADU Captured on Super 16 mm film and utilizing natural light, four dancers explore abstraction through the framing of movement set against the terrain of the Dutch hamlet of Spaarnwoude. Ian Robinson, former dancer with Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, directs Kele Roberson, Annika Verplancke, Jesse Callaert and Mikaela Kelly, members of Nederlands Dans Theater, with cinematography by Amsterdam-based Sam du Pon and music composed by Awir Leon, singer songwriter, producer and former dancer with Emanuel Gat Dance. Director: Ian Robinson Choreography in collaboration with dancers Featuring: Jesse Callaert, Mikaela Kelly, Kele Roberson, Annika Verplancke Composer: Awir Leon Cinematographer: Sam du Pon Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company March 15, 2021 ANOTHER SERIOUS DANCE FILM New York City Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns performs tongue-in-cheek choreography by Andrea Miller, founder of GALLIM, at the East River Park Amphitheater in a witty short film directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, directors of the current Netflix film Project Power, to an original score from five-time Grammy Award-winning composer Antonio Sánchez. Directors: Ariel Schulman + Henry Joost Choreographer: Andrea Miller Featuring: Sara Mearns Composer: Antonio Sánchez Cinematographer: Paul Daley Wardrobe: Prada Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company March 22, 2021 SAME SKY Directed by Grammy-nominated director Andy Hines, Same Sky explores the world in front of us, the differences amongst ourselves, and a likeness we see in others. With music composed by Steve Hackman, Same Sky features the original choreography of Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit, a German break-dancer living in Los Angeles, and is performed by Jacob Jonas The Company members Joy Isabella Brown, Miguel Alejandro López, Mike Tyus and Jill Wilson. Director: Andy Hines Choreographer: Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit Featuring: Joy Isabella Brown, Miguel Alejandro López, Mike Tyus, Jill Wilson Composed by: Steve Hackman Cinematographer: Frank Mobilio Wardrobe: OAMC Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company March 29, 2021 SIT STILL Alone in a vacant school, Montreal-based filmmaker Vincent René-Lortie directs seven-year-old Adeline Kerry Cruz on an intimate and exhaustive journey of self-expression. With choreography by Russell “Gutta” Ferguson, she navigates her emotions through the free and expressive street dance style Krump and to the original score by Brady Kendall of Alaskan Tapes. Director: Vincent René-Lortie Choreographer: Russell “Gutta” Ferguson Featuring: Adeline Kerry Cruz Composer: Brady Kendall Cinematographer: Alexandre Nour Wardrobe: Geneviéve Boiteau Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company April 5, 2021 GALOPE New York City ballet principal dancer Gonzalo Garcia’s energy is like a hundred thousand horses as he delves inside the earth, inside himself. Directed by Barcelona-based Nur Casadevall, it features original music from Alex Somers, composer for films including Captain Fantastic (2016), Honey Boy (2019) and Miss Americana (2020). Director: Nur Casadevall Featuring: Gonzalo Garcia Composer: Alex Somers Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company April 12, 2021 XENO Xeno is the smallest measurable unit of human connection, typically exchanged between passing strangers—a flirtatious glance, a sympathetic nod, moments that are fleeting and random but still contain powerful emotional nutrients that can alleviate the symptoms of feeling alone. Mexico City-based choreographer and founder of contemporary dance company Nohbords, Diego Mur created an original work on Montreal-based circus-artists Natasha Patterson and Sabine van Rensburg. Xeno is directed by Amy J. Gardner, with cinematography by Kristof Brandl and original music by Berlin-based Alice Phoebe Lou and Thor Rixon. Director: Amy J. Gardner Choreographer: Diego Mur (Nohbords) Featuring: Natasha Patterson + Sabine Van Rensburg Composer: Alice Phoebe Lou + Thor Rixon Cinematographer: Kristof Brandl Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company April 19, 2021 TORN In this visual exploration of the expectations of manhood, three men fight for dominance while exposing the internal fight and dialogue with the self, embodied by the three protagonists. While each of them fights for dominance, they simultaneously expose their weaknesses, tearing each other down, lifting each other up and struggling to find support in moments of fading strength. Berlin-based director Torben Loth captures the original choreography of London-based Waddah Sinada, founder of FUBUNATION. The work is performed by Conal Finn Francis-Martin, Robert Robinson and Jamal Uhlmann, all dancers with State Ballet Hanover, and features an original sound design by Peter Duffy, original score by Pete Fraser and wardrobe by Chinese-born, London-based designer Feng Chen Wang. Director: Torben Loth Choreographer: Waddah Sinada Featuring: Conal Finn Francis-Martin, Robert Robinson, Jamal Uhlmann Sound Design: Peter Duffy Score: Pete Fraser Cinematographer: Lasse Liebelt Wardrobe: Feng Chen Wang Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company April 26, 2021 PLUME 21 acrobats from around the world, from Australia to the United States to Russia, performed and filmed their unique movement styles which were then layered with animation to create Plume. Despite clipped wings, the artists in Plume perform in full flight underscored by the brilliant music played by noted violinist Hillary Hahn. Co-directed by Francisco Cruz and Beren D’Amico, the film features an original score by Gaelynn Lea, an American folk singer, violinist, public speaker and disability advocate, with arrangement by Steve Hackman. Directors & Editors: Beren D’Amico + Francisco Cruz Animation: Beren D’Amico Featuring: Tia Balacey, Kristián Mensa, Aurélien Oudot, Kevin Beverley, Joy Isabella Brown, Kaisha DW, Seirian Griffiths, Beren D’Amico, Luca ‘Lazylegz’ Patuelli, Nic Walton, Quentin Greco, Yvonne Smink, Brin Schoelkopf, Keaton Hentoff-Killian, Sadiqua Bynum, Francisco Cruz, Mathieu Forget, Daniel Liddiard, Chernih Denis, Louis Gift, Dominic Cruz Composer: Gaelynn Lea Arranged By: Steve Hackman + Hilary Hahn Violin Performed By: Hilary Hahn Produced By: Jacob Jonas The Company May 3, 2021 WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH Los Angeles-based Jacob Jonas virtually co-directs with Ireland-based Kevin McGloughlin, intersecting dance and visual design. Performed by Jacob Jonas The Company’s Emma Rosenzweig-Bock, Weakness of the Flesh features original music by Max Cooper, working at the intersection between electronic music, visual art, technology and science, the vocals of Hindustani Classical trained Samad Khan, and the cinematography of Shaun Boyte. Directors: Jacob Jonas & Kevin McGloughlin Choreographer: Jacob Jonas Featuring: Emma Rosenzweig-Bock Composer: Max Cooper Vocalist: Samad Kahn Cinematographer: Shaun Boyte Produced by: Jacob Jonas The Company |
About Author
