LatinoBuzz: Dance on Camera Film Fest Showcases Flamenco Dancers and Cuban Ballerinos

For the last 40 years, Dance Films Association has produced Dance on Camera its annual film festival. Considered the “mother” of dance film festivals this year’s edition will showcase a diverse array of films including documentaries, shorts, features, and experimental works that celebrate all forms of dance. “Dance on Camera is an exuberant hybrid. Its roots hold the seeds of innovation inherent in the concept of combining dance with cinematography in ways that alter one’s perception of both mediums,” boasts Joanna Ney, co-curator of the Dance on Camera Festival.

Hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Dance Films Association, and running February 1-5, 2013, the series will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Los Tarantos, Francisco Rovira Beleta's Oscar-nominated flamenco classic, with a special screening. Other highlights include the world premiere of Maclovia Martel’s documentary about the life of her mother, Carmen Gutierrez, the first Mexican dancer to perform on Broadway and the Closing Night film To Dance Like a Man, a charming documentary featuring Cuban identical triplets who are students at Cuba’s renowned National Ballet School.

TO DANCE LIKE A MAN
Director: Sylvie Collier
Country: UK
Year: 2011 | 58 min
North American Premiere - Closing Night

Synopsis: Collier’s documentary follows Cuban identical triplets Angel, César and Marcos, the top young students at Cuba’s renowned National Ballet School as they are poised to begin their dancing careers. Ballet star José Carreño tells the 11-year-olds to pursue their dream, just as he did when he was growing up in Havana and teachers comment that all three show equal emerging talent. The film explores a child’s eye view on determination and hunger for professional success in context of Cuba’s surprising impact on formation of male dancers. Director Sylvie Collier, and the triplets, Angel, César and Marcos will attend the screening.

A GIRL FROM MEXICO
Director: Maclovia Martel
Country: Mexico
Year: 2012 | 50 min
World Premiere

Synopsis: A lively and personal documentary on the life of Carmen Gutierrez, the first Mexican dancer to perform on Broadway. The film follows Gutierrez’s career from Bellas Artes in Mexico City with Anna Sokolow to the Ballet Russe (1946), on to Broadway with productions including; “Carousel” choreographed by Agnes de Mille, “Finian's Rainbow” (Michael Kidd), “The King and I” (Jerome Robbins), “Candide” (Anna Sokolow), and “West Side Story” (Jerome Robbins). Her life has a surprise second chapter as a high-end fashion designer in New York. In person mother and daughter, Carmen G. and Maclovia Martel.

LOS TARANTOS

Director: Francisco Rovira Beleta
Country: Spain
Year: 1963 | 92 min

Synopsis: A 50th anniversary screening of this classic flamenco drama inspired by Romeo and Juliet and possibly West Side Story. Los Tarantos is characterized by a sexy, gritty, Catalan gitano style of dancing and marks the final appearance of the legendary Carmen Amaya in the role of Angustias. The star-crossed lovers are Sara Lezana and the mesmerizing Antonio Gades, best remembered for his dancing (and acting) in Carlos Saura’s flamenco trilogy that began with Carmen. The film was nominated for Best Foreign film in 1963 and has not been shown for many years. Actress Maria Esteve, the daughter of the iconic Gades will make a personal appearance at the screening.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s and Dance Films Association's Dance on Camera festival runs February 1-5, 2013. Screenings will be held at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (located at 144 West 65th Street).

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Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on twitter.