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The Spirit Moves: A History of Social Dance on Film, Pt. 1 (EXCP Bronze)

The Spirit Moves: A History of Social Dance on Film, Pt. 1 (EXCP Bronze)

Starring:: Mura Dehn
Producer:: Dancetime Publications
Level:: -
Genre:: Blues, Lindy Hop, Movies & Documentaries
Format:: DVD
Running Time:: 45 minutes
Release Date:: 2008
Availability:: Available

Summary

** Due to the high cost and limited availability, this title is only available on Silver and Gold plans **

The Spirit Moves is a documentary film by Mura Dehn chronicling the evolution of African American social dance throughout the 20th century. It consists of many hours of rare archival footage shot over the course of thirty years. The complete version is only available at a select few institutions. In 2008 the first three parts of Dehn's work, totaling two hours, were remastered and released on this DVD set. It's a must see for any swing enthusiast.

Part 1: Jazz Dance from the Turn of the Century to 1950 was filmed at the Savoy Ballroom of Harlem in the 1950s, and features demonstrations of ragtime and jazz dances by well-known dance artists including James Berry, Pepsi Bethel, Teddy Brown, and more. Dances shown include the Cakewalk, Charleston, Black Bottom, Susie Q, Shake Blues, Gutbucket Blues, Trunky Doo, Big Apple, and aerial Lindy Hop.