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4 DVD Warehouse DVDs- Documentary


Why Dance?

Why Dance? Cover

UPC: 00837101052788
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Synopses & Reviews

Review:

"...Why Dance? takes every length to answer its title question as thoroughly as possible. Highly Recommended." Midwest Book Review

Review:

"This full-length documentary is a labor of love..." Library Journal

Review:

"Passion and enthusiasm shine through both the eloquent testimonies and the dance footage in this touching production" Booklist

Review:

"We are taken behind the scenes for interviews with parents, dancers, and veteran professionals driven to pass their enthusiasm on to younger generations." School Library Journal

Review:

"At almost two hours of length, Why Dance? gets into the nitty gritty. Anyone interested in the world of dance will gain tremendous insight after watching this film." Roundtable Review

Review:

"Why Dance? takes a viewer beyond the performance into the minds of the dancers, exploring what drives these women and men to give up everything else in their lives in order to dance....Recommended..." Educational Media Review Online

Synopsis:

Why Dance? is an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the world of dance.

It examines what attracts so many to this wondrous art form including young students, former ballerina's, and current dancers. It explores why they dance and what drives them from their early introduction to the neighborhood dance studio to the stages of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, a professional dance company in San Jose, California.

This full length documentary discusses the benefits of dance competitions including substantial footage of one of many competitions and conventions held in many cities throughout the country every year. It includes interviews with various winners including Peter Chursin (Mr Dance of America 2003) and Ashley Canterna (Miss Dance of America 2002). The rigorous training, stretching, and rehearsing is also shown as many of these young people put every thing they have into trying to impress the judges during a 2 ½ minute dance routine.

Parents discuss the benefits of both dance and competing with respect to the positive influence it has had on their children's scholastic achievement and self confidence.

Not only do ballerina's (including former dancers with American Ballet Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem) share their early experiences growing up in the world of dance, but we get an insight from such notables as Dennis Nahat(world renown choreographer/Artistic Director), Karen "KB" Brown (Artistic Director of the Oakland Ballet), and Daryl Gray (choreographer). Other contributors to the film include photographers Roger Ele, Hubert Worley, Christopher Jean-Richard, and world renown Martha Swope.

It examines the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi which is held every four years where dancers from all over the world attend and compete for "The Gold".

Dance as a career is discussed in numerous conversations with current professional dancers and former dancers with such notable dance companies as American Ballet Theatre, The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the Stuttgart Ballet. Advice is given freely and quite candid in format.

The darker side of dance is also explored including injuries, eating disorders, and insecurities, issues that all dancers will face sooner or later.

This film goes behind the scenes of a professional dance company's production of "The Pirates of Penzance", a ballet staged by Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley in San Jose, California. Behind the scenes footage includes actual choreography being set in the rehearsal hall as well as footage of the actual performance and extensive discussion by the choreographer, Daryl Gray.

Included is a heart-warming "Billy Elliott" type story of a young boy that not only overcomes the objections of his father but turns him into one of his biggest supporters at the same time.

This film is not only an informative look at the world of dance but often times an entertaining look as well.

Product Details

UPC:
00837101052788
Studio:
James E Manning Inc
Publication Date:
2006-02-21
Binding:
DVD
Rating:
NR
Region:
US and Canada
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