Dance films are a joy for a cameraman.Telling stories through pure movement.
During the 1980s the Arts Council in association with Channel 4 commissioned a series under the umbrella of Dance onFilm. I was lucky enough to film a few. Working with Bob Bentley who I had first met when he was working as a sound recordist and I was working as an assistant cameraman. we made several dance films together. I also photographed dance for Margret Williams and later Deborah May and Bob Lokier. Choreographers Lloyd Newson, Liz Aggiss, Gaby Agis, Lea Anderson, Siobhan Davies, Shobana Jayesingh, Russel Maliphant, Wayne McGreggor…
Beethoven in Love Choregrapher, Liz Aggiss and Billy Cowie - Directed by Bob Bentley Choreographed by Liz Aggiss and Billy Cowie. Music Billy Cowie. `Texts Goethe Director Bob Bentley Cast Liz Aggiss, Tommy Bayley. Choir: Jeddi Bassan, Sharon Curtis, Lisa Haight, Chris Hallam, Ralf Higgins, Andrew Kaye, Mim King, Sal Robarts, Maggy Burrowes, Mark Harrison. Singers : Elizabeth Woolett, Ian Needle, Juliet Russell, Thomas Kampe Costume : Christina Ure Beethoven in Love is a 15 minute BBC / Arts Council Dance for Camera Award. Shot on 16mm it derives inspiration from the composer's difficult relationships with woman and explores the nature of the outsider. Black humour and an expressionist dance vocabulary combine with the romantic lyricism of Billy Cowie' s music to evoke images of the 18th century, though the central questions of the outsider and unrequited love are relevant to contemporary thinking.
Freefall Gabby Agis
Never Again - DV8 Physical Theatre - Choreographer Lloyd Newson - Director Bob Bentley. An original work created and realised collectively by Lloyd Newson and DV8 Physical Theatre. Performers Nigel Charnock, Ann Dewey, Wendy Houston, Russell Maliphant, Lloyd Newson, Michelle Richecoeur ‘Never Again’ is conceived and choreographed specifically for the screen. It explores the aftermath of the controversial Section 28 and its effects on the lives of gay people. The six characters discover that they are each under threat in hostile situations where differences in sexual orientation can make human contact difficult and often dangerous.
To a Woman's Heart - Choreographer Karen - Director Bob Bentley A pleasant shoot filmed in the Netherlands with a professional chef as a Amin ingredient to the work. so we ate very well - The moral of the dance was although her lover was a wealthy man she ends up running off with the chef. I had fun getting very theatrical with the lights.