Artist Spotlight - Andy Margetson

April 18, 2023 by Nicole Manoochehri

filmmaker andy margetson — Filmmaker Andy Margetson

Throughout the years we’ve met incredible people within the dance film community. We have decided to do an interview series to spotlight these individuals!

Andy Margetson is an award-winning Director based out of London, UK. Some of his short Dance Films include 'Lil Buck with Icons of Modern Art', 'Reborn', 'Nela' and 'Duet'.

Andy was the director of “STAVROPOL” which was an official selection of our 2022 film festival!

How did you get into dance filmmaking?

I have always worked with music and dance, from my earliest music videos through to larger commercial projects such as re-branding BBC One in the UK. In 2018 I was commissioned to make a film with Lil Buck at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. It went on to win a number of awards and launched a series of short dance films.

What draws you to the screendance genre?

For me, the combination of Music and Dance has the power to move an audience more directly and immediately than any other medium.

Do you prefer choreography or more of an improvised approach?

For me, improvisation is choreography. Its choreography felt on the spur of the moment. What's exciting for me is an artist revealing their musicality - seeing how they respond and connect with a piece of music, whether it's choreographed ahead of time or in the moment.

Is there anything else that you would like us to share?

I have just come back from teaching a masterclass in filming movement at Cinedans, Amsterdam, and am completing a film with artist Hew Locke.

You can learn more about Andy on his website https://margetson.com/ as well as check out his dance films.

Instagram @andymargetson

dance film STAVROPOL — Film Still From “STAVROPOL”
Directed by Andy Margetson & Choreographed by Irina Kononova
Images provided by Andy Margetson

Artist Spotlight - Erika O'Neill

April 13, 2023 by Nicole Manoochehri

Dancer Director Choreographer Irrbloss Erika O’Neill — Director, Choreographer and Producer Erika O’Neill.

Throughout the years we’ve met incredible people within the dance film community. We have decided to do an interview series to spotlight these individuals!

Erika O’Neill is a director, choreographer, and producer based out of the small village of Årsunda in Mideast Sweden. Erika was the producer, writer, co-director & choreographer for the film “A Part” which was an official selection of our 2021 film fest!

What are three words that describe you as an artist?

Flowing, Emotional, Juicy.

How did you get into dance filmmaking?

As a kid, my father showed me Gene Kelly’s musical films, all of them from the old classic ‘Singing in the Rain’ to ‘The Pirate’. I guess that’s where it all started. And after breaking one too many of my mother’s porcelain vases while trying to interpret Kelly’s moves in the living room, my parents placed me in a dance school. I just love dance on film and it’s the best way of spreading dance and inspiring people all over the world.

During my years of dancing professionally, I have always loved working with film. I love being on a set and getting creative in ways you can’t be on a regular stage. The creative process of making a dance film is really something special. And I like to describe it as creating a painting, a piece of art that you can watch over and over again and keep for the rest of your life. Don’t get me wrong I love working on stage as well but when working with film you can give your audience your exact idea and it’s in many ways easier to give light to your story.

During the pandemic, I suddenly had a lot of spare time to create - but as we all know it, no live audience. As a choreographer, dancer, and dance teacher this was a really hard time for me as I had no work opportunities and all my dance classes got canceled. In April 2020 I received a scholarship for 2000 euros to create a piece about the Covid 19 situation and I realized that dance film was the best way to reach an audience. I had worked with Simon Hjortek before by creating music videos and I really love his artistry. I wanted him to give his unique artistic style to the film because, from my point of view, he was the only one who could make this idea as feverish, emotional, and epic as I wanted it to be. I presented the idea of “A Part” for Simon and together with the young dancers, we created something very special and unique for the Swedish dance film scene.

What inspires you as an artist?

I’m born and raised in a small village far out on the Swedish county side, and I still live very close to nature. I guess the forest and its surroundings always has inspired me in many ways. It’s where I go to seek inspiration and it’s the only place I can totally leave the outside world for a bit. (The only place I can get my ADHD brain to be totally silent) As long as I can remember I have always turned to the forest to seek inspiration and creativity. As a little girl, I always danced barefoot in a special grove close to a small water stream, a place I still return to whenever I’m in need of inspiration. My daydreaming grove. I have always loved storytelling in different ways and as an adult, I love to recreate stories through dance. I guess I’m very driven to create dance and art on topics that might not be the typical `dance subject´. I want to give my audience a reality check while enjoying something beautiful. Tell a story with pure fire and heart and create movement based on real stories from real-life events.

Your favorite quote?

If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.

You can learn more about Erika on her website https://erikaoneill.com/

Instagram @_irrbloss_

Erika O'Neill Dancer Irrbloss — Dancer: Erika O'Neill
Images provided by Erika O'Neill.

An Interview with Sylva Šafková Choreographer of Award Winning Film “THROUGH GLASS”

April 07, 2022 by Nicole Manoochehri

THROUGH GLASS is a captivating dance film from Prague that was selected as the winner of the 2021 Pick Of The Fest Award at our 5th Annual Film Festival in November!

dance film THROUGH GLASS 420PEOPLE Dance Company, director Marek Partyš, choreographer Sylva Šafková,

The dance film THROUGH GLASS by 420PEOPLE Dance Company, directed by Marek Partyš and choreographed by Sylva Šafková, combines contemporary dance and a visual story that describes the image of distorted reality: “Reflections, angles of view, distorted reality... but if you hold it against a mirror, the letters will go again in the right direction.“

“From the shot variations to the connection to the music and its magical sense of inquiry. This film had beautiful choreography from duos to trios to a play with lighting and even the mysterious mirror vortex. Taking us from one world into another, opening the doors of perception.” - Olivia Mia Orozco

The contemporary dance group 420PEOPLE, named after the Czech country code, was founded by Václav Kuneš and Nataša Novotná. The company has now been a stable player on the Czech and international theatre and dance scene for 14 years.

Award Winning 420People Choreographer Sylva Šafková — **We Had The Pleasure Of Interviewing Choreographer Sylva Šafková!**

As a choreographer at 420PEOPLE Dance Company was “Through Glass” made in response to live performances being canceled in 2020?

Yes, at the moment when the government banned theatrical performances and other mass events, I suddenly found myself without the possibility of creative creation for the audience in the traditional theatrical form. Luckily the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic saw this problem and announced a grant to support digital media. This grant enabled me to create a dance film together with the support of 420PEOPLE dance company. Support came also from the director Marek Partyš, who I invited to collaborate, together with the production company Bistro Films he often works for.

Were there any huge differences between setting choreography for film rather than for the stage?

It's a big difference to create a choreography for a film, one has to think on a different level. The movie is much faster. Together with the dancers, I created about 20 minutes of material for a 7 minute film.

How was the collaborative process?

I presented my project to the experienced film director Marek Partyš. We then searched for locations and consulted ideas. At the same time, I worked with dancers on the movement material and talked a lot about the specific moods that the camera should capture. It was my first experience with a film.