The dance is wherever you are

At 16 minutes, Marta Renzi's documentary film, Where The Dance Is (2009) offers just a glimpse of choreographer/dance instructor Doug Elkins's work with students of Manhattan's Beacon School. But it's a very nice glimpse, and I especially appreciate the understated way in which Renzi demonstrates how a teacher, with confidence in the value of artistic uncertainty, can make space for students to arrive at their own collaborative solutions.

Amid brief interview clips, we watch the kids learn to put creative twists on their gymnastic tricks and even tackle some safe-enough, Streb-inspired moves. Elkins marvels at how the work brings out positive swagger and a strong sense of identity in these teens.

Where The Dance Is is an official selection of the 2010 NYC Downtown Short Film Festival, to be screened on April 26 at the Duo Theatre. For further information and ticketing, click here.

Berkeley crisis--Pt. 2: Body and Soul podcast

Carissa Kranz

Carissa Kranz is a ballerina and studies law at the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt). She's also one of many Berkeley students protesting proposed budget cuts that would greatly diminish the school's much-respected physical education department and its dance classes. Hear why this program is important to the 5,000 students it serves each year and how students like Kranz are organizing to save it.

Berkeley crisis--Pt. 1 featured David E. Garcia, a graduate student in the Chemistry department, dancer and choreographer.

Join the Save the UCB PE Department! group on Facebook.

"Don't Hurt the Body for the Mind" by 12 Lecturers of The Physical Education Program, The Daily Californian Online (March 13, 2009)

The Daily Californian

UC Berkeley Department of Physical Education

(c)2009, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

MP3 File

Berkeley crisis--Pt. 1: Body and Soul podcast

David E. Garcia is a graduate student in Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley. He's also a dancer, a choreographer and one of many Berkeley students protesting proposed budget cuts that would greatly diminish the school's much-respected physical education department and its dance classes. Hear why this program is important to the 5,000 students it serves each year and how students like Garcia are organizing to save it.

Berkeley crisis--Pt. 2 will feature law student and ballerina Carissa Kranz.

Join the Save the UCB PE Department! group on Facebook.

"Don't Hurt the Body for the Mind" by 12 Lecturers of The Physical Education Program, The Daily Californian Online (March 13, 2009)

The Daily Californian

UC Berkeley Department of Physical Education

(c)2009, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

MP3 File