I am excited to announce the launch of Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival: Round 4! (D2D) . 

D2D is a live & online dance film festival dedicated to democratizing dance, doing it in public, & sharing it on film. D2D is devoted to the international genre of screen dance. We are committed to promoting dance that happens in the public realm – outside of studios and off traditional stages…dance that explores place & space, engages an unsuspecting public, and intersects with film.  D2D presents films that explore dance as an urgent, irrational, universal language…films that both inform & transform our ideas of what it is to be human.

This year we are once again graced with a panel of stellar judges including: Peter Chu, (Founder/Director: chuthis, Choreographer, Dancer: Kidd Pivot, Aszure Barton & Artists, Cirque du Soleil), Moncelle ill kozby Durden (Assistant Professor of Practice USC Kaufman School of Dance, Dancer, Historian, Ethnographer, Author, Documentarian). Kristy Edmunds (Executive & Artistic Director of UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance – CAP UCLA, Artist, Curator, Frequent keynote Speaker), Rosalynde Leblanc Loo (Chair of Dance Program Loyola Marymount University – LMU, Choreographer, Dancer Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane), and of course yours truly. We are so excited to have them on board and welcome their expertise in the judging process.  Full profiles on the judges coming next week!

The name/theme of this year’s festival is aptly entitled PANDEMANIA!… an unofficial term (likely on its way into Webster’s Dictionary soon!) Our definition of PANDEMANIA is:

PANDEMANIA: pan.da.may.ni.uh (noun), a state of abnormally elevated arousal, affect, and energy level due to isolation, frustration, anger, and various strong emotions brought about as a direct result of the Coronavirus, as well as issues/world events e.g. systemic racism, immigration, the environment, LGBTQX & women’s rights, and other pandemics in our collective history. Pandemania frequently ensues in a heightened need for self-expression through movement.

We are urging D2D participants to stay safe while filming and adhere to social distancing rules applicable in their areas.  Because dance is a universal language and so much of our communication is non-verbal, what better platform for all of the above?

Please carefully read the following RULES & REGULATIONS and… ALWAYS ABIDE BY PUBLIC SAFETY RULES IN YOUR AREA:

Films that are planned and shot listed as well as films that are shot from the hip are accepted.  ALL FILMS MUST CREATIVELY EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION OF DANCE & CAMERA.

DARE TO DANCE IN PUBLIC FILM FESTIVAL: Round 4:  PANDEMANIA!  Rules & Regulations:

This year, because we are in the midst of a pandemic that limits our interactions with one another and out in the world- especially in public spaces – the rules and regulations for D2D have changed.

– Each film can take place either in a public and/or private outdoor or indoor space, e.g.: a city street, alley, parking lot, grocery market, building or plaza, bus/train terminal, private home, deck or yard, museum, station, etc., providing it is acceptable and abides by social distancing rules in your area.

– In addition to exploring the interaction between dance and the camera, this year the emphasis will be on films that creatively explore the use of the site and/or place you are dancing/filming. We are seeking films that creatively, unconventionally, and safely use a select location – be it buildings, nature, furniture, rocks, rooms in houses and other urban sites etc. – creatively, unconventionally, and safely.

– Length: Each submission must be a minimum of 2 minutes and not exceed 6 minutes 30 seconds in length.

– Both POLISHED & RAW films are accepted:  POLISHED: e.g. films in which filmmakers intentionally create and/or pre-conceptualize the choreography & filmic approach) and/or RAW, e.g. films in which filmmakers capture a dancer(s) or an event that appears to be happening in a spontaneous and/or unplanned fashion (e.g. found dance).

ALL FILMS, BE THEY RAW &/OR POLISHED, MUST HAVE AN INTEGRITY OF FORM & MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS PURSUE A SPECIFIC  RELATIONSHIP OF MOVEMENT/DANCE TO CAMERA.

– Submitting filmmakers must provide a brief synopsis of their film, including where it was created/filmed.

– Each film must include the hashtags: #DareToDance #D2D #ScreenDanceDiaries #NextEcho.
Winning films must be shareable on Vimeo &/or Youtube.

– We ask each Filmmaker to follow us on Instagram (if applicable): @dare2danceinpublic @arrogantelbow @zoe.rappaport

– Deadline for final submission is 11:59 pm Pacific Time on December 15, 2020.

– Submission/processing fee is $25 per entry*.

*Multiple entries by a single filmmaker are welcome, each entry requires a separate submission fee.

All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway using this link: https://filmfreeway.com/DaretoDanceinPublicFilmFestival

Awards & Prizes (*Minimum $100 per category, exact amount TBA)

• Best Interface of Dance & Camera
• Best Original Choreography
• Best Use of Location
• Best Editing
• Most Daring Film

Submissions will be judged based to a greater or lesser degree (depending on the submission category) on the quality of the overall film, its editing, choreography, concept, originality, use of space, and interface of the dance with camera.

We can’t wait to see what everyone submits!

Meanwhile, take a look at our Round 3: winner, Tadhi Alawi’s one-minute SIX FOOT DISTANCE DANCE that was featured in a special on the BBC!