Dance Film WHIRLING LADDER | BETWEEN
A 10 minutes screendance, created by choreographer, dancer Chun Zhang and Kai Strathmann, with videographer Maurits Boettger. WHIRLING LADDER | BETWEEN is a dance production from YIBU DANCE. It not only shows the compelling interaction of human bodies, but also the indissoluble connection between body and space-time and ultimately between dance and viewer, by interweaving the principles of Chinese martial art--Wing Chun and the geometry of DNA base pairs with artistic precision. The movie captures the details of this stage performance with taste and excitement, showing its own character and statement in a clear and minimalist way.
Official Selection
Thessaloniki Cinedance International 21, GR
Cinedanza Festival 21, IT
MOVING BODY Festival 21, BG
Rogue Dancer 2021, USA
Multiplié Dance Film 01.22, NO
Flatlands Dance Film Festival, 01.22 USA
Constructed Sight Film Festival, 03.22, USA
Tanztausch Online Plattform 22, DE
Dance Italia Film Festival 23, IT
Jury's Feedback
The specificity of the choreography gives this work striking originality. Filming and editing elements do a good job of helping to create a unique tone and focus. Consider length and variety as they relate to developing the ideas and engaging the viewer.
Clear themes/usage of body and "space-time." Liveliness in a single moment. Beautiful and engaging presentation, interesting movement form and rhythmic patterns. Compelling use of camera, bodies, and space. Sound score contributed to the unique experience, High quality cinematography. The close framing sparks curiosity while providing an intimate perspective of the performer's body and movement pattern. Captures presence through balance of stillness and movement, costumes added a sense of life and party to the minimalistic presentation. Costumes made me think of the body as a disco ball. I appreciated the natural silhouette and seeing skin to add humanity to robotic movement. Costume, lighting, and set marry well.
Absolutely a brilliant concept and wonderfully put together. High quality filming, unique shots, high production value, highly professional dancing and clarity in movement. I was completely intrigued and focused on the lack of audible rhythm and the sounds my mind was creating while watching the movement. I was counting along with the dancers and hearing a pulse of my own. I appreciated the gender neutral approach where I couldn't really differentiate between the bodies. This leaves me wondering about what I'm missing in the shot, (which I liked). The wider shots I appreciated towards the end because of the intensity of the closeups for such a lengthy period of the piece. My only critique would be to incorporate the wide shots for a bit longer perhaps. It was very satisfying to see the fuller scope of the bodies with the lighting and I might have walked away with the feeling of a fuller perspective.
Very striking shots. Super creative on excluding sound but keeping rhythmic movement in bodies. I liked only showing sections of the body a lot throughout. Film and editing really enhanced viewing.