Jacob Jonas The Company has teamed up with filmmakers around the world to produce a series of new dance films created during the pandemic. The series is called films.dance and is being presented in collaboration with the Chicago’s Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills and the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts in Northridge.
Each week a new film will debut on Mondays at 9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST. The films can be seen at the films.dance website, on their Instagram account and their Facebook page. The first film debuts on January 25th and the last film debuts on May 3rd.
Here is an overview of the line-up:
Kaduna – January 25th
Brothers Victory and Marvel Ebinum are filmed in their homeland of Nigeria and explore family bonds. Kaduna was directed by Ridwan Adeniyi and Jacob Jonas with choreography by Vinson Fraley. This is one of my favorite films in the festival.
Toke – February 1st
Danish dancer Toke Broni Standby stars in this film set in London. Toke was directed by NONO and choreographed by Stuart Shugg.
Pássaro Distante – February 8th
Four dancers, Luís Fernando, Jovani Furlan, Luanna Gondim and Maitê Nunes, reunite in Joinville, Brazil just after the pandemic hits. Gabriela Mo directed the choreography is by Cassi Abranches.
Match – February 15th
This wonderful and thoroughly entertaining film finds 46 dancers from 20 different countries performing the work of five choreographers. Together one seamless piece of dance is created through precision editing by directors Peter Walker and Emily Kikta. The choreographers are Kikta, Jamar Roberts, Oliver Starpov, Peter Walker and Xin Ying.
Edging Normal – February 22nd
Dancer Desmond Richardson, who, along with Dwight Rhoden founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet, stars in this film directed by Andre Bato and choreographed by Jacob Jonas.
正念 – NOW – March 1st
Solo dancer Li Kehua (Lico) stars in this film from director Robin Mahieux and choreographed by Gypsy Snider. The film is set in China.
Dadu – March 8th
The town of Spaarnwoude in Northern Holland serves as the backdrop for this film starring and choreographed by Jesse Callaert, Mikaela Kelly, Kele Roberson and Annika Verplancke. The film is directed by Ian Robinson.
Another Serious Dance Film – March 15th
As the British might say, Another Serious Dance Film takes the piss out of dance films. This tongue-in-cheek pieces examines all the trappings of making a dance film. New York City Ballet’s Sara Mearns stars in the film which was directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost. Andrea Miller choreographed. The film features a score by Antonio Sánchez.
Same Sky – March 22nd
Joy Isabella Brown, Miguel Alejandro López, Mike Tyus and Jill Wilson – all members of Jacob Jones The Company – star in this film by director Andy Hines. Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit choreographed.
Sit Still – March 29th
Seven-year-old Adeline Kerry Cruz Krumps her way through this film by Vincent René-Lortie and choreographed by Russell “Gutta” Ferguson. When Cruz gets older, and if she can sing, perhaps she can play Matilda in Tim Minchin‘s musical.
Galope – April 5th
Gonzalo Garcia, principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, stars in this film directed by Nur Casadevall. There is no choreography credit in the press materials, so it is probably safe to assume Garcia created the movement himself. The music is by film composer Alex Somers (Captain Fantastic).
Xeno – April 12th
Mexico City dance company Nohbords founder, Diego Mur, choreographed this film starring two circus artists from Montreal: Natasha Patterson and Sabine van Rensburg. The film is directed by Amy J. Gardner
Torn – April 19th
Three dancers with State Ballet Hanover – Conal Finn Francis-Martin, Robert Robinson and Jamal Uhlmann – battle for dominance in this film from director Torben Loth. The choreography is by Waddah Sinada.
Plume – April 26th
Animation and dance are combined in this film from Beren D’Amico (who also did the animation) and Francisco Cruz. Violinist Hilary Hahn performs the score as 21 acrobats are shown performing. They are 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.
Weakness of the Flesh – May 3rd
Jacob Jonas (the person, not The Company) choreographed this film featuring his company’s Emma Rosenzweig-Bock. He co-directed with Kevin McGloughlin.
Photo: Joy Isabella Brown in Plume (Photo courtesy films.dance)