TOUCH OF THE LIGHT is available today on DVD from Well Go USA

Well Go USA

Entertainment

presents

 Touch of the Light / Ni guang fei xiang 

Directed by CHANG Jung-chi
Starring HUANG Yu-Siang, Sandrine Pinna,
LEE Lieh, and HSIEH Kan-chun

Taiwan, 2012, 110 minutes

Touch of the Light, Taiwan filmmaker CHANG Jung-chi's  award-winning feature film debut, becomes available today on DVD  and digital from Well Go USA Entertainment.

The film is an expanded remake of CHANG's 37-minute short The End of the Tunnel(2008). Both films were inspired by the true story of HUANG Yu-siang, a blind piano prodigy, when he leaves the security of his family -- mother (played touchingly by LEE Lieh), father, and younger sister -- to attend the music program at a university in Taipei. There he befriends Jie, a young woman who works in a menial service job but wants to become a dancer. In both films HUANG plays himself and Sadrine Pinna portrays Jie.

HUANG's mother drives him from their rural village to the university and helps him learn to navigate the campus.  His roommate CHU Tze-ching (HSIEH Kan-chun), a somewhat portly phys-ed major, arrives and proves to be a true friend.

The film depicts the difficulties HUANG encounters, not just those from his being blind, but even more so those arising from the negative way he's regarded and treated because of his blindness. We also learn about how some such negative encounters in his past have shaped his attitudes towards both his blindness and, to a degree, towards others.

In this poster, HUANG is center left with Pinna next to him. LEE Lieh is at lower left.

The film has an almost documentary feel about it. Partially this comes no doubt from its being derived from real life events. But also it stems from the extensive - perhaps exclusive -- use of natural light throughout. All four of the main actors, HUANG, Pinna, LEE, and HSIEH give lovely, natural performances. Also worth noting is the editing, which is exceptionally outstanding in a sequence near the end of the movie when HUANG and Jie are separately auditioning.

Touch of the Light won Best New Director for Chang at the Golden Horse Awards, one of six awards it has received, in addition to another ten nominations. It was also selected as Taiwan’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards®.

Disc Stats:

Audio: Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0

Subtitles: English/Off

Extras: Trailer; previews of other Well Go USA Entertainment releases

Touch of the Light is a very special film, both touching and life affirming.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars, very highly recommended.

SO CLOSE 3D: DANCE WITH WILD DOLPHINS screening twice at one day only engagement in New York CIty

Dolphin Dance Project

and

Dance Films Association

present

 So Close 3D: Dance with Wild Dolphins

When: Sunday December 7th at 12 noon and 2 pm

Where: SVA Theater, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)

Admission: $10 in advance / $15 at the door / $7 with student ID
Free for under 16 with advance reservation.
Map

Tickets

So Close 3D: Dance with Wild Dolphins is a unique and unprecedented opportunity to see wild dolphins and trained human dancers as they collaborate to create underwater dances in the open ocean. The one hour program of this one day only engagement at the SVA theater includes several films presented in Dolby 3D that offer an extraordinarily intimate experience of participating in a movement-based conversation with wild dolphins - as close as being there.

A highlight of the program will be a preview of Dolphin Dreams, shot by the eminent IMAX director and Emmy Award-winning underwater cinematographer Howard Hall and with an original score by Grammy Award-winning cellist and composer David Darling. This gorgeous short film introduces us to the world of a charismatic pod of Atlantic Spotted dolphins through their dances with directors Chisa Hidaka and Benjamin Harley. “So Close” features dancer Kathleen Fisher, previously of the Trisha Brown Company and Bebe Miller Dance Company. The program will open with a live performance juxtaposing human dance against video projections of the movement- based communication of dolphins, highlighting their similarities.

The films of the Dolphin Dance Project delightfully upend expectations about who is ‘us’ and who is ‘animal’. Chisa Hidaka, MD, founded the project in 2009 based on her insight that wild dolphins and humans could achieve unexpected depths of mutual understanding through movement improvisation, like dancers do. The project’s award- winning debut film, Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins (2010) has screened at festivals and events world wide. Some of the project’s other past works are available to view online (https://www.youtube.com/user/dolphindanceproject).“We hope this work increases respect and protection for wild dolphins and their habitats,” says Chisa, “and raises fundamental questions about the relationships between humans and non- humans.”

This screening event is co-produced with Dance Films Association and underwritten by a grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council with additional support from Artist As Citizen.

Taiwan's TOUCH OF THE LIGHT is coming to DVD & Digital on Nov 25th

Well Go USA Entertainment

presents

Touch of the Light / Ni guang fei xiang
Directed by CHANG Jung-chi
Taiwan, 2012, 110 minutes
DVD SLP: $24.98

Based on an inspiring true story, the award-winning and crowd-pleasing musical drama Touch of the Light will debut on DVD & Digital November 25th. The film is about blind pianist (HUANG Yu-siang, playing himself) who leaves his rural home to attend college in Taipei. There he befriends Jie (Sandrine Pinna), a young aspiring dancer, and encourages her to follow her dream.

