Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema is offering a series of new programs designed to introduce viewers to dance film, connect artists with audiences, and encourage movement and artistic expression in the community. Each in-person event will consist of a dance class designed for movers of all mobility levels and types, a dance film screening, and a discussion with a local filmmaker. Films shown will be screendances (an artistic medium that fuses choreography and cinematography) as well as dance documentaries, and the lineups will feature dancers from around the world with a focus on dancers across the age spectrum. Michelle Bernier, Co-Director of the Festival, will facilitate discussions with featured local artists, and dance teachers will rotate monthly. No dance experience necessary, come as you are, leave when you want!
West Age Well Center 909 Arapahoe Ave Boulder, CO 80302
Accessibility: ADA accessible building, screening on the first floor, wheelchair seating available upon request.
with support from
May 9, 2022 from 12-2pm
low-mobility-friendly dance class, dance film screening, and discussion with a local artist free to the public age 60 and better
Tentative program below.
Samskara
2020 / United States / 7 min
Directed by Angela Rosales Challis
Produced by Chelsea Alley, Heather Francis
Dancing by Joseph Run Through, Delfine Uwimbabazi, Jyothsna Sainath, Jamaika, Sebastian Forbes, Akiko Kaneshiro, Joshua Perkins, Presley Fewkes, Sheyenne Utai
Written by Angela Rosales Challis, Conor Long
An abstracted film to contribute to the fight against racism. As an immigrant, I have experienced it first hand. This film showcases the beauty and richness of humanity. Nine cultures unite to make art. The dancers will tell you what brings humanity together. We must come together. This project was funded by the Utah Film Commission, Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and BYU Arts Partnership.
SAND
2010 / United States / 10 min
Directed by Cari Ann Shim Sham*
Produced by Kyle Ruddick, Cari Ann Shim Sham*
Choreography by Kenji Igus, Darrow Igus & Cari Ann Shim*
Dancing by Darrow and Kenji Igus
Cinematography by DP-Ross Riege, additional by Phillip Abrams & Kyle Ruddick
Edited by Cari Ann Shim Sham*
Sound Design by T.K. Broderick
SAND, a short experimental dance-for-camera documentary, tells the story of sand dance as it is passed down from father to son.
Imagenes De Una Realidad / Images Of A Reality
2020 / Mexico / 4 min
Directed by Cecilia Appleton & Ana Baer
Choreography by Contradanza
Dancing by Cecilia Appleton, Yseye Appleton, Marco A. Hernandez, Mariana Rosales, Rosa Villanueva
Special guest Mirta Blostein
Music by Grupo Urbano de Iztapalapa
Photography by Viridiana Bravo
Cinematography by Ana Baer
Second camera by Yseye Appleton
Edited by Ana Baer
re’ver’ence
2013 / United States / 3 min
Directed by Mary Wohl Haan
Produced by HAAN Dances
Choreography by Mary Wohl Haan
Featuring HAAN Dances
Dancing by Mary Wohl Haan with musician Anthony Salvo
Music by Anthony Salvo
Cinematography by Sabrina Cavins
In light, shadow, and sound, simple steps taken with respect and awe.
Lay Me Low
2020 / Canada / 8 min
Directed by Marlene Millar
Produced by Sandy Silva
Choreography by Sandy Silva
Featuring Sandy Silva Dance
Dancing by Andrew Bathory, Sonia Clarke, David Cronkite, Dominic Desrochers, Josée Gagnon, Josianne Laporte, Hélène Lemay, Kimberly Robin, Sandy Silva, Bobby Thompson
Music composed by Traditional Shaker song
Music performed by Performers
Cinematography by Geoffroy Beauchemin & Peter Krieger
Edited by Marlene Millar
Sound design by Felix Boivert
This Shaker mourning march cuts to the heart, communicating a universal feeling of loss while evoking a sense of intimacy.
