104. The Dance; movie review

 

THE DANCE

Cert TBA

87 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

I have often written that I enjoy pushing my boundaries via the everyfilm quest.

Thus, I have watched many documentaries about fashion, art and countless cultures which I would not have otherwise encountered.

However, as much as I hoped I would enjoy The Dance, I reckon this was a movie for connoisseurs only.

Pat Collins' film follows the eight-week rehearsal period leading up to the opening night of the theatrical show MÁM, choreographed by Michael Keegan-Dolan. 

Keegan-Dolan inspires his dancers and musicians to come up with unique ideas to be part of the show and adds the best of them to a white board.

There are deep conversations between the dancers about the process .

It reminded me of one of those away-day office brainstorms which I loathed.

However, his team are bubbling at the challenge and, in response, throw their lithe bodies across the floor.

The problem for the uninitiated is that it is impossible for us to understand what are good concepts and will fit into the production and what are not.

So, when the cast put brown bags over their heads or start to clap in unison, I have no idea what they are representing, whether their action is particularly novel and why Keegan-Dolan thinks it's a winner.

The Dance is focused on the creative process rather than the final production.

This is a bit like watching my favourite football team practice corner kicks without seeing if their efforts bear fruit on match days.

I wouldn't find that very interesting and that is a field for which I have a passion.

During The Dance I am afraid I was just lost.

 

Reasons to watch: A step out of the comfort zone

Reasons to avoid: Too freewheeling

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 4/10

Did you know? Dance can be broken down into the following five elements: Body. Action. Space. Time. Energy

The final word. Pat Collins: "I wouldn’t have been as interested if there was a story in the piece. It was that idea of just really immersing yourself in the whole process and trying for us, as filmmakers, to just get out of the way and observe what was happening and not control it in any way." Hot Press

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