A heart-warming tale based on HUANG Yu-siang's actual life, the first feature film by director CHANG Jung-chi (Partners in Crime) is a remake of his 37-minute short The End of the Tunnel (2008), which starred the same two leads. The critically-acclaimed film won Best New Director for Chang at the Golden Horse Awards, as well as being selected as Taiwan’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards®.

Synopsis:
A blind piano prodigy. A waitress who dreams of being a dancer. A story of passion, determination, and believing in yourself. Touch of the Light fictionalizes the amazing true story of HUANG Yu-Siang and the journey of discovery from his rural village to a prestigious university where he must find his own way among the other, sighted students. Jie (Sandrine Pinna) chases love and a career in the face of poverty and adversity. Their unlikely friendship provides inspiration and courage, resulting in a joyous final performance that will inspire the heart.

MAYURA: BLUE PEACOCK - review of an Indian dance performance

Mayura: Blue Peacock

When: Friday, September19 and Saturday September 20, 2014

Where: Chen Dance Center

70 Mulberry Street, Chinatown, NYC

Map

Tickets

Last night I attended the opening performance of Mayura: Blue Peacock, an evening-length, Indian classical dance production with original music and choreography. Mayura is the Sanskrit word for peacock, which is the national bird of India and which serves as the inspiration for this dance production. The program, which runs for just over an hour with no intermissions, will be repeated tonight and tomorrow night at the Chen Dance Center in NY's Chinatown and consists of four segments.

Sonali Skandan and Jiva Dance performed the dances. The company consists of Sonali, who also serves as artistic director and chief choreographer, and five other female dancers: Bavani Pillai, Mallika Bhargava, Maya Kappil, Njideka Emenogu, and Sangita Sahasranaman. Sonali choreographed three of the dance segments: Mayil Viruttham, Kalidassa Mala (garland of Kalidass), and Thillana, the final segment. Bragha Bessell was the choreographer of Andal/Mira, the third segment.

Rajkumar Bharathi composed the music, and there were rhythmic sections by G. Vijayaraghavan and Bala Skandan. These sounds were supplemented by the rhythmic pounding of feet slapping and stomping on the dance floor and by the tinkling of the numerous bells around the dancers' ankles. Movements ranged from incredibly rapid to slow and sinuous; the arms and fingers especially tended to move in delicate undulations. At times the dancers assumed still poses, often balancing on one leg.

Years ago I used to do some dance photography and attended performances much more often than I have in recent years. I am by no means a dance critic, and I have, unfortunately, only minimal familiarity with Indian dance. But I thoroughly enjoyed the movements and the sounds of Mayura: Blue Peacock, and highly recommend attending one of the two remaining performances.

Indian dancer Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance will present MAYURA: BLUE PEACOCK on three evenings

National Bird of India Serves as Inspiration for Original Classical

Dance Production Featuring Art of Bharatanatyam

Indian classical dancer Sonali Skandan, along with her company Jiva Dance, unveil “Mayura: Blue Peacock,” an evening-length, Bharatanatyam classical dance production, with original music and choreography, focused on India’s national bird, the rare and beautiful peacock.

“Mayura is the Sanskrit word for peacock,” says Skandan, “and throughout history, this magical creature has been featured in poetry, literature, sculpture, art, music, dance and mythology. We wanted to pay homage to its beauty, grace and regal nature through our movement, music and choreography.”

Photo by Mariliana Arvelo

The performance uses classical poetry and literature to weave vivid images of the peacock described in Indian myths and legends – from the powerful, ancient Mayil Virutham, which praises the peacock as Lord Muruga’s vehicle, to the lilting epics of Kalidasa describing the peacock in the rains, as a reminder of Ram’s longing for Sita, to the love songs of Andal and Mirabhai.

The original musical score has been composed by one of India’s renowned composers, Rajkumar Bharathi, and features original choreography by Skandan. The cast comprises of six talented and energetic dancers from various backgrounds and disciplines.

“Mayura: Blue Peacock” will be performed on the evenings of Sept. 18th, 19th and 20th at the Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry Street, NYC. Ticket prices range from $18 to $22 and can be purchased by visiting www.mayura.eventbrite.com.

About Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance:
Jiva Dance is the critically-acclaimed dance company of Jiva Performing Arts, an organization based in NYC, which seeks to educate and present the classical music and dance of India. Jiva Dance began in 2008 under the artistic direction of Sonali Skandan. The company sees the importance of preserving and promoting the traditional arts, yet also understands the need to incorporate innovative techniques to reach diverse audiences. Jiva Dance holds the belief that tradition is a continuum of evolution and hopes to invigorate classical works with a fresh and unique voice. They company has performed at various universities, colleges and festivals along the East Coast to tremendous audience and media acclaim. For more information, please visit www.jivaperformingarts.org or www.sonaliskandan.com.

