This month, audiences on Planet Classroom can immerse themselves in the beauty of Isadora Duncan’s dance legacy through the young talents of Lori Belilove and The Belilovables.
This documentary showcases dancers aged 8-17, blending technique and improvisation in a vibrant tribute to Duncan’s groundbreaking artistry. A visually stunning celebration of art, education, and grace, this film demonstrates the transformative power of dance in young lives. This film is curated by Planet Classroom
The Global Search for Education is delighted to welcome Lori Belilove, founder of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation, for a conversation about her work and legacy.
Lori, how has Isadora Duncan’s legacy influenced your approach to dance education and performance?
Isadora’s work is, in a word, huge—it has been inside me for decades. Quite frankly, I feel that her spirit is channeled through me. Teaching Isadora’s dance is vital to my life because it’s about passing energy and life-vitality from one person to another. Isadora strongly believed in working with students as creative artists in the making. Her philosophy allows me to be generous in the classroom and provides room for individuality. Generosity itself is an essential part of the Duncan classroom experience, and teaching her work feels like an extension of dancing it.
What are some of the unique challenges and rewards of teaching Duncan’s style to younger dancers?
One challenge is when young dancers have no familiarity with this style of movement and are hesitant to explore their bodies fully—it can feel like their bodies are foreign elements. Many children are rowdy or unfocused at first and need to learn how to quiet themselves, breathe, and focus on one idea at a time.
The rewards, however, are incredible. Watching these young dancers discover their own ability to express themselves through movement is a profound experience. They evolve from timid participants into confident, graceful performers, embracing the freedom and beauty of Duncan’s style.
What role does improvisation play in your approach to dance, and how does it complement classical technique?
In Duncan dance, improvisation is always present. It begins with exploring a movement or series of movements and evolves into play, which becomes improvisation. Over time, this playful exploration transitions into polished, repeatable movements.
I use games to help dancers of all ages build improvisation skills. These games encourage focus and even laughter at their mistakes. It’s in this space of experimentation and joy that magic happens, blending improvisation with classical technique.
What do you hope this film conveys about the transformative power of dance in young people’s lives?
Dance has an extraordinary transformative power. I’ve seen young people grow into beautiful beings through wholehearted, authentic dancing. When people watch this film, I hope they notice the joy on the children’s faces and the way they connect with one another.
There’s something magical about how these young dancers focus and how their movements and expressions reflect a deep inner transformation. I hope audiences find their journey both engaging and delightful and feel inspired by the beauty of their shared experience.
Thank you, Lori!
C. M. Rubin with Lori Belilove
Don’t miss Lori Belilove and The Belilovables, now streaming on the Planet Classroom Network. This film is curated by Planet Classroom
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