Dance Film Night

Raedeen

“Raedeen” by Quinn Christopherson is a deeply personal and evocative song that paints a vivid picture of his journey and struggles with his sister - Raedeen. This collaboration was part of an exploration in dance film-making for Momentum Dance Collective. It is a live single-shot recording on the Potter's Marsh boardwalk in Anchorage, filmed by Alex Troutman.Thank you to all of the collaborators who made this come together and especially Quinn, for his storytelling and artistry, and his trust in us to add some of our own.

Original Song // Quinn Christopherson
Performance // Quinn Chirstopherson and Nick Carpenter
Director // Kelsey Schober of Momentum Dance Collective
Director of Photograhy // Alex Troutman of Blackfish Media with colorist Michael Dempsey of Ambitious.
Choreography // Kelsey Schober
Costume design // Ruby Kennel
Dancers // Karlyn Glidewell, Greta Nelson

Sifting

Born from a personal journey of healing and growth, Sifting explores the powerful shift from living by external expectations to embracing one's own values. Honest and reflective, this film invites viewers to reconnect with their bodies- wherever they are on their path.

Directed by Summer Smith

Cinematographer: Bryce Smith

Dancer: Promise Smith

Choreography: Summer Smith

Interference

Director/videographer: Katie O'Loughlin

Performers: Brooke Gist, Kara Komarnitsky, Yukina Sato

Lighting Design: Meghan Stanford

Breathe Deep, Hold…Release

The pathway of grief is non-linear. It ranges from recalling treasured memories to crippling isolation, constantly going back and forth as we move through the routines of our life. In an instant our entire outlook on life can change as we grapple with reality, struggling to fight off the delusions. To stay grounded I’ve learned to breathe deep, hold for four seconds, and release my breath and any tension I can identify in my body with it. Repeat as necessary. Join me in my journey of grief as I continue to learn how to let go and how to navigate through waves of grief.

Director/Dancer: Timothy

Videographer/editor: Ida Taylor

Photographer: Amanda KolstedtMusic: In this Shirt by Irrepressibles

Inside Yourself

Inside Yourself was created in partnership with Momentum Dance Collective and Phontonak as a release of their song of the same name, on their debut album, Tempered.

Lyrics by Jeremy James EggerMusic by Photonak

Video produced by Momentum Dance Collective, WEAK Production, and Photonak LLC

Video edited by Mackenzie BanburyDancers: Bonnie Moring & Maia Draper-Reich

Elsewhere

Elsewhere is a dance film about turning inward when the weight of life presses in. It explores the strength found in creating a refuge within the mind—a place to find peace, resilience, and contentment.

Choreography and performance: Mikayla Phillips

Videographer: Cody Phillips

Next To You

"Next to You" was first created in 2018 as a duo with my best friend, Stephen Grantier. What began as an open-ended creative project grew into a film that we released during the height of COVID in 2021. We're excited to share it again, this time together with all of you. At its heart, the film explores the ache of being close to someone yet feeling miles apart, caught between holding on and letting go.

Choreographers and Directors: Irenerose Castillo and Stephen Grantier

Videographer: Bryan Pentecostes

Editor: Irenerose Castillo

Chihiro

Chihiro is about fleeting encounters between two people - First strangers, but with each moment of connection, there is a feeling of yearning for more, only for that person to keep slipping away. In the end, they are back to where they started, alone and thinking about what might have been.

Directed by Jayden CoulsonVideography by Jacqueline Jones

Choreography by Alexa Geronimo & Jayden Coulson

Komorebi

The short dance film "Komorebi" is inspired by the translation of the Japanese-word describing the light and shadows that are created when sunlight filters through the leaves of trees. As dancers navigate a terrain illuminated by light, they explore the impact of this natural phenomenon as it heightens their potential for exchange and insight. This film premiered in June 2025, as part of a larger evening-length performance by Andiamo Dance Company. The performance, titled "Light", examined the myriad of ways light affects our understanding of ourselves and the surrounding world.

Director: Jess Berto

Choreographer: Jess Berto

Videographer: Christina Hughes

Nature & Nature

"Nature & Nature" is a tribute to DanceWest and my love of film. The DanceWest community has always been made of passionate performers and where the best creatives I've ever met are. Thank you to the community that has shared the stage with me for the past four years and allowed me to grow creatively. The film encapsulates what I've learned though love and passion, to keep moving forward and don't stop creating. That is my nature.

Director & Videographer: Suri DevillenaAssi

Director: Irenerose Castillo

Dancers: Winter Kreuze, Anna Zieserl, Emmaliese Jones, Nia Shelton-Brooks, Celestrelle Rambaud, Makayla Smith, Alexa Geronimo