Mayura is made possible, in part, by public donations from the Fund

for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on

the Arts and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

ACF 2012: Director Adam Wong and THE WAY WE DANCE

The Way We Dance

Directed by Adam Wong

Hong Kong, 2013, 110 minutes

Not so long ago -- on  Friday, October 25th to be precise -- I experienced one of those unexpectedly wonderful cinema-related days that come about very rarely. I'd received an invite to attend a round-table press conference with Adam Wong, director of a movie called The Way We Dance. The mid-afternoon event was to take place at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office on East 54th Street. That evening a special preview screening of the movie, sponsored by the HKETONY, was to be held at Asia Society on Park Avenue and East 70th Street.

I'd never heard of the director or this film, and I generally don't like going to press conferences before I've seen the movie. But after watching the trailer (see below), I was intrigued. In great measure this was because there was a line of dialogue that went, "Wasn't that the long lost Tai Chi Hip Hop?" Now, I've been a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan for over twenty years and was curious as to what connection the film would make between the slow, controlled and graceful martial art and the stylistically very different dance form.

So I accepted the invitation and was able to get a press seat for the screening that evening.

At the press conference, Adam Wong was pleasant and personable and remarkably multilingual, answering questions in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, though he admitted that he was a bit weak with regards to the last. This was the second visit to New York by the director, who was born in Hong Kong in 1975. In 1996 he'd been an exchange student at the University of Iowa and had visited The Big Apple during spring break. Now he was again in town for the special screening at Asia Society. On Sunday, October 27th, he'd be in Boston where The Way We Dance was scheduled to be the closing film of the 5th Boston Asian American Film Festival.

Director Adam Wong at the HKE&TO (Photo by Stan Glick)

I learned that the film, which had received substantial funding from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund, had opened in Hong Kong on August 8, 2013 and that the initial box office had not been that impressive. But word-of-mouth was incredible and attendance soared. At the time of the press conference, two and a half months after the opening, the film was still playing at one theater in Hong Kong.

I asked the director how he came to include Tai Chi in a film about Hip Hop dancing. He said that he felt that the core spirit of Hip Hop is to be cool. Since Tai Chi seemed like the total opposite and since conflict is a prime mechanism for pushing or telling a story, he thought that a fusion of the two would be interesting.

Fleur (Cherry Ngan, right) and her Tai Chi mentor

Wong also informed those present that a sequel is in the works. He thinks that the approximate direction of that film will involve focusing on the hardships faced by dancers, which is addressed some, but not that much, in The Way We Dance. Because of the "sophomore curse" that strikes the second movie in so many series, he's thinking (only partially in jest) of titling the next film The Way We Dance 3, and skipping "2" altogether!

The screening that evening at Asia Society was sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), in partnership with Asia Society and Asian CineVision. Before the screening, Wong made some introductory remarks to the packed auditorium. I was upset to hear him say that because of a "technical problem," we would be watching a DVD projection with a watermark. I hate having to put up with watermarks on review screeners that I watch on DVDs or streaming on my computer; now I was being presented with the degraded video of a DVD projection and a watermark.

(Note: this image is a screen capture from the trailer on YouTube)

(Later I came to think that the "problem" probably was related to Sunday night's screening in Boston, which was billed as the film's East Coast Premiere. That wouldn't be true if the film itself was shown two days earlier in New York. So the issue -- and again this is just my speculation -- would "technically" be avoided by showing a DVD projection on Friday night, not the movie itself.)

However, my concerns about watching a DVD projection with a watermark proved to be unwarranted. Yes, the image quality was most certainly not as good as that of film, and the watermark in the top right corner was initially a bit distracting. But they ultimately did not matter because THE FILM IS JUST SO DAMN GOOD!

Rivaling -- and perhaps exceeding -- the Step Up movies, The Way We Dance is a funny, energetic film that centers on Fleur. She's portrayed by actress Cherry Ngan, in a remarkable debut performance. (She's nominated for the 50th Golden Horse Film Awards, which is taking place this month, in the Best Actress category.) Fleur escapes from her family-owned a tofu establishment when she's accepted at college. There she embarks on her dream of dancing. She joins one of the two top college Hip Hop dance groups. She encounters difficulties when a more traditional beauty captures the object of Fleur's romantic attention, when a Tai Chi practitioner relentlessly pursues her, and when a leg injury threatens her dancing.

