ACF 1497: TOGETHER: DANCING WITH SPINNER DOLPHINS

'Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins.' (Dolphin Dance Project)

 Dancing with Spinner Dolphins

Conceived and directed by Chisa Hidaka
Performed by Chisa Hidaka
and wild Pacific Spinning Dolphins

USA, 2010, 3+ minutes

Japan CineFest: Short Film Program

When: Friday, June 8, 2012, 6:30 PM

Where: Asia Society and Museum

725 Park Avenue at 70th Street, NYC

Map here

Director Hidaka swims with numerous wild Pacific Spinner Dolphins in this short that is part nature film, part dance/performance piece, and part documentary. Although she uses separate flippers on each foot, she kicks both her legs simultaneously. This, combined with the butterfly stroke-like undulation of her body (but with her arms merely trailing at her sides), produces movement through the water that closely emulates how dolphins swim. Hidaka performs twists, turns, spirals, and loops, effectively becoming one with her co-performers.

Though it's running time is the shortest of the seven films being shown in the Japan CineFest: Short Film Program, it's impact is immense. Given Japan's ongoing hunting of whales (allegedly for "scientific purposes") and having seen Louie Psihos's documentary expose´ of horrendous aquatic animal abuse by some Japanese in The Cove (2009), Together . . . has somewhat restored my hope that a sensible and humane attitude towards the ocean's mammals will eventually prevail in Japan.

Director Chisa Hidaka

 Winner:

- Best Experimental Film, Big Apple Film Festival
- Best Short Film Animal Advocacy, Artivist Film Festival

To watch the trailer for Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins, as well as those of the other six short films in Japan CineFest: Short Film Program, click here.

Click here for information about Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins and the other films in the program,  which is a co-presentation of Asia Society and Mar Creation, Inc.