Bella
Lewitzky comes breathtakingly alive through Murnane’s film.
Bella
Bella is a feature-length documentary about the life, work, influence, and impact of Los Angeles-based dancer, choreographer, and arts activist Bella Lewitzky, who was referred by dance critic Walter Terry as "one of the greatest American dancers of our age.” The film incorporates rare archival footage of Lewitzky’s performances and interviews with Lewitzky’s former students and dancers, and it demonstrates how a “uniquely Californian” artist with vision and tenacity influenced the lives of her fellow citizens.
Bella Lewitzky joined Lester Horton’s multi-racial modern dance company in 1934, became his lead dancer, and helped develop the Horton Technique. She formed her own dance company in 1966 and continued to dance at the age of 62. Lewitzky was as famous off stage as on, thanks to her battles for freedom of expression against the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s and the National Endowment for the Arts in 1990.
She was designated one of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition and awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton.
Bella Lewitzky joined Lester Horton’s multi-racial modern dance company in 1934, became his lead dancer, and helped develop the Horton Technique. She formed her own dance company in 1966 and continued to dance at the age of 62. Lewitzky was as famous off stage as on, thanks to her battles for freedom of expression against the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s and the National Endowment for the Arts in 1990.
She was designated one of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition and awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton.
Genre
Documentary,
Dance,
Bio-pic,
Women and Film
Web Site
Runtime
98
Language
English
Director
Bridget Murnane
Writer(s)
Alex Bushe,
Pat Verducci
Cast
Carmen DeLavallade,
Larry Attaway,
Walter Kennedy,
Kenneth Talley,
Lewis Segal,
Mahdinah Theodora McKay,
Davis Plettner-Saunders,
Barbara Bain
FEATURED REVIEW
E. Nina Rothe, eninarothe.com
In her important, must-watch documentary ‘Bella’, filmmaker Bridget Murnane proves that you can’t keep a good woman down. In the early days of the movement we know today as American Modern Dance (which is actually a silly way to make of all the various and varied disciplines one classification) the ...
Played at
Royal 11.06.23 - 11.06.23
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