I just can't rave enough about this film. I enyed it immensely, as did the entire audience at Asia Society. Though it's never a definitive indication of the true merit of a film, the remarkably high 7.9/10 rating at IMDb (based on 85 users) is on the mark, as are the largely positive reviews by three critics and two users. The film also won the Audience Award at the 2013 (23rd) Focus on Asia-Fukuoka International Film Festival, September 13-23, 2013, Fukuoka, Japan.

 

My hope is that some smart distributor will pick up The Way We Dance for distribution in the U.S. I'm also hoping that it'll be featured at the 2014 New York Asian Film Festival. Ms. Ngan is already a major contender for a NYAFF Star Asia Rising Star Award in my heart.

If an opportunity to see this terrific, feel-good film ever presents itself, take advantage of it. You'll be so glad you did. Just be prepared for an amazing reveal by one of the members of The Rooftoppers dance group and be sure to stay through the credits.

AsianCineFest rating: 4 out of 4 stars; highest recommendation.

Links worthy of your attention:
- Interview: Chasing Dreams And Making Magic - Adam Wong and THE WAY WE DANCE
- Udine 2013 Review: THE WAY WE DANCE Finds The Right Beat (Twitch)
- The Way We Dance (2013) Film Review (Eye For Film)
- Asia Society Film Curator La Frances Hui's post-screening Q&A with The Way We Dance director Adam Wong is available at the Asia Society website by clicking here.

ACF 1738: THE RED DETACHMENT OF WOMEN reviewed; screens Friday night November 30th at Asia Society

 The Red Detachment of Women

Directed by FU Jie

With XUE Jinghua

China, 1970, 101 minutes

Color, 35mm.

When: Friday, November 30, 2012, 6:30 pm

Where Asia Society

725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), NYC

Map
Buy Tickets

The Red Detachment of Women is a filmed version of a ballet which premiered in 1964. That ballet was adapted from a 1961 film, which was in itself based on a novel by Liang Xin about an actual female division of the Chinese Red Army first formed in 1931.

The story's central character is Wu Qinghua, a peasant girl who escapes from an oppressive landlord called Nanbatian. She is captured, beaten and left for dead. Two members of the Red Army come upon her and point her way to the army's camp. Accepted into the Women's Detachment, she becomes part of an operation to liberate those oppressed by Nanbatian. However, overwhelmed by her hatred of the landlord, she fires at him, prematurely issuing the battle signal. Merely wounded, Nanbatian escapes via a secret tunnel. After being reprimanded, Wu redeems herself with dedication and hard work. In a battle at a mountain pass, Commissar Hong, the male leader of the Women's Detachment, is captured by Nanbatian and his troops. Taken back to Nanbatian's estate, Hong refuses to surrender his troops and dies a martyr's death. The Red Army attacks and defeat Nanbatian troops, killing him in the process. Wu is assigned to take over Hong's position as Commissar of the Women's Detachment, and she and her troops will continue the struggle of the revolution. (For a full description of the ballet, see the excellent article at Wikipedia, which I have utilized in the preceding synopsis, by clicking here.)

The film version made ballerina Xue Jinghua an instant star and deservedly so. Though no expert, I used to do some dance photography and have seen a fair share of ballets and other dance forms. Xue is magnificent, with lovely pointe work and beautiful lines. Qingtang Liu as Hong, the other dancers in significant supporting rolls, and the entire corps de ballet acquit themselves more than admirably. Especially impressive is some of the dancing in which ballerinas are toting around rifles in their hands, something one does not encounter in Western ballets. There are also a couple of songs, which makes Red Detachment a sort of ballet/mini-opera. There are a lot of heroic gestures made, hands pointing and fists clenched in firm determination.

Clearly the film is highly propagandist, and elements of it may seem quaint and amusing. But it has terrific dancing. While there is not much partnering in the traditional Western sense, there is one outstanding example in the battle scene at the mountain pass. Because of its extolment of revolutionary ideals, it was one of the few works of its kind that survived the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976. In fact, it was performed for U.S. President Richard Nixon when he made his historic visit to China in 1972. It is still being performed in China today.

Much more than a mere artifact,  The Red Detachment of Women is marvelously entertaining and a delight to watch. I hope that this rare screening of the film in a 35mm version gets the full house it so richly deserves.

ACF Rating: 4 out of 4 stars, most highly recommended.

This screening of The Red Detachment of Women is part of the film series Goddess: Chinese Women on Screen which runs through December 8, 2012.

And don't forget about tonight's (i.e., Wednesday's) screening of Two Stage Sisters at 6:30 pm.

ACF 1730: THE RED DETACHMENT OF WOMEN to screen at Asia Society on November 30th, 2012

 The Red Detachment of Women

Directed by FU Jie

With XUE Jinghua

China, 1970, 101 minutes

Color, 35mm.

