Dance Camera West Celebrates its 25th Year

Wednesday January 29 to Sunday Feb 2, 2025

Programs include   World Premiere film by Benjamin Millepied’s Paris Dance Project ,

Wim Wender’s PINA in 3D, LA POPS UP, DCW Visibility Productions ,

Plus over +50 International Short and Doc Films, Co-Creator Lab with Guest Teachers,

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Barnsdall Art Park and The Philosophical Research Society

LOS ANGELES, CA – In 2025 Dance Camera West (DCW), will celebrate its 25th year as the world-renowned, Los Angeles-based organization committed to exploring dance on screen.

Dance Camera West 2025 will take place on Wednesday, January 29 to Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, atop the beautiful hilltop Barnsdall Art Park (4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027) with a special presentation at the Philosophical Research Society (3910 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027).

All tickets are pay what you can.

The most up-to-date festival schedule, ticket links, and film guide can be found at https://dcw.eventive.org/welcome.

Dance Camera West 2025 will showcase a curated selection of 50+ films from 20 countries that represent the pinnacle of dance film creativity—each making its World, U.S., or Los Angeles premiere. This year, programs will include DCW’s signature VISIBILITY program premieres, a retrospective of Los Angeles choreographer David Roussève, a world premiere feature doc from Benjamin Millepied’s Paris Dance Project, LA POPS UP, curated by Kitty McNamee | Hysterica, celebrating L.A.’s unique industry choreographers, plus a reprise screening of Wim Wender’s iconic dance film PINA in 3D.

The Film Programs feature premieres of short and documentary films are by U.S. and international artists including Ryan Heffington, Mike Tyus & Luca Renzi, Nina McNeeley, Sara Silkin, Gabri Christa, Cara Hagan, Mitchell Rose, Keith Glassman, and many more! 

The 2025 edition will also include a five day co-creation lab for filmmakers and dancers, artist Q&As, and receptions to enrich the community experience.

The full list of films screening at Dance Camera West 2025 is available here: https://www.dancecamerawest.org/dcw-2025-selected-films

Join award-winning director and artist Katrina McPherson, author of Making Video Dance and Course Leader of the MA Screendance at London Contemporary Dance School, for a practical 2-day workshop in the art of screendance. Evolve the skills to create / adapt performance for screen and explore approaches to making screen dance. Please bring a camera or phone to use and wear clothes that you can move in. There will be tasks set for you to do during and following the weekend for which access to some editing software is preferable but not essential. 

$200 regular price/$150 students *Scholarships available

Santa Monica College, Dance Department Studio, 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405

The 22nd edition assures a memorable cinematic experience unfolding from Thursday, January 25, to Sunday, January 28, 2024, within the timeless surroundings of the historic Barnsdall Art Park.

Located atop the picturesque hill of Barnsdall Art Park (4814 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027), the Gallery Theatre sets the stage for a night of elegance and artistic celebration. Indulge in light refreshments and mingle with fellow dance film enthusiasts as we kick off this four-day extravaganza.

Dance in Focus Film Festival: REFLECTIONS

Free Film Screenings: July 12-16, 2023

Inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo along with the biographical ballet Frida, created by choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa for Dutch National Ballet, the Dance in Focus Film Festival: REFLECTIONS features dance films exploring autobiography and self-portraiture. 

Dutch National Ballet's U.S. premiere of Frida will take place July 14–16 at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. To purchase performance tickets, click here.

Winning Films Announced

Professional Category

• Moving Portraits (Himerria Wortham, Raquel Cabrera)

• Topia (Jessie Lee Thorne & Justin Thorne)

• First Dance 2.0 (Jingqiu Guan)

• Mend (Chris Emile, Jackson Kroopf)

Student Category

• The Whirlwind (Kate Ketcham, Julia Ponce-Diaz)

• Alternate (Lexii Regina)

Full films will be posted soon.

DCW 2022 marks the 20th Season of this world renowned dance film festival!!
 As we’ve done since 2001, DCW will screening the top films selected from over a record number of 400 submissions from around the world, in a LIVE IN PERSON EVENT at two esteemed Los Angeles performance and film venues.

DCW is proud to once again partner with LA presenters across the city of Los Angeles, Theatre Raymond Kabbaz to present international films and to be one of the first film events at the newly founded 2220 Arts & Archives (formerly The Bootleg Theater).

