YOU ARE THE PUBLIC! Dare to Dance in Public Film Fest & #GivingTuesday

As #GivingTuesday & the holidays approach, we are getting excited about all that’s coming up for Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival, and sharing it with all of you! We are SO thankful for your readership, your support, and your enthusiasm…

Today we turn to you and invite you to help us continue championing dance films made in the public sphere!

As a young girl, studying dance and growing up in LA, I didn’t just see dance in studios and theaters – I saw it everywhere. It was in the rhythm of a self-professed preacher intoning the word of God as people passed him on a street corner, in a baby holding herself up and bopping to music before she could even walk, and in the swoop and sway of a flock of birds while pattern diving through the sky. And when I began doing large-scale, public works in alternative sites and saw the enthralled reactions of passersby from simply watching rehearsals, I realized that dance didn’t just belong in studios and theaters to a specific socio-economic or cultural group in the know, but out in the public sphere where it can be accessible to everyone. That’s why I write ScreenDance Diaries — to spread the wealth and beauty of dance.

Jacob Jonas in "What's the Rush?"
Jacob Jonas in D2D winner “What’s the Rush?”

Dance is a life force… a part of the pulse of the human spirit. I believe that we humans are born hardwired to dance. Dance is a common language that can speak to all of us without saying a single word…  And like life, dance is ephemeral, which is part of where the beauty of film comes in. Film not only preserves dance, its undeniable reach becomes a whole new platform for experimentation and evolution!

It’s out of all these thoughts that Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival was born.

This Tuesday December 3rd is #GivingTuesday and we turn to you, our readers, and ask for your help with D2D. Your tax-deductible donation of any amount will go directly towards fees and cash awards for winning filmmakers, as well as towards infrastructure. And every film that wins will be offered up right here in these pages for your viewing pleasure! We are truly a grass roots organization and no amount is too small.

This is our third year (Round 3) of Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival, with the submission deadline around the corner on December 15th. To date we have gathered amazing panels of gold standard judges from the worlds of dance and film, and received submissions from countries around the globe, an enormous number of which were created uniquely for this festival. We are so thrilled and proud to be inspiring creativity!

D2D winner"Hell You Talk 'Bout"
D2D winner “Hell You Talm ‘Bout”

And in just a few days we have an exciting interface to announce with Dance Camera West!

So this #GivingTuesday we invite you to be part of a MOVEMENT! Please send your tax-deductible donations to:

Next Echo Foundation
215 S. Santa Fe Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Next Echo Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Federal Tax ID# 82-2509232. All donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Checks should be made out to Next Echo Foundation, earmarked for D2D in Public in the lower left hand corner.

If you prefer to donate by credit card please go to: https://nextecho.org/donate, click: honor someone with this gift, and write in Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival. If you prefer to send a bank transfer please contact me at sarahelgart@mac.com and I will provide the necessary informationWe will send an email acknowledging your donation, and all contributors will also be thanked by name on Cultural Weekly and in all platforms for Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival.  

You are the PUBLIC in Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival!

Thank you!

https://vimeo.com/312190814

 

*Feature photo from Dare to Dance in Public Round 2 winner “Moving Southwark”

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