Tribeca Film Fest Is Now Dancer-Approved

March 17, 2015

The always-trendy Tribeca Film Festival features an intriguing twist this year: A line-up of dance films! Thank you, Robert De Niro—we highly approve of these choices. 

 

Our top Tribeca picks: 

 


Les Bosquets
 

This short film
 by Parisian street artist JR is based on the ballet he co-created with Peter Martins, which featured Lil Buck and New York City Ballet dancers. Admittedly, the ballet—also called Les Bosquets—didn’t exactly get the greatest reviews (or ever return to NYCB’s rep). But the film version of JR’s experience in the ghetto where he created his first major art project uses video archives, choreography and testimony to create a compelling narrative. It also features music composed by Pharrell Williams, among others. 

 


MA

Last July, Dance Magazines cover story featured Celia Rowlson-Hall, the innovative, Bessie Award–winning multi-hyphenate who was in the process of creating her first feature film at the time. It’s now finished, and will have its premiere at TFF. The “modern-day silent film” is billed as a “modern-day version of the Mother Mary’s pilgrimage,” set in Las Vegas. Rowlson-Hall not only wrote and directed it, but stars as Mother Mary. Keep your eyes peeled for top dancers like Jason Kittelberger, formerly of Cedar Lake. 

 


A Ballerina’s Tale

If you thought Misty Copeland had hit her media saturation point, you were wrong. This new documentary about her rise in ballet despite struggles with race and body image doesn’t seem like it will add that much insight to her already well-told story. But who cares? It promises never-before-seen footage of her performing and close-ups of her feet. Check out the trailer here

 

 

Exact dates and times of all screenings for the festival, which runs April 15–26, will be announced soon. Check tribecafilm.com/festival for details.