13 distinct programs featuring a selection of the top international films, with a record number of U.S. and Los Angeles-based artists.  

The closing night of the festival will be the centerpiece of the festival, when we present the six films DCW helped produce made by the recipients of the NEA funded, DCW Finishing Fund for Underrepresented Filmmakers. 

Join Us for a special spring Dance Film Workshop this May! Email kelly@dancecamerawest.org for more information and to register! #dancefilm #dancefilmworkshop #dancefilmworkshops #learntheartofdance #danceoncameraworkshop #danceoncamera #screendancefilm #screendance #dancefilmfestival #dancefilmmaker #dancefilmmaking #dancefilmmakers

The Broad Stage is creating a unique DRIVE-IN MOVIE experience as the closing night of the month-long Dance Camera West film festival screening the finalists and award-winning (tba) films from 2021. Dance films ranging from group dances in remote landscapes, urban spaces and dance studios around the world, to introspective solos that invite us to share space with dancers sheltering at home. Experience the energy, vitality and passion of dance in the context of the challenging times we are living in.

LIMITED CAPACITY - BUY EARLY!

These programs will take place in person at the Santa Monica College Bundy Campus East Parking Lot (3171 S Bundy Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90066). Each car requires a ticket. No passenger limit. Must adhere to COVID protocols; Run time: Approximately 65 minutes per program; Recommended for ages 10 and up; Late arrivals will be parked at the back; Gates open one hour prior to the start of each program; Parking available on a first come, first served basis; Upon completion of the program, cars must exit the lot immediately. If you are attending both programs in one night, you must exit the lot following the first program and reenter prior to the second one; Advance sales only. Tickets available online until show time; Restrooms will be available onsite; Sound will be broadcast on low-power FM radio only.

Tickets available at thebroadstage.org/dancecamerawest

Program details: http://www.dancecamerawest.org/2021-festival-schedule

KIN International Women's Film Festival, 17th edition,

The festival’s goal is to promote women’s creativity, establish a network between woman filmmakers from different parts of the world and give hand to a better understanding of different cultures and each other. The purpose of the festival is to address through films issues of violence, inequality, discrimination and other problems related to women’s rights and gender problems. https://kinfestival.com/.

Program:

The Dérive, Experimental Short, Tanin Torabi 7:39 Iran

Sisters, Narrative Short, Daphne Lucker, 15:00 Finland

Bhairava, Experimental Short, Philip Szporer, Marlene Miller, 13:45 Canada

DCW On Tour will be part of a virtual cinema program in Eventive. The films open each Thursday for a weeklong run and are available on demand to students and the community. Ticket prices are $8 and $5 (students). More to come!

But First, Narrative Short, Erin Brown Thomas, 5:22, U.S

Home, Experimental Short, Project Home Productions, 17:26, U.S.

Unspoken Spoken, Experimental Short, Fin Walker 17:39 Great Britain

Ali, Experimental Short, Rain Kencana, 13:29, Germany

Sisters, Narrative Short, Daphne Lucker, 15:00, Finland

Maids, Short , Sofia Castro, 5:00, Argentina

Making Men, Short Antoine Panier, 20:00, Belgium

The Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles Celebrates L.A. Dance with the Los Angeles Dance Festival & Dance Camera West: Dance From LA, Off the Stage & Onto the Screen In response to the cancellation of live events during the pandemic, the City of Los Angeles invited these two local dance organizations to create online programs that highlight the innovation of Los Angeles dance makers. Bringing together two programs, one both documenting and re-crafting the stage works of the Los Angeles Dance Festival produced : Brockus Dance Project, and a second a program featuring films presented at the 2020 Dance Camera West festival.  

Dance Camera West 2020 – Los Angeles Films:

Cielo Short, Director: Will Johnston, 9:14

If I Sound Happy, That's Your Mistake Short, Director: Derrick Belcham, Choreographer/Performer: Matilda Sakamoto, 11:59

A woman feeling a growing disconnect from the world attempts to reach out with renewed vulnerability, but the rejection, comparison and confusion that ensue end up causing a greater sense of loneliness.

Family Portrait Short, Director/Choreographer: Jingqiu Guan, 10:44

Confronting conflicting values, a young woman returned to her home country to rediscover what has shaped her own beliefs : tracing different lessons bestowed to her from her grandmother, her father and her son.