When: Friday, November 30, 2012, 6:30 pm

Where Asia Society

725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), NYC

Map
Buy Tickets

During the Cultural Revolution, only a small number of state-approved yangbanxi, model operas that adhered to revolutionary ideologies, were staged. One of them was the ballet opera The Red Detachment of Women, about a peasant girl who breaks away from an oppressive landlord and joins the Red Army. The performance, originally staged in 1964, was adapted to film and made the ballerina Xue Jinghua an instant star. The virtuosic and ecstatic dance sequences featuring revolutionary heroines carrying rifles and clenching fists in army shorts have formed some of the most lasting and iconic revolutionary imageries. This popular ballet opera, which also features music that is familiar to Chinese of all generations, is still being performed in China today.

This screening of The Red Detachment of Women is part of the film series Goddess: Chinese Women on Screen which runs through December 8, 2012.

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.

ACF 1330: Dance documentary THE SPACE IN BACK OF YOU coming to the Walter Reade Theater

The Space in Back of You

Directed by Richard Rutkowski

Based on an original stage tribute by Robert Wilson

U.S.A., 2011, 65 minutes

When: Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 8:45 PM
(New York Premiere)

and Monday, January 30, 2012 at 3:30 PM

Where: The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center

165 West 65 Street, 4th Floor NYC 

This lovely and loving documentary is a tribute to Japanese dancer and choreographer Suzushi Hanayagi. Born Mitsuko Kiuchi in 1928, she began her training in the Hanayagi dance tradition at the age of four. She took the name Suzushi Hanayagi at age twenty. 

She knew the music of John Cage in the 1950s while still in Japan. In the early '60s, she came to the United States and studied at the Martha Graham School. But she looked for something post-modern, beyond the formula of the Graham technique. She associated with the members of the Judson Dance Theater, an informal group of dancers who perfomed at the Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village. She became a friend and collaborator with  Carla Blank and, later, Robert Wilson.

In 1969, pregnant with her son Ascenda Kiuchi, she returned to Japan. The ensuing years found her performing and choreographing not only in Japan and New York, but elsewhere around the world. Suzushi, as everyone in the films calls her, is now afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and currently lives in a nursing home in Osaka. One of the most touching segments of the film is Wilson visiting her, and later talking about that visit. (My eyes tear up again now as I recall this segment in order to write of it.)
 
Wilson and Carla Blank created "KOOL-Dancing In My Mind," a performance portrait inspired by Suzushiand. It includes reconstructions of some of her choreography and is intended to provide a reminder of her importance in post-modern dance. Portions of it are shown in the film.

Suzushi (seated, left) with David Byrne next to her and Robert Wilson, standing at right

As one of her associates in the film says, Suzhshi became "a creator of the space around her." For some time she was rather perplexed by the dichotomy of her traditional Japanese dance training and her involvement with Western avant-guarde dance movement. After studying Zen, she came to realize that this was her nature and that, for her, the two worlds were one.

The Space in Back of You provides video clips and still photographs of Suzushi's artistic life and, to a lesser degree, her personal life. There are interviews with Wilson, David Byrne (who provided the music for several Suzushi/Wilson collaborations, as well as "KOOL-Dancing In My Mind") and many others who knew and worked with her.

Suzushi being visited recently by Robert Wilson

The Space in Back of You (the title comes from her admonition to pay attention to it because it is more important than the space in front) should be seen by anyone with an interest in Japanese dance, in post-modern Western dance, or in learning about an incredibly talented woman who has left her mark not only in the world of dance, but also in the hearts of those lucky enough to have known her.

A Q&A with director Richard Rutkowski will follow both screenings.

Film and ticket information here.  For the official website for The Space in Back of You, click here.

The two screenings will be preceded by La femme à la cafetière (1989). Inspired by a painting of the same title by Paul Cézanne, Robert Wilson wittily conveys the boredom of the figure within the frame, as she passes her time, nibbling sweets, unmoved by the changes around her until she must relinquish her place to a successor., The piece was performed by Suzushi Hanayagi and Consuelo de Haviland and co-produced by the Musèe d'Orsay, INA, and La September. 

The Space in Back of You screenings are part of the 40th Dance on Camera Festival, which begins today, Friday, January 27th, and runs through Tuesday, January 31st.

ACF 1272: Yoo & Dancers to perform "160 MILES" December 16th & 17th

160 Miles

Yoo & Dancers

When: December 16 & 17, 2011 @ 8:00 PM

Where: Dance New Amsterdam Theater

280 Broadway (enter on Chambers Street), Manhattan, NY

On December 16th and 17th at 8:00 PM, Yoo and Dancers will take the stage at Dance New Amsterdam for a full evening performance that is described as “A solemn and haunting representation of domination that is modern and provocative,” (Karen Clements, Reporter - Jamaica Examiner). Yoo & Dancers is an exciting and vibrant dance company that uses the diversity, and cultural differences of its dancers to create experiences, well-developed and fine movements.

