This month, audiences can screen Dancing for Trust: Halle on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by Battery Dance.
Dancing for Trust: Halle, directed by Andres Gambier, follows a 20-hour dance workshop in Halle, Germany, where students develop original choreography.
The film beautifully captures the passion, creativity, and collaboration of the participants, offering a vibrant portrayal of how dance can inspire and transform.
This production is an inspiring and energetic exploration of the art of movement.
The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome back Battery Dance’s Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer Jonathan Hollander
Jonathan, Dancing for Trust: Halle showcases the transformative power of creativity. What was the most surprising moment during the workshop that you felt encapsulated this transformation?
We had one group that was younger than our usual target, with language and cultural differences that made it extremely difficult to connect. Some kids dropped out, but those who stayed made a valiant effort and were rewarded with full-on applause from the audience.
How did you approach capturing the students’ emotional journeys while maintaining the energy of the 20-hour workshop?
We work for 4 hours per day, with a couple of short breaks in between. There are definitely moments when the kids become tired or emotionally stressed. Luckily, movement is a great form of therapy, and moving together as a group has a tendency to re-energize them. So, actually, those 4 hours go by very quickly!
What feedback have you received from audiences, and how has it shaped your approach to future projects?
There are two standout reactions from the audience. First, I see teachers and parents in astonishment at the performances, seeing “their” kids express themselves in ways they hadn’t seen before at home or in school. A kind of catharsis takes place in the workshops, which unleashes the creativity of the kids. The other is that while we work with different levels of the German education system, from the college-bound to those who will likely go into vocations after graduating from high school, the level of creativity and performance often defies the hierarchy. Some participants who may not excel academically rise to the top when it comes to dance, movement, and creativity.
Dance is a deeply collaborative art form. How did you navigate filming such an intense creative process while staying true to the students’ individuality and collective work?
Andres and his team are young people themselves and blend in well with the participants. They are unobtrusive yet come with high-level filmmaking skills, as is obvious from this documentary. I’m not sure if they feel this way, but as an “older person” myself, I feel they have the right touch for working with youth.
Thank you Jonathan!
C.M. Rubin with Jonathan and Dancers
Don’t miss Dancing for Trust: Halle now streaming on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated for the Planet Classroom Network by Battery Dance.
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Choreographing Connection: A Review of Dancing for Trust: Halle
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The Global Search for Education: The Vital Role of Art in Personal Growth: Eshaan Mani on Cultural Identity
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