intro to screendance

Screendance is a dynamic art form where dance is specifically created for the screen. It offers a distinct experience by allowing the audience to engage with dance in novel ways.

When I was studying dance and film, we simply referred to them as "dance films." These works are typically short, closely tied to music, and often employ experimental film language to explore abstract concepts, emotions, and stories.

In this vlog, I explore the history of dance films to highlight their creative elements, offering inspiration for artists, dancers, and filmmakers.

2009 Culver City, CA / editing Escaliers

2019 Seattle, WA / dancing Singing Stove

film history
first dances filmed

• Hoop (1892)
  Etienne-Jules Marey

• Serpentine Dance (1895)
  Annabelle Moore

experimental films
studies on movement 

• Emack - Bakia (1926)
  Man Ray

• Contaminated Containers (1996)
  Stan Brakhage

dance for film
studies on pace and edits

• Muurwerk (1986)
  Raxane Huilmund

• At Land (1944)
  Maya Deren

dance appreciation
dance language and competition

• Nutcracker Ballet (2011)
  Kathryn Morgan

• All That Jazz (1979)

musicals
using color

• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

• Guys and Dolls (1955)

partner dancing
emotional tension

• Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
  Gene Kelly with Cyd Charisse

• An American in Paris (1951)
  Gene Kelly with Leslie Caron

modern dance films
dance movies and musicals

• Honey (2001)

• La La Land (2016)

music videos
classic and contemporary

• Love on Top (2011)
  Beyonce

• Anna (2015)
  Will Butler

• Around the World (1997)
  Daft Punk

• Night Fever (1977)
  Bee Gees

• Tras Vos (2019)
  Nicki Nichole

• Weapon of Choice (2001)
  Fatboy Slim

• Moscow Mule (2022)
  Bad Bunny

• Gold (2014)
  Chet Faker

• Wildewoman (2018)
  EIEEEN FISHER & Mari Madrid

• Don’t Let’s Start (1985)
  They Might Be Giants

modern screendance
documentary and feature length

• Pina (2011)
  Wim Wenders

• Rosas danst Rosas (1997)
  Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker

extra history

• 1890s - 1990s
  playlist from my instructor at Cornish

Hoop

Emack-Bakia

Muurwerk

Nutcracker Ballet

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Singin’ in the Rain

Honey

Love on Top

Around the World

Tras Vos

Moscow Mule

Wildewoman

Pina

Ted Shawn Choeur Dance

Serpentine Dance

Contaminated Containers

At Land

All That Jazz

Guys and Dolls

An American in Paris

Anna

Night Fever

Weapon of Choice

Gold

Don’t Let’s Start

Rosas danst Rosas

Dom Svobode

March 25th, 2025

Escaliers