In 160 Miles, Choreographer Hee Ra Yoo, depicts how a single individual ruling through fear severely affect the lives of millions. As the world prepares for the third dictator to take power over North Korea since the Korean War, the dancers will take you on a breath taking journey on how the North Korean quality of life diminishes as dictatorial control grows.

Tickets for the performance are $17 general, $14 students/seniors, $12 DNA/ The Korea Society members and advance price.

To purchase tickets, please 212.227.9856 or visit www.yooanddancers.com

ACF 1213: World premiere of "Here Now" by WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company at MAD

 "Here Now"

WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company

When: Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5
7:00 PM both evenings

Where: The Theater at MAD
Museum of Arts and Design (MAD)
Jerome and Simona CHazen Building
2 Columbus Circle, NYC

$25 general / $15 MAD members and students

Exploring the turbulence of human emotions, Brooklyn based WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company will present the world premiere of "Here Now." In collaboration with composer Marco Cappelli and filmmaker Anna Kiraly, Young Soon Kim choreographed the work by weaving together panoramic video images of wild rivers and Manhattan streets, original music performed on guitars and fluid dramatic movement. In this way, she and her collaborators showcase the ability of multidisciplinary dance to convey the complexities of human experience.

Click here to purchase tickets, or call 1.800.838.3006
For more information, visit MAD’s Web site.

ACF 1000: Documentary short on Nrityagram Dance Ensemble by Nan Melville to screen at Newport Beach Film Fest

Nrityagram Dance Ensemble in India by Nan Melville

Nan Melville’s Documentary Film
Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance
selected to show at the Newport Beach Film Festival

Dance photojournalist Nan Melville, a freelance photographer for several arts institutions including The Julliard School, Carnegie Hall, and The New York Times, specializes in photographing and filming the performing arts, primarily dance. Her short documentary film Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance will be screened at the prestigious Newport Beach Film Festival on at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Newport Beach, California. Watch the trailer here. (ACF note: I strongly urge you to check out the trailer. I did and was very impressed, both with the film itself and with the story of the dance company. I hope that the film does well for all concerned.)

Melville first met the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble in 1996, when she was assigned by The New York Times to photograph their U.S. debut performance in New York. After visiting the Nrityagram dance village (www.nrityagram.org) in Bangalore, India, at the invitation of the late Protima Bedi, she began working on her documentary. She subsequently returned to India to film life in the dance village, and research archival materials. “I’ve become a great friend of the members of Nrityagram, photographing many of their New York performances,” says Melville. “I’ve even put up dancers on my sofa when hotels were overflowed.”

Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance debuted in January 2010 as an official selection of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Dance Films Association, Dance on Camera Festival in New York City. The New York Times’ chief dance critic Alistair Macaulay said, “Many intelligent points are made, and much of the dance footage, not least during the closing credits, is spellbinding. I wanted the film to be twice as long.”

“Alastair echoes my intent to expand the film into a feature length documentary,” says Melville. My mission is to capture the story of the dance village and the dancers and how they promote and develop the Odissi dance form for posterity.”

To learn more about the Nrityagram documentary project – and ways to contribute to Nrityagram’s continued success – visit www.nanmelville.com/nrityagram.

About Nan Melville: Nan Melville is an accomplished photographer and videographer. She has been based in New York City since she left South Africa in 1986. There are very few internationally-known dance photographers, and Nan is one of them. Her clients include such illustrious institutions as The New York Times, The Julliard School, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. She has won various photographic awards, including 1st Prize in the Flying Springbok International Travel Photographic Competition (Nikon, Nissan, and SA Airways).

Nan has been assigned to photograph international figures and performers, and she often travels abroad on photo assignments. Her photographs are syndicated worldwide and have appeared in many overseas publications, including books, magazines, and newspapers. As more of her clients began requesting video work, Nan expanded her expertise into videography. She is much in demand to film performances as she has the ability to capture an event in both still and video. Her video experience led to an interest in documentary filmmaking. Before making Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance, she collaborated on filming a documentary on the Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company. For more information about Nan or to see examples of her work, log on to www.nanmelville.com.

ACF 831: Butoh on Film - Darkness and Light

Tatsumi Hijikata in "Story of Smallpox"

Butoh on Film - Darkness and Light
When: Saturday, February 26 · 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Where: Studio Theatre, Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON
Curated By Chris MaGee of the Shinsedai Cinema Festival

For those of you who can make it, here's news about an exciting event taking place in Ontario late in February:

In 1959 dancer and choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata created a new form of dance expression which he called ankoku butoh. Originally a phenomena of the Japanese avant-garde Hijikata's dance, now known simply as butoh, has spread around the globe.

