House Dance International - Film Screenings

Film Screenings

Consistent with its theme of advancing House Dance culture, HDI has screened various films that address the subject matter of House Dance. Past films screenings have included:

• Check Your Body at the Door: Dr. Sally Sommer, Professor of Dance at Florida State University, presented her remarkable documentary film that explores the movement vocabulary of legendary NYC house dancers, including Archie Burnett, Willi Ninja, Ejoe Wilson, Marjory Smarth and Conrad Rochester. Made possible in part by contributions from the National Endowment of the Arts, Dr. Somner interviews dancers from the local NYC scene and captures now-vintage footage from the late 80s and early 90s. Check Your Body at the Door now stands as an historical document and testament to the early years of NYC’s house dance culture.

• How Do I Look: Directed by Wolfgang Busch, How Do I Look is the follow-up the international breakthrough film Paris is Burning. The film documents New York’s underground ballroom community from 1997 through 2004 and features some of the most respected dancers in the world of Vogue.

• Dance For Peace: A non-profit organization dedicated to working with underprivileged youth from developing countries, Dance For Peace director Kumari Singh presented a short documentary in 2008 chronicling the impact that urban dance has had on the youth in South Africa.

• HDI DVD Highlights: In 2008, film producers Santiago Freeman and Christopher Scott presented 2007 highlights from the various competition categories.