Gallery/Film Paper

Caitlin Pupich

Gallery Paper

ART 245

Third Coast Dance Film Festival

            This film festival was created as a force to mold together the art of contemporary dance and film through selected short dance films. Some of the films were dramatic scenes left for interpretation by the viewer. The second film Promenade was a very interesting interpretation of dance and how it can manipulate emotions, instincts, and even space.  During the beginning of the dance, each of the dancers’ faces are hidden and they work independent of one another. Eventually, they begin to use each other to create a more powerful dance. The music itself is starts quietly but quickly grows to an uncomfortable level with sounds that seem almost frightening. The narrative being presented could be interpreted in many ways, but overall, the filming choices led to a universal emotion in each part of the dance.  For the dance elements, they incorporate the dancers to be part of the beautiful, modern architecture that they dance in. Overall, it is about interacting with environment and becoming a part of it.  Many of the films, such as 3 Converstations, which uses the small space of a kitchen to explain the constraints a relationship, and Passing Through, which uses dancers as a part of popular landscapes and landmarks, incorporate the dancers into their background.

            Some of the films, such as Ravendoe, which explored the relationship between the dark raven and light doe, told a more direct story. Some of these included Besties, which looked a night in the life of two friends, and Klasse that showed the disappearance of students in classroom during WWII.  Their dancing and filming was more oriented at character development and emotional connection between the characters and audience.