The CanAsian Dance Festival is proud to present Butoh on Film: Darkness and Light, a programme of rarely seen butoh films curated by the Shinsedai Cinema Festival's Chris MaGee that explore both the work of Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno as well as contemporary dancers.

Included in the programme will be:

Still from Donald Richie's film "Gisei", a rare 8mm film featuring
Hijikata and his Asbestos-kan Troupe long thought to have been
lost and only recently been rediscovered and restored.
This screening will be a Toronto Premiere!

Gisei (Sacrifice) (dir. Donald Richie, 1959)

Rose-Coloured Dance (dir. Takahiko Iimura, 1965)

The Story of Smallpox (dir. Keiya Ouchida, 1972)

Husk (dir. Eiko + Koma, 1987)

From "Kazuo Ohno" directed by Daniel Schmid

Kazuo Ohno (dir. Daniel Schmid, 1995)

Magnetic Fields (excerpt) (dir. Mario Moreleo, 2010)

The Mysteries of Nature (dir. Dahci Ma, 2008)

Tickets for this very special event are only $10.00. For tickets call the Harbourfront Centre's box office at 416-973-4000. For more information on the programme and the 2011 CanAsian International Dance Festival click here.

*PLEASE NOTE: Some films in the Butoh on Film: Darkness and Light contain disturbing and frightening imagery. Viewer discretion is advised for those 18 years and younger.

ACF 759: Fifth Annual South Asian Theater Festival, November 20 & 21 in Newark, NJ

NJPAC’s Alternate Routes Series

and Epic Actors’ Workshop

present

THE FIFTH ANNUAL SOUTH ASIAN THEATER FESTIVAL

Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21

Works by Navarasa Dance Theater, Theatrix,

and Epic Actors’ Workshop

NJPAC’s Alternate Routes Series, in collaboration with Epic Actors’ Workshop, hosts the Fifth annual South Asian Theater Festival, an exploration of the artistry and diversity of South Asia through theater. The festival, to be held in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21, 2010, includes performances by Epic Actors’ Workshop, Theatrix and the Navarasa Dance Theater. Complete festival information is available at www.satf2010.org.

Tickets for each day are $28 and are available by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark, or by visiting the NJPAC website at http://www.njpac.org/. Alternate Routes is made possible, in part, by American Express, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Discover Jersey Arts.

On November 20 at 7:30pm, following a festival-opening candle lighting ceremony, Navarasa Dance Theater brings to the Victoria Theater stage The Encounter, based on the story Draupadi by Magsaysay award-winning novelist Mahasweta Devi. The production tells the poignant tale of Dopdi and her unarmed fight against military powers that try to oppress indigenous communities. Choreographed and directed by Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda, it blends theater and music with Indian martial arts (kalaripayattu), folk dance (bharatanatyam) and yoga.

The opening night double-bill continues with Muktidham, an award-winning play performed in Hindi with English supertitles by New Jersey-based theater troupe Theatrix. It tells the story of how a young man, determined to make a better life for himself, must rethink his definition of success through examining his relationship with his dying father.

On November 21 at 3pm in the Victoria Theater, New Jersey’s own Epic Actors’ Workshop brings The Little Clay Cart, a romantic, sometimes humorous work atypical of Sanskrit theater, yet one of the form’s very earliest dramas. The production tells the story of a man falsely accused of killing his lover, and her return from the beyond to save him. The story itself has been translated for the BBC and for big-screen Bollywood. This new production will wed elements of conventional Balinese topeng with those of the ancient Sanskrit theatre, particularly kutiyattam. The production will be performed in English.

Following the performance, there will be a post-performance reception and discussion entitled Challenge/Change/Catharsis: Theater That Transforms with Amal Allana, chair of National School of Drama in India; Dr. Richard Schechner, Professor of Performance Studies at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts; director/actor Monireh Hashemi from the Simorgh Association of Arts in Afghanistan; and director/actor Dr. Mohan Agashe of India. The discussion will be moderated by Arnab Banerji, a PhD student in the Department of Theater and Film at the University of Georgia. The discussion is partly supported by a grant from New Jersey Council for Humanities.

Originally formed in 1988 in New York, Epic Actors Workshop is a not-for profit company registered in New Jersey with a mission to showcase and underscore the importance of South Asian theater, performance and the arts within its community and in the larger context of mainstream American culture. The Company organized the first South Asian Theater Festival in 2006.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States. As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over 6 million visitors (more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit http://www.njpac.org/ for more information.

Programming has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

NJPAC is a wheelchair accessible facility and provides assistive services for patrons with disabilities. For more information, call 888-GO-NJPAC.

ACF 696: More "Mao's Last Dancer" news!

