virtual screening available for free on our website
Sans Souci presents our 6th annual Black History Month Screening, featuring the work of directors and dancers of color, as well as films that examine or celebrate the Black experience.
As part of our efforts to move toward a more racially just and socially equitable landscape for dance cinema, SSF has been celebrating heritage months with screenings highlighting artists from communities underrepresented in the field, and from marginalized communities. These screenings have always been free of charge to our local community in Boulder, Colorado, USA, but since the pandemic began, we’ve taken them online to share with the wider dance cinema community.
program of films
This screening runs approximately 59 minutes. It is recommended for viewers age 12 and up due to one film containing adult language; please contact us with questions. TRIGGER WARNING: the film “Door of No Return” contains explicit references to human enslavement. One film is geographically restricted to viewers in Colorado.
Burn From The Inside
2024 / United Kingdom / 10 min
Burn from the Inside is not your typical narrative work. It delves into the exploration of music and its origins, examining why we have an innate desire to dance or move when we hear music, sound, or voices. It seeks to understand the essence of what triggers our movements and the emotional responses evoked by music. – Mthuthuzeli November The profound question arises: why do certain things compel us to jump up and dance, while others make us want to sit back and do the opposite? The most significant realisation in this exploration is that from the very beginning, we were destined to be moved by sounds.
Waiting for the Bus
2023 / United States / 7 min
documentary
A short which features Michael Wolfe who identifies as “a black, queer performance artist with autism” offers insight into his daily life and inner world through movement, text, and song.
Door of No Return
2024 / United States / 16 min
documentary
This film is restricted to viewers in Colorado, USA. Click here to watch.
A full body artist, Gregory Maqoma, navigates his own identity through a deeply personal narrative performed at House of Slaves on Goree Island, Senegal, a landmark to one of humanity’s most horrific journeys. Yearning for a way to move through past and present complexities, Gregory’s artistry breaks down walls and reframes history.
Home|Room
2024 / United States / 5 min
first-time filmmaker
I feel confined/stuck. In this home. In this room. In this mind. Confined to both psychological and physical space. Stuck in a continuous, never ending loop. Ever changing but staying the same. I feel confined…stuck in this Home/Room. This film was created as a part of Sans Souci Festival’s Community Dance Film Project, with funding from the City of Boulder Arts & Culture.
F3VER
2024 / United States / 15 min
documentary
F3VER follows the journey of Andrew “3D Dance Fever” Jones, a native of Bakersfield, CA, who defies societal expectations as a street dancer, high school substance abuse counselor, and globally recognized dance fitness instructor. As Andrew navigates the challenges of his hometown, he discovers the power of dance as a transformative tool, using its rhythms to overcome personal adversity and inspire others. Through movement-based scenes and heartfelt moments of reflection, the film shines a light on Andrew’s resilience and showcases the universal language of dance as a means of healing, self-expression, and empowerment.
Organized Hope
2024 / United States / 6 min
Inspired by Kintsugi, the traditional Japanese craft of repairing broken ceramics using lacquer mixed with gold and the belief that something can be more beautiful through the stresses endured. Seiwert asked herself: coming out of an era that broke many of us, can we be re-formed? Can we create something both stronger and more beautiful?
That’s all, folks! We hope you enjoyed the screening. If you have a moment, please take our audience survey to help us understand how we’re reaching people and what they enjoy about us.