Wounded, Not Conquered Experimental Short, Director, Troy Brieser, Performer/Choreographers Sally O’Grady, 2:49

An abstract dance performance film about the selves we reveal online, and what the true nature of authenticity means in an environment where words and images are robbed of their original meaning.

Save Your Self Narrative Short, Director: Craig Baurley, Choreographer: Lydia Purves-Ware, Perfomer: Anne-Marie Talmage, 5:30

After attempting a world flight, and ditching over the pacific, the lone female pilot finds herself amidst feral beings stalking her in the shadows of Bikini Atoll, a radioactive island. These beings telepathically manipulate her thoughts and movement; generating a deranged dance as she battles to gain control of her wits.

One Another Director: Kevin Frilet, Choreographer: Julie Bour, 7:54

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Los Angeles Dance Festival

The LADF films choreography highlighting the changes when a piece is seen live vs in edited were created in a pandemic at Brockus Project Studios as a tiny sample of LA choreography. Dances created with safety in mind as solos shot in studio with items on hand part of LADF choreography highlighting the changes when a piece is seen live vs in edited dance film. This Brockus Project Dance Company event is supported in part : The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Spirit Framed, Choreographer/Performer: Raymond Ejofor

Music : Bensound; Director of Photography : Patrick Mignano, Hurricane Deck Productions; Set Design : Partick Mignano; Costume : Patrick Mignano; Editor: Patrick Mignano

An essay on structural elements of design and how the physical world related to and influences each individual.

Drift, Inner Landscape, Choreographer: Deborah Brockus, Performer: Julienne Mackey,

Director of Photography: Patrick Mignano, Hurricane Deck Productions, Set Design and Costume: Deborah Brockus, Editor: Patrick Mignano, Hurricane Deck Prodcutions

A section of a work contemplating the inner space of our minds and memory. Events and emotions that we often cover up in dusty attics to revisit later. Emotions and events that leave traces and scars that we work with every day.

Refesh, Choreography/Performer : Olivia Perez

Music: I like Summertime : Gregg Young, Performed : Gregg Young & the 2nd Street Band, Shore Records, Gregg Young Music ASCAP ©℗®, Director of Photography : Patrick Mignano, Hurricane Deck Productions, Set Design : Deborah Brockus, Costume : Olivia Perez, Editor: Deborah Brockus

A work about joy and happiness through movement set to Long Beach’s well know musician, Gregg Young and the 2nd Street Band.

Perspective, Choreographer/performer: Charlotte Smith

Director of Photography: Glyn Gray Stir Studios, Set design: Charlotte Smith, Music: Zac Greenberg, Editor: Glyn Gray,,Stir Studios, Costume: Charlotte Smith

Dance Camera West is are proud to announce the DCW2020 Virtual Film Festival will be launched on OVID.tv Thursday May 14 until Monday June 1, 2020. 

For two weeks viewers can purchase viewing 7 day access to most of the films screened in January 2020 at the Los Angeles based festival. Through the generosity of presented filmmakers, the box office will support DCW’s programs. Following the festival run, many of the films will remain available to OVID subscribers, with future revenues going to the filmmakers.
 
One of the beauties of an event like Dance Camera West is that it is part of a very large international community. A community of performing artists and filmmakers that are particularly hard hit because of the very public nature of our work. Indeed, Dance Camera West had a spring touring plan in place including screenings at the Los Angeles Dance Festival, The Frida Film Center, The Muckenthaler Center, and Arts Power at UC San Diego in Fall 2020. 

Now that live events are on pause and must be rescheduled and/or re-envisioned, DCW is still working to sustain itself and its filmmakers financially.  Through a partnership with a DCW festival sponsor OVID.TV, DCW 2020 is now available for home viewing and joining a platform that already hosts a fine collection of dance films streaming online.
 
Dance Camera West Executive Director Kelly Hargraves says, "DCW2020 was a resounding success. Highlights were creating a more inclusive, diverse selection committee, with 30 artists/curators; a record number of 350 film submissions; a record number of 75 films presented from over 40 countries; over 1200 audience attendees; and most importantly, the fulfillment of the DCW mission to create revenue for artists through live event presentation and distribution. The diversity and breadth of the programming presented in DCW2020 was our greatest success. We have received notes of praise and requests to view the films in the months since our January event. We are so very proud to now be able to share it with wider audiences."