The latest interview of Li Cunxin was on THE TODAY SHOW with Ann Curry. She proclaims that MAO’S LAST DANCER is one of the best films she has ever seen!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Also, those lucky enough to be in the NYC area this weekend will have a chance to hear Li Cunxin comment on the film and his experience in person! The showing of MAO’S LAST DANCER tonight, 9/24 at 7pm and Saturday, 9/25 at 4:15pm at The Paris Theatre in NYC will include a post-screening Q&A session with Li Cunxin! It’s a rare opportunity that can’t be missed!

Please visit http://schedule.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/films/mao%27s+last+dancer/ to get more ticket information on these special NY screenings in addition to details on other showtimes taking place across the country!

ACF 646: Li Is Chosen - clip from Mao's Last Dancer, coming August 2oth, 2o10

Here's one of several clips from MAO’S LAST DANCER, which will be released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and ATO Pictures in select U.S. cities on August 20th. MAO’S LAST DANCER is based on the remarkable true story of renowned ballet dancer Li Cunxin’s journey from an impoverished life in rural China to true stardom on the international stage



Follow the journey on Facebook by visiting the official MAO’S LAST DANCER page: http://www.facebook.com/maoslastdancer.

ACF 641: Four new clips from upcoming MAO'S LAST DANCER

Samuel Goldwyn Films and ATO Pictures are making available four new clips from the upcoming release of MAO’S LAST DANCER, which will open in select US cities on August 20th, 2010.

Click on the links below to view the clips at YouTube.

“Li is Chosen” Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Luc8KYJEE

“Liz and Li” Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWgWmdISinw

“Charles Foster” Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwEYCCDwDIA

“Li’s Mother” Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxFs9njSWU8

Watch the trailer at YouTube by clicking here.

MAO’S LAST DANCER, from Academy Award nominated director Bruce Beresford (DRIVING MISS DAISY, TENDER MERCIES), is based on the remarkable true story of renowned ballet dancer Li Cunxin’s journey from an impoverished life in rural China to true stardom on the international stage, brought to life by a talented cast including Bruce Greenwood, Kyle Maclachlan, Joan Chen, Amanda Schull and newcomer Chi Cao. The film is already one of the biggest box office successes of all-time in Australia.

Follow the journey on Facebook by visiting the official MAO’S LAST DANCER page: http://www.facebook.com/maoslastdancer

ACF 637: Mao's Last Dancer in select U.S. cities starting August 20th, 2010

MAO’S LAST DANCER will be released in select US cities on August 20th by Samuel Goldwyn Films in conjunction with musician Dave Matthew's film company, ATO Pictures. Already one of the biggest box office successes of all-time in Australia, the movie is based on the remarkable true story of renowned ballet dancer Li Cunxin’s journey from an impoverished life in rural China to true stardom on the international stage, brought to life by a talented cast including Bruce Greenwood, Kyle Maclachlan, Joan Chen, Amanda Schull and newcomer Chi Cao.

Official Synopsis:
From Academy Award® nominee Bruce Beresford (DRIVING MISS DAISY, TENDER MERCIES) comes MAO’S LAST DANCER, the inspiring true story of Li Cunxin and his extraordinary journey from a poor upbringing in rural China to international stardom as a world-class ballet dancer. Based on the best selling autobiography, MAO'S LAST DANCER weaves a moving tale about the quest for freedom and the courage it takes to live your own life. The film compellingly captures the struggles, sacrifices and triumphs, as well as the intoxicating effects of first love and celebrity amid the pain of exile.

MAO’S LAST DANCER stars Chi Cao, a gifted dancer and principal at the Birmingham Royal Ballet making his impressive screen debut as Li Cunxin. The cast is rounded out by Bruce Greenwood (STAR TREK; THE SWEET HEREAFTER), Kyle Maclachlan (“Sex and the City”; “Desperate Housewives”), Joan Chen (LUST, CAUTION; THE LAST EMPEROR) and Amanda Schull (CENTER STAGE; “One Tree Hill”).

Follow the journey on Facebook by visiting the official MAO’S LAST DANCER page.

Trailer on YouTube.

ACF 617: Mao's Last Dancer to screen at AAIFF on Saturday, July 17th, 2010

MAO’S LAST DANCER is based on the remarkable true story of renowned ballet dancer Li Cunxin’s journey from an impoverished life in rural China to true stardom on the international stage, brought to life by a talented cast including Bruce Greenwood, Kyle Maclachlan, Joan Chen, Amanda Schull and newcomer Chi Cao. Already one of the biggest box office successes of all-time in Australia, Samuel Goldwyn Films will be releasing MAO’S LAST DANCER in conjunction with musician Dave Matthews’ film company, ATO Pictures, in select US cities on August 20th.

Prior to it's opening in select U.S. cities in August, Mao's Last Dancer will be shown at the Asian American International Film Festival in New York City on Saturday, July 17th, 2010, at 6:00 PM. For info about that screening, click here.

Follow the journey on Facebook by visiting the official MAO’S LAST DANCER page.

Trailer on YouTube.