Dance docos at Sydney Film Festival

If you love a dance documentary then the 2016 Sydney Film Festival has some treats lined up for you. The festival runs 8-19 June.

Mr Gaga is a documentary about Ohad Naharin, the artistic director of Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company.

 

 Filmed over eight years, this documentary mixes rehearsal footage with previously unseen archival material and dance sequences.

Choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millipied is the subject of Reset. This documentary follows Millipied from his return to Paris to take the role of director of the Paris Opera Ballet, after 20 years in the US. Millipied wants to shake up the traditions of the company. The camera watches as he selects 16 young dancers and embarks on creating a new ballet.

From internationally acclaimed choreographers to half-time entertainment on the American football field, Contemporary Color is a documentary about American “colour guard” teams. Colour guards are secondary and tertiary level school dance groups who perform during half-time at football games and compete amongst themselves. In 2015, musician David Byrne gathered together ten of the best colour guard teams from across North American to perform their routines to music composed by the likes of St. Vincent, Nelly Furtado, Ad-Rock + Money Mark, Nico Muhly + Ira Glass and Byrne himself. Contemporary Color explores both the event and the hopes, dreams, homes and personal histories of the performers.

And finally from the very young to the elderly, Winter at Westbeth is filmed across one year at New York City’s Westbeth Artists Housing. The film follows video artist Edith Stephen (95), who hopes to complete an experimental film for her birthday; revered contemporary dancer Dudley Williams (75) who rehearses for a return to the stage; and published poet Ilsa Gilbert (82), who faces her impending mortality with poetry.

For more info about screenings and bookings, head to the Sydney Film Festival website.