WHAT IT IS DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL: IF THE DANCER DANCES

SUNDAY, JULY 14
Presented by Townsend Security
2:00PM doors / 2:30PM show
$9 GA / $6 OFS
If the Dancer Dances invites viewers into the intimate world of the dance studio. Stephen Petronio, one of today’s leading dance-makers, is determined to help his dancers breathe new life into RainForest (1968), an iconic work by the legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham. With help from three members of the former Cunningham company, the film tracks Petronio’s dancers as they strive to re-stage this great work, revealing what it takes to keep a dance – and a legacy – alive. Timed to coincide with Cunningham’s centennial, If the Dancer Dances is the first documentary on the subject of Cunningham’s work since his passing in 2009.
Dir: Maia Wechsler / 2019 / US / 83 mins

“The film’s director, Maia Wechsler, is attuned enough to the details that even viewers without the faintest grasp of dance technique — picture my hand sheepishly raised — will gain a strong sense of what made Cunningham’s work groundbreaking.” – Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times

“If the Dancer Dances is obviously a must-see for any dancer, but even more than that, it’s a good viewing experience for artists of any discipline.” – Lorry Kikta, Film Threat

“Modern dance devotees and fans of legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham will find much to appreciate in the lovingly crafted documentary ‘If the Dancer Dances.’” – Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

SUN 7/14 2:30PM

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