Search - La La La Human Steps: Amelia on DVD

An Innovative And Exciting Modern Ballet Movie.

J. M WILINSKY | teaneck, NJ United States | 05/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, the name of this ballet movie is "Amelia" and it is performed by the dance company "La La La Human Steps". It is choreographed using mostly classical ballet forms, most notably pointe work(the choreographer and producer, Edouard Lock, really loves pointe work!) and pas de deux, although other groupings are included and the men dance in the usual way, with one exception: there is a pas de deux with a man and a woman, both dressed as men and both on pointe! The costumes are typical of modern dance, the woman wear leotards and the men wear pants and jackets. Amelia is freely adapted from a stage production of the same same, but this is first and foremost a dance-for-camera movie, where the camera becomes an integral part of the action, using shots of many different angles, and rotation, dolly, and crane shots. The dance space itself is quite interesting and is difficult to describe, but it looks a little like the inside of a ceramic vase. The lighting is also very intricate. The action is mostly very fast and frenetic, and the choreography is very challenging including some very difficult steps, both on the floor and in the air.
This is a two disc set, the first disk is the ballet itself and includes an optional commentary, and rehearsal footage(accessed in interactive mode). The second disc is a little tricky. It includes printed facts on productions, biographies, and awards of the dance company. On some of the production boards, there is a media section with either one or two icons. The icon to the left is for still images and the icon to the right is for video clips, so be careful not to miss those features as I did the first few times!
If you like ultra-modern ballet, you should enjoy this."

Beautiful Artistry which can, and should, be enjoyed by all.

C. Slender | 07/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the previous review states - Amelia is a stage production adapted for the camera, choreographed by Edouard Lock and danced by members of La La La Human Steps, a contemporary ballet company based in Montreal, Canada. For any dancer (contemporary or classical) this work not only challenges and collides paradigms of both traditions by including meticulously articulated (and incredibly quick) pointe work and partnering with intense gesture phrases and 'state' work...it also presents to us a new way of thinking about dance films, cinematography, and lighting. The piece is a tremendous artistic experience and something that anyone even remotely intrested in art should see. Amelia is something that, for dancers in particular, is invaluable. It is the best dance film I've seen in all respects, and something that should be a part of anyone's DVD library. The extra features (as described in the previous review) are wonderful and a nice added bonus, but the work itself is truly astonishing."

Ooh la la!

M. Parlamento | USA | 07/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An amazing film of a ballet that, given its use of various media, is perfectly suited for the cinema. "Amelia" visually articulates the ways in which gender is often performative. The ballet's fluid yet artificially "designed" bodies remind us of larger cultural categories, specifically how sexuality is itself fluid yet artifically choreographed by law/policy makers. The performers' bodies become robotic, hyper-mediated in, of all things, Armani suits. A wonderful, exciting film. And check out Billy Smith's and Zofia Tujaka's invigorating pas de deux. Smith is incredible."

I'll Be Your Mirror

John Gray Hunter Jr. | Wilmington, NC USA | 09/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow!
Beautiful!
I don't get it but... who cares?! The dancing is amazing and beautiful and like nothing else. The set is amazing and beautiful and like nothing else. The clothes are amazing and beautiful and like nothing else. The dancers themselves are amazing and beautiful and like nothing else. The music is amazing and beautiful and like nothing else.

In fact, the music is really as amazing as the dance. Reworkings by David Lang (a minimalist) of Velvet Underground songs, it made me go back and listen to that 60's album. The new songs are just as effective and true to the lyrics as the old, but in a completely different way.

Not to distract from the unbelievable dancing though...

Check it out!"