DOC SHORTS: DANCE

A special screening exploring the rhythm of daily life through this combination of three doc shorts. 

AMPE: LEAP INTO THE SKY, BLACK GIRL
Dirs. Claudia Owusu, Ife Oluwamuyide
USA, Ghana. 2022. 25 mins. English, Twi, Pidgin with English subtitles.

This joyful ode to girlhood and innocence mirrors the playful spirit of the game from which the title is derived. Ampe, a rhythmic, high-energy game that includes jumping, clapping, and cheering as two teams select a stepping pattern and face off is a Ghanaian staple. From Accra, Ghana to Columbus, Ohio, Ampe: Leap into the Sky, Black Girl chronicles a group of girls as they retrace the steps back to their childhood selves. This charmer presents a slice of Black sisterhood and comments on the arts of home that we carry with us forever.

LES GESTES DE SAINT-LOUIS (SAINT-LOUIS ON THE MOVE) 

Dir. Kita Bauchet

Senegal. 2022. 32 mins. French with English subtitles. 

Saint Louis On The Move is a fascinating short film which explores the  rhythm of daily life in the city. Creative and compelling dance by the two featured dancers from the Senegalese contemporary dance company Diagn’art. The film embodies and reflects the energy, pulse and vibrant colours of  Saint Louis as the dancers guide us through this dynamic city.

SPIRITS WE DANCE

Spirits We Dance takes viewers into an imaginative and surreal mindscape. A world sublime and yet childlike in its beauty, it is created by the characters to escape the pain of reality. Connecting with their spiritual side when they dance, the dancers are free from the restrictions their bodies and society impose. Challenging the idea that spirits are evil and menacing, two dancers find freedom when they leave reality behind and connect with the spirits of dance.

Dir. Natalija Gormalova

Ghana. 2020. 21 mins. English, Twi with English subtitles.