“Dance on Camera” is set to debut Oct. 13 at 8 p.m at the Grace Street Theater. The video dance event, presented by the department of dance and choreography, will feature four short films that have never been seen in Richmond from the New York Dance Films Association, Dance on Camera Film Festival.
The screening will include “Propiedad Horizontal,” by David Fariás, Carla Schillagi and Argentinian director Maria Fernanda Vallejos. The film was nominated for a Jury Prize at the 2009 Dance on Camera Film Festival. Another film, “Veiting Norba” was directed by Latvian-Didzis Eglitis and “Mysteries of Nature,” was the winner of the Dance Films Association 2009 Jury Prize. “Nora,” the Audience Favorite at the 2009 Dance on Camera Film Festival will also be shown.
Melodie Fais, a senior dance and choreography major, has been going to the screenings since her freshman year at VCU.
‘Dance on Camera’ is always a nice way to watch dance without the stress of performing,” Fais said. “I know after I see the show I am always really inspired to start creating something new, and I can see the screenings impact my peers’ choreography as well.”
Martha Curtis, a dance professor, said she wants to expose audiences to dance forms that have exploded in the last 10 years.
Curtis said Richmond and VCU students need to know about this type of art form.
“It also exposes us to artists from all over the world that we wouldn’t be able to bring here because of the cost and linguistics,” Curtis said.
Corrine Bates, a senior dance and choreography major thinks “Dance on Camera” is perfect as the second event to happen in the year because it’s something new.
“Even some of the dance majors have not been exposed to video dance and it will bring new motivation to the department and anyone who views it from the Richmond dance community,” Bates said.
Felix Cruz, a senior dance and choreography major, said it is important for non-dance majors to see the screening to broaden their minds.
“Dance videos tend to be quite out there and I feel that this gives the non-dancing audience a kind of lubrication for the work the dance students and teachers present on stage,” Cruz said.
Bates said ‘Dance on Camera’ showed her the different possibilities of dance.
“I enjoy watching ‘Dance on Camera’ because it allows me to see what is possible for dance when you add another art form to it,” Bates said. “Editing opens doors for anything you can dream of creating with dance. It creates endless possibilities and is a nice change to seeing the standard choreography presented on a stage.”
The VCU “Dance on Camera” is on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. at the Grace Street Theater. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. For more information call Grace Street Theater