Stopgap in Stop Motion
2016 / United Kingdom / 5 min
Produced and Directed by Stephen Featherstone
Choreography by Lucy Bennett
Featuring Stopgap Dance Company
Dancing by Amy Butler, Laura Jones, Nadenh Poan, Chris Pavia, Hannah Sampson, David Toole, David Willdridge, Tomos Young
Music by Dougie Evans
Cinematography by Stephen Featherstone
Performers in disabled and non-disabled dance company “Stopgap” move in and out of photos and across tabletops until the whole company meet and perform in unison.
June 13, 2022 from 12-2pm
low-mobility-friendly dance class, dance film screening, and discussion with a local artist free to the public age 60 and better (register here)
Coil & Web
2020 / United States / 9 min
Directed by Gretchen LaBorwit
Produced by Evolving Doors Dance
Dancing by Erika Curry-Elrod, Hanna Ghadessi, Gretchen LaBorwit, Samantha Lewis, Kat Kalamaras, Angie Simmons, Alfred Smith, Victoria Stone
Bodies swirl and shift through Coil & Web, navigating natural elements and internal landscapes, contemplating the accelerating disconnect and the unseen entanglement of life forces on our planet. At the core of our being lies a code that defines us, a script that writes our story and interweaves our lives with others, making it evident that, even at our basic genetic level, we are 99.9% alike…more alike than we are different. This internal connection expands from living being to living being, creating an invisible web that is imperceptible to measure, yet omnipresent. Coil & Web journeys to a place where pushing past the noise and tuning in to a deeper connection aligns us on the same frequency, spiraling towards oneness and turning away from division.
SOHAM – The Swan
2019 / India / 6 min
Directed by Usha Rajeswari
Produced by Divya Devaguptapu
Choreography and dancing by Divya Devaguptapu
Featuring Divya Devaguptapu
Music composed by Ranjani Ramakrishnan
Music performed by Ranjani Ramakrishnan, Prithvi Chandrasekhar, Abhinandan Ramakrishnan, Sunil Kumar
Cinematography by Shiva GRN
Edited by Usha Rajeswari
In the West, Swan Song is an idiom often used to denote a final act or performance, in reference to the beautiful song the swan is believed to sing right before death. In contrast, the East perceives the Swan (Hamsa in Sanskrit) as a symbol of supreme consciousness – of life and freedom. The Swan is a homeless free wanderer, that swims on the surface of the water and soars into the air; at ease in both and not bound to either. In this film, the iconic ballet Dying Swan becomes a point of departure – compositionally, choreographically and metaphorically. SOHAM is the Immortal Swan Song of the East, performed in the movement language of Bharatanatyam (Indian Classical Dance) and a soundscape of Carnatic Music (Indian Classical Music).
Unspoken Spoken
2018 / United Kingdom / 18 min
Directed by Fin Walker, Ross McGibbon
Produced by Candoco Dance, The Space
Choreography by Fin Walker
Featuring Candoco
Dancing by Tomas Gulgec, Roberta Pitre, Jess Dowsewell, Dan Daw, Jemima Hoadley, Julie Cleves
Music composed by Ben Park
Music performed by Ben Park, Rebecca Jordan, Buffy Rowe, James Taylor, Geriel, Suzuki Destanika
Cinematography by Ross McGibbon
Edited by Josh Levinsky
Breaking down the rules that restrict us, those that lie within and those that lie without.
Groggy Grugg
2018 / United States / 4 min
Produced and Directed by Conor C. Long
Choreography by Brianna Lopez
Featuring University of Utah Screendance
Dancing by Grugg
Music by William Cannon
Cinematography by Conor C. Long
A claymation screendance short film about that terrible every day struggle to get out of bed for that first delicious cup of coffee.
July 11 2022 from 12-2pm
low-mobility-friendly dance class, dance film screening, and discussion with a local artist free to the public age 60 and better
More info coming soon.
August 8 2022 from 12-2pm
low-mobility-friendly dance class, dance film screening, and discussion with a local artist free to the public age 60 and better
More info coming soon.
The background image is a still frame from Since The Silence (2016, Canada) directed by Thomas Corriveau. The foreground image is a still frame from Stopgap in Stop Motion (2016, UK) directed by Stephen Featherstone