Thursday 1/9

THURSDAY 1/9 8:30 pm

Special Guest Katrina McPherson and Edouard Lock
Film Screenings and Q&A.
Preceded by CalArts School of Dance "One Another"

Friday 1/10

Friday 1/10 6:30 pm

"In the Anchor Print"
Experimental Short, Leandro Navall, 6:46 Argentina

"Wounded, Not Conquered"
Experimental Short, Troy Brieser, 2:49 U.S. (CA)

"Screaming Shapes"
Experimental Short, Sophia Stoller 6:06 U.S.

"Kopitoto"
Experimental Short, Lisa Kusanagi 6:15 Japan

"The Dérive"
Experimental Short, Tanin Torabi 7:39 Iran

"The Wait Room"
Experimental Short, Austin Forbord 15:00 U.S.

"HOME"
Experimental Short, Project Home Productions 17:26 U.S. (CA)

"Save Your Self"
Narrative Short, Craig Baurley 5:30 U.S. (CA)

"Bhairava"
Experimental Short, Mouvement Perpetuel 13:45 Canada

FRIDAY 1/10 8:30 pm

"Cinderella Games"
Narrative Short Daniel Alicandro 6:29 Great Britain

"KOTA"
Project Home Productions 7:23 U.S./Japan

"Unspoken Spoken"
Experimental Short, Fin Walker 17:39 Great Britian

"Dialectics"
Experimental Short Denis Stulnikov 3:00 Ukraine

"Making Men"
Short Antoine Panier 20:00 Belgium

"If I Sound Happy, That's Your Mistake"
Short, Derrick Belcham 11:59 U.S. (CA)

From There to Here"
Short, Janique Robillard 17:55 U.S.

"But First"
Narrative Short, Dance Film SF 5:22 U.S. (CA)

Saturday 1/11

SATURDAY 1/11 12 noon

"Juan of the Witches"
Doc Short Andrew Houchens 18:14 Mexico

"Three Dances"
Documentary Feature Glória Halász 76:00 Austria

"Parkinsons Dance"
Doc Short RUTGERS FILMMAKING 5:23 U.S.

SATURDAY 1/11 1:30 PM

"OME"
Experimental Short Camila Arroyo 3:38 U.S. (NY)

"Cielo"
Short Will Johnston 9:14 U.S./ LA, CA

"From Knee to Heart" featuring Sol
Documentary Feature Johanna Tonini 83:00 Spain

SATURDAY 1/11 3:30 PM

"Humana"
Short Paulina Rutman 5:35 U.S (CA)

"Kreature" featuring Sasha Waltz Company
Feature Bettina Borgfeld, Jochen Sandig 90:00 Germany

SATURDAY 1/11 5:30 PM

Special Curated Program - DARE 2 DANCE IN PUBLIC. Winners Announced Dec. 17th!

SATURDAY 1/11 7:30 PM

"PungJeong.Gak (A Town with a Blue Hill"
Experimental Short Joowon Song 15:28 Korea

"Goldfish"
Short Rain Kencana 3:00 Germany

"ALI"
Experimental Short Markus Kaatsch 13:29 Germany

"About Face"
Short Melissa Higgins 6:14 U.S.(CA)

"SISTERS"
Narrative Short Hidde de Vries 15:00 Finland

"Maids"
Short Sofia Castro 5:00 Argentina

"MASS"
Narrative short Fu LE 10:00, France

"Family Portrait"
Short Jingqiu Guan 10:44 U.S. (CA)

"FÖLD - Sculpted in the wind"
Narrative short Marzio Mirabella 11:36, Italy

"I See My Life Through Your Eyes"
Experimental Short, Kim Saarinen 12:00, Finland

SATURDAY 1/11 9:30 PM

"Vestiges"
Short, Mary Fitzgerald, 6:56, U.S. (Arizona)

"Some ways to get rid of a body"
Narrative short, Ria Bäckström, 22:37, Finland

"A Dance For Ren Hang"
Experimental Short , Jeremy Chua, 9:25, Singapore

"Bloodroot"
Narrative short, Or Schraiber, 5:40, Israel

"Don't Miss It"
Experimental Short , Teddy Tedholm, 4:58, Great Britain

"Skin I'm In"
Experiemtnal Short , Cody Buesing, 3:13 U.S. (NY)

*Program order SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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INFO@DANCECAMERAWEST.ORG323-493-1548