By Rain Francis.

It seems now is the hour for marvellous dance documentaries. The much anticipated Pina by Wim Wenders did not disappoint and next month, dancers and film fans can look forward to what has been called “an enormously satisfying”* documentary, First Position.

Produced and directed by ex-dancer Bess Kargman, First Position follows six young dancers as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix. Every year the prestigious competition attracts over 5000 applicants, of which 300 are selected for the finals in New York City. It is an opportunity to be seen by the world’s top dance schools and companies, who may offer scholarships and contracts based on the dancers’ performances. The stakes are high.

The six dancers on whom the film focuses share a fierce determination and a love of dance, but this is where the similarities end. With origins as diverse as Sierra-Leone, Israel and California, their upbringings differ greatly. Kargan sheds light on each dancer’s family life, circumstances and path thus far. Parents and teachers are also interviewed, giving further insight into the way of life these young dancers are entwined in.

In the same way that Black Swan has been embraced by an audience beyond balletomanes, First Position is sure to engage even the non-dancer. It has won the Audience Award at both DOC NYC Film Festival and the San Francisco Documentary Festival in 2011, and is part of the official selection for several other festivals the world over. Film Journal International called it “a supremely feel-good film”, Criticize This called it a “masterpiece”. First Position opens in cinemas in on May 4.

*Alissa Simon, Variety

Published by Dance Informa digital dance magazine – dance news, dance auditions & dance events for the professional dancer, dance teacher and dance students.

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Published by Dance Informa dance magazine – dance news, dance auditions & events.

The exhilarating new 3D film, PINA, by German master Wim Wenders has already won several awards and has now been nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary. PINA captures the brilliantly inventive dance world of legendary choreographer Pina Bausch.

Wenders had conceived with Bausch a dance film like none seen before, one which would take the fullest advantage yet of new 3D technology to put the viewer deep inside Bausch’s playful, thrillingly unpredictable pieces. After her untimely death in 2009, Wenders continued with the project, turning it into the most exciting tribute he could imagine. Sensual and visually stunning, PINA uses 3D to remarkable effect, taking the audience into Bausch’s work in her imaginative sets (a gliding monorail, a bare stage covered with chairs, a towering man-made waterfall) and powerfully rendering the beauty and sheer physicality of the dances and dancers of her Tanztheater Wuppertal ensemble.

PINA is not only one of the first European 3D movies ever, it is also the world’s first 3D art house film.

February Cover shot:  Damiano Ottavio Bigi and Clémentine Deluy in Wim Wenders’ PINA. 
©Neue Road Movies GmbH, Photo by Donata Wenders.  A Sundance Selects release.

Dance icon Debbie Allen is one of the most respected talents in the entertainment industry. With 3 Emmy Awards for choreography, Debbie is internationally recognized as a director, choreographer and author and is currently the Director for television drama Grey’s Anatomy (which she has also starred in). She is well known for her role in the hit television series  FAME, winning two Emmys and one Golden Globe for her work. Her dancing, choreography and directing credits across television, film, stage and Broadway are numerous and enviable, yet she continues to inspire dancers at all levels of training at her prestigious dance studio – The Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles.

In an exclusive interview, Dance Informa spoke with Debbie Allen in early January about the world premiere she is developing for this year’s Brisbane Festival in Australia.

Dance Teacher Web presents a great series of exercises to develop core strength featuring Jessica Rizzo. Every month Dance Teacher Web presents new work in it’s members area. Make the move to join the number one dance resource for teachers worldwide. Providing tips, tools and tactics to gain, train and retain better students! www.danceteacherweb.com

Jessica Rizzo is a native New Yorker and grad student in NYUs dance education masters program. She is also a cum laude graduate with her BFA in dance performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst 5 College Dance Program. Since then, Jess, a Chancellors Talent Award Scholarship alumni has been fortunate to have graced stages all over the world.

What is DanceTeacherWeb.com?
DTW is a membership website designed exclusively for dance teachers and dance studio owners. Members have access to 100′s of exciting choreography videos in all styles and levels including preschool, “how to” teaching videos, informative, educational and motivational articles, downloadable forms and so much more. Every month new and fresh material is added in all areas of the website. Check out all the membership options we have available, we’re sure to have one to meet your needs. Dance teacher training, business development and personal growth. That’s http://www.danceteacherweb.com/!

Morphoses’ first resident artistic director is noted choreographer and stage director, Luca Veggetti. Under his artistic direction Morphoses is producing its first evening-length production, Bacchae, set to premiere during a debut season at The Joyce Theater, NYC, October 25-30, 2011.

Click here to read our interview with Morphoses dancer Brandon Cournay

The dance industry is joining forces through danseCOUPON – the new online coupon resource for dancers – to help give back to our community that we all are so deeply passionate about. With danseCOUPON, dancers, teachers and studio owners can enjoy the events, dancewear and educational opportunities they crave for a fraction of the cost!
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