In its pilot year, DFA invited high school students throughout the five boroughs to submit dance films between 1-5 minutes in length. Films could be documentary, narrative or art films with any dance subject serving as inspiration: social or street dance, dance in religious settings, professional dance, or non-dance images filmed so they evoke dance. Film submissions could also be inspired by existing dance films. The students were encouraged to address the relationship between dance and the camera, linking the two in imaginative ways. DFA hosted multiple workshops, led by Deirdre Towers, Ellen Bar, and Zach Morris to guide the students through the dance filmmaking process.

We are pleased to announce the selected films!

Breaking Pipes by Kaitlyn Cirielli
Rebecca by Zach Paul
Super Josh by Emma Huibregtse
We Three by Anna Vomacka

Congratulations! Introduction on Sunday by Ellen Bar with a clip from her film, NY Export: Opus Jazz, followed by a screening of the selected films and a Q&A with the student filmmakers.

The winning student filmmaker’s work will be included in the closing night program alongside Check Your Body at the Door and freedom2dance at the Walter Reade Theater on Tuesday, January 31 at 9:00pm. As a partner in supporting future filmmakers, Dance Camera West will host the winner of the NYC competition at it’s annual film festival in June 2012. DFA envisions expanding the reach of dance film instruction and promotion for this competition within high schools throughout NYC and eventually beyond the NYC area.

Thank you to our High School Student Film Competition Jury: Erich Rettstadt, Valerie Rochon and Zena Bibler!