Archive of films Amélia / Amélia

Canada
2003, 60 min

Section: Dance for the Camera
Year: 2004

Dazzling Montréal dance company La La La Human Steps is sheer virtuosity in choreographer/director Edouard Lock’s Amélia. They perform to a high energy score that combines evocative minimalism with lyrics from Lou Reed. The piece unfolds in a maple wood box set that seems to wrap itself around them.  

Synopsis

Lauded as “pure virtuosity: abstract, exceptionally dense choreography,” the dazzling Montreal dance company La La La Human Steps premiered Amélia on stage in Prague in 2002. Here, director/choreographer Édouard Lock captures the essence of the work rather than documents it. His goal was to create a seamlessly flowing set of visual tableaux in a simple environment, altered only by lighting and camera angles. The maple-wood box set makes it seem as if the stage floor wraps itself around the dancers. Shot on super 16, the camera moved 360 degrees at times, necessitating some additional choreography to bring the dancers in and out of frame. The high-energy score for violin, cello, piano and voice combines evocative minimalism with lyrics from five of Lou Reed’s most famous songs for the Velvet Underground.

About the director

Édouard Lock (b. 1954, Casablanca) began working in dance at the age of nineteen. From 1975 to 1979, he created choreography for various Montreal dance companies. In 1980, he formed his own company, Lock-Danseurs, which went on to become the acclaimed La La La Human Steps. Recognized as one of the top choreographers in the world, Lock has received numerous honours for his exceptional works. His film directing debut, Amélia, was awarded Czech Crystal at the International Television Festival Goledn Prague and Grand Prize 2003 of the Montréal Arts Council.

Contacts

La La La Human Steps
5655, Parc Avenue, suite 206, H2V 4H2, Montreal, Quebec
Canada
Tel: +1 514 277 9090 ext.224
Fax: +1 514 277 0862
www: www.lalalahumansteps.com

Rhombus International Inc.
, M5V 3P8, Toronto
Canada
Tel: +1 416 971 7856
Fax: +1 416 971 9647
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, DVD

Section:	Dance for the Camera

Director:	Édouard Lock
Screenplay:	Édouard Lock
Dir. of Photography:	André Turpin
Music:	David Lang
Editor:	Édouard Lock
Producer:	Pierre Touchette, Bob Krupinski
Production:	Amérimage Spectra, koprodukce / co-production: Media Principia
Cast:	Andrea Boardman, Nancy Crowley, Mistaya Hemingway, Keir Knight, Chun Hong Li, Bernard Martin, Jason Shipley-Holmes, Billy Smith, Naomi Stikeman, Zofia Tujaka
Contact:	La La La Human Steps, Rhombus International Inc.

www:	www.lalalahumansteps.com