Selected dance films
Five films made between 1994 and 2006, in collaboration with choreographer Jonathan Burrows, that have attracted particular attention, and have been screened widely. Two of the films (Hands and blue/yellow) were selected by both Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and by William Forsythe for international tours of their favourite dance films. Most recently, Forsythe included Hands in his Venice Biellane exhibition at Palazzo Grassi (2022).
The films were in most cases funded with grants and commissions from the Arts Council of England, the BBC, Kai Theatre, and the Prudential Award for the Arts.
The collaborating composers were invariably Matteo Fargion and/or Kevin Volans.
In the case of blue/yellow the dancer was Sylvie Guillem, who also commisioned the film for her BBC/France 2 carte blanche called Evidentia.
Adam has written 2 texts about dance film:
What Does a Dance Film Maker See?
Reviews and other commentary can be found on the bio & information page.
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Rights apply in all cases.
blue/yellow
1995
Super-16 film, 1.78:1, colour
digital transfer
17 minutes
BBC/France2
Courtesy of Warner Digital Classics
Sylvie Guillem dances.
Jonathan Burrows choreography.
Hands
1995
35mm film, Academy ratio, monochrome
digital transfer
5 minutes
BBC/Arts Council
Courtesy BFI/Arts Council of England
Jonathan Burrows dance for hands.
A pattern woven from motion and sounds.
very
1994
Super-8 film, optically printed to 16mm, 4:3 monochrome
digital transfer
14 minutes
Film grain and severly restricted vision.
Imperfect apprehension in the foreground.
The Stop Quartet/film
1996
Super-16 film, 1.66:1, monochrome
digital transfer
44 minutes
Arts Council/Prudential Award for the Arts
Joanthan Burrows choreographs a quartet.
Film-making that is defined by a strict pattern.