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"Why Dance?" documentary gets into two film festivals!

HALF MOON BAY, CA– SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 --The recently released documentary “Why Dance?” was notified this week that it is to be an “Official Selection” of the 7th Annual California Independent Film Festival in Livermore’s Wine Country in Northern California. The film festival takes place October 26th through October 30th in various wineries throughout the Livermore Valley.

This is the second acceptance for the film “Why Dance?”, into a film festival in the last three weeks. The film has been submitted to numerous film festivals across the nation that are being held well into 2006.

Three weeks ago, the films producers were notified that they were accepted into the
SMMASH Film Festival to be held October 21-27, 2005 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

SMMASH (Strictly Midwest Movies And Short Hits) is the 5th annual film festival to be held at Lake Minnetonka. One of the principals in the film, Dennis Nahat, was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan which qualified the film for consideration into the festival.

According to John Swon, the Festival Director, “All films must have been produced, directed, written, edited by, or starring an individual who currently resides in the Midwest( MI, OH, IN, IA, MN, WI, KS, MO, NE, SD, ND, OK, or TX) or lived in one of these states for at least four years”. Mr. Nahat went on to found the San Jose-Cleveland Ballet and the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley in San Jose after a career with the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and numerous shows on Broadway.

“Why Dance?” is a full length documentary (112 minutes) with an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the world of dance.

It examines what attracts so many young people to this wondrous art form and includes interviews with young students, parents, teachers, former and current principal dancers with such dance companies as the American Ballet Theatre, The Stuttgart Ballet, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, to name but a few.

It explores why they dance and what attracted them to the art form from their early days at the neighborhood dance studio to some of the world’s premier stages.

The benefits of dance competitions are discussed including substantial footage at one of the many competitions held throughout the country and interview’s with former winners like Peter Chursin (Mr. Dance of America 2003) and Ashley Canterna (Miss Dance of America 2002). Judging is addressed and what judges are looking for in a dance routine is explained.

Notables such as Dennis Nahat (Artistic Director of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley) and Karen “KB” Brown (Artistic Director of the Oakland Ballet) share their early days and experiences growing up in Detroit and the South and going on to dance with such famous dance companies as A.B.T. , The Joffrey Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.

It examines the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi which is held every four years where dancers come from all over the world to compete for the “Gold”.

The darker side of dance is also explored including injuries, eating disorders, and insecurities, issues that all dancers will face sooner or later.

The film goes behind the scenes of a professional dance company’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance”, a ballet staged by Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley in San Jose, California. Footage includes not only a discussion with choreographer Daryl Gray but actual choreography being set in the rehearsal hall as well as footage of the performance.

Other contributors to the film include photographers Martha Swope, Roger Ele, Hubert Worley, and Christopher Jean-Richard.

Included is a heart-warming “Billy Elliott” type of story about a young boy overcoming the objections of his father, a common story in the male dance world.

For more information on the film, visit the film’s website at www.whydancethemovie.com or visit the SMMASH Film Festival website at www.SMMASHFEST.com and the California Independent Film Festival website at: www.caindiefest.com.

Starts	10/26/2005
Ends	10/30/2005
Issues	Family & Society, Health/Health Advocacy, Youth, Body Image, U.S./Foreign Relations, Educational reform
Homepage	www.whydancethemovie.com
Contact	jimmanning@prodigy.net