Dance Film Academy participants announced

Arts Council England has announced the residencies for its Dance Film Academy project which will take palce later this year. They are:

Christine Alex Reuben (director) and Sheron Wray (choreographer) will work with A J Murray (director of photography), Jane Hodge (editor) and Equal I (musician)

LullabyJasmin Vardimonn (choreographer) will work with Leon Baugh, Luke Burrough, Kath Duggan, Mafalda Deville, Hofesh Schechter (dancers). Director tbc/

To go to Jane Mason (choreographer/director) will work with Jules Maxwell (composer) and Lee Marriott (cinematographer

Porphyria's Lover Tim Meara (director), Rafael Bonachela (choreographer) and Oswaldo Macia (composer) will work with Attlia Kun, Cristina Hortiguela, Amy Hollingsworth, Miranda Lind, Antonia Grove (dancers), Stephen Berkoff (actor), Alexander McQueen, Allan McDonald (designers) and Ruth Palmer (violinist).

There will be something, later Magali Charrier & Lucy Baldwyn (director/choreographer)

Dance Film Academy is a two-week residency aimed at choreographers, composers and directors, who will be invited to present their film idea to a panel of judges, that will include members of the public. The winning team will then be awarded a production prize, worth around £100,000, to develop the idea into a finished 30-minute film. The residency, based in Wales, will also be the subject of a BBC documentary.  Judges were looking for applications from either teams or individuals who have a strong idea and experience of working in dance film. The five teams will spend the two weeks developing their idea and the most exciting, interesting or innovative will win the prize.

Jeanette Siddall, Director of Dance at Arts Council England said, 'Dance Film Academy is a brilliant idea. It offers artists working in dance, music and film an opportunity to collaborate in new ways, and will provide a window on the challenges, frustrations, and discoveries of the creative process. I am delighted that the partnership with the BBC and the Scottish Arts Council is making this possible, and look forward to seeing the finished programmes.'

The residencies will take place during August or September this year, with the film due for completion by January 2005.
Dance Academy is a new collaboration between Arts Council England, the BBC and Scottish Arts Council.