First off, for anybody who is seeking feedback on their work, or interested in watching and discussing videodance with a great group of folks, you should head to Williamsburg this Tuesday for the next Dance Film Lab:

Dance Film Lab
Tues. October 9, 2007, 8pm at the South 4th Bar and Cafe in Brooklyn.
South 4th Bar and Café is located at 90 South 4th Street at Berry St, Williamsburg; (718) 218.7478; Subway: L at Bedford Ave. ; J, M, Z at Marcy Ave.

This salon series offers screenings and discussion of dance films
and videos as still works-in-progress. Dance filmmakers join together
to present raw footage, drafts, works-in- progress and newly finished
films to their peers for constructive feedback, share information, and
address technical, practical and artistic challenges. Free and open to
public. For a review of the first Lab in October, ‘06, click here
Reservations are necessary.
To attend and/or present at the Lab, contact Zachary Morris: morriszachary@hotmail.com.

I’ve
been at every Dance Film Lab since it started a year ago, and I can’t
say enough about it. Zach is a fabulous moderator who creates a
supportive, inclusive, and safe atmosphere for the artists and viewers
alike. Using the Liz Lerman/Dance Exchange process of Critical Reponse
people are able to give constructive feedback that is useful to the
artists. I’ve shown a bunch of stuff (raw and finished) at these Labs
and always felt invigorated and buoyed by the exchange. This Lab will
be the first one in a public space (before it was hosted by filmmaker
Kathleen Fitzgerald in her live/work space The Bunker which, alas, is
no more…) and I’m hoping that it will be as cozy and warm as the
previous labs. Zach promises that the folks at South 4th Bar are great
and excited to have us, so come check it out!

Secondly, the deadline for the next Dance On Camera Festival has passed, however you may still be able to be part of the selection process. The Dance Films Association
has been holding a series of pre-screenings on Saturdays at Dance/NYC
in Soho as well as by appointment at their office in Chelsea. The goal
is to have each entry viewed by at least four people who evaluate them
and narrow down the selection for the programmers. Last year I
coordinated the pre-screenings and watched close to 200 titles! It’s a
fascinating process to see the range of work being made from all over
the world, and as thanks, DFA is granting pre-screeners who watch 3 hrs
a free 07-08 membership.  If you are interested in being a pre-screener contact Deirdre Towers or Latika Young at: info@dancefilms.org.

robbinschilds C.L.U.E.
@ PS 122
Photo by A.L. Steiner

The
fall performance season is well underway in New York, and I’m noticing
that videodance programs are popping up in conjunction with live
programs more and more.  Here are a few that sound interesting:

Club Midnight @ Two Boots Pioneer Theatre
new cinema by Amy Greenfield
Friday Oct. 5th & Saturday Oct. 6th @ midnight
East 3rd Street between Avenues A and B (closer to A)
CLUB
MIDNIGHT turns erotic dance around, into a female empowering expression
of desire, mystery, longing, danger, energy, strength, anguish, and
joy. The multi-talented dancers reveal themselves – body and soul – in
several interrelated films.

at Crossing The Line: FIAF Fall Festival
The Best of Hors Pistes from Centre Pompidou
Friday & Saturday, October 5 & 6 at 7pm
Tinker Auditorium , 55 East 59th Street
(Saturday’s screening includes The Cost of Living a must-see dance film by Lloyd Newson and DV8)

Video Art From France presented by Chez Bushwick
Friday, October 12, 2007 @ 8pm
Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022

robbinschilds C.L.U.E. at PS 122
December 5- Saturday, December 8 at 8:30 p.m.
Additional late show on Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
150 First Ave. at E. 9th St.

Know of any more cool dance/video/film events coming up? Give me comments!