The lines between dance and film will blur Wednesday, Nov. 12, when the annual Cucalorus Film Festival kicks off its 20th year with the eighth installation of Dance-a-lorus at 7 p.m., at the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
Cucalorus director Dan Brawley said Dance-a-lorus has grown into a unique event with the help of a partnership between his organization, The Dance Cooperative and New York’s Dance Films Associated.
“We have a core group of choreographers and artists who have really built Dance-a-lorus into a cherished tradition,” Brawley said. “As we went through this year’s process, I thought a lot about what that meant to watch a program grow from the ground up. Really it is all due to the fact that there are a hefty number of choreographers in Wilmington who dedicate a good part of their year for this performance.”
The Dance-a-lorus lineup includes nine performances total, from both local and New York City-based choreographers.
Brawley said the performances would span all genres of dance performance.
“There is a nice mix — everything from really entertaining, high-energy fun stuff to some somber, thoughtful pieces and even some stuff that is really experimental in terms of how they are using technology,” he said. “There is not a common theme and that is how we programmed it. We are looking to represent different styles and different artistic voices.”
Choreographers to be featured include Mirla Criste, Linda Ann Web, Phillip McGee and James Devita, Kevin Lee-y Green and more.
Dance-a-lorus has steadily grown each year since its inception in 2007 and its popularity is reflected in more dance-themed programming in Cucalorus itself. Instead of one block of short films about dance, this year’s festival will include two blocks and more feature films focused on dance.
“It is a real gift for Cucalorus and the Wilmington community, and one of the great things about it is now Dance-a-lorus has a reputation that is expanding so there are dance groups from other cities who are applying to be part of it now,” Brawley said. “It has helped us expand our programming around dance so we will have a nice selection of dance workshops this year.”
Brawley said he could not think of a better way to kick off the festival’s 20th anniversary.
“I don’t think any of us would have dreamed that it would become such a pivotal event for the film festival and for Wilmington,” he said. “Artists from all disciplines are experimenting with film and the possibilities that are presented by the moving image are pushing them to take risks and experiment, and that is at the core of what Cucalorus does.”
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