Actress Kathryn McCormick, who has starred in both So You Think You Can Dance All-Star and Step Up Revolution has partnered with Amalgamation Pictures to create a documentary entitled Like Air, the newest dance production on the market. The film follows three teenage dancers who are deeply involved in the dance competition circuit, and tells the story of their fears, insecurities and desires that result from that particular dancing lifestyle.
Directed by Jake Viramontez, Like Air focuses on one dancer and her overbearing coach, another who battles a herniated disk in her back and one more who looks to herself to find the inspiration she needs. The three girls participate in DanceMakers Inc., a dance competition that tours to regional locations each year. This fierce environment and high pressure will not be unfamiliar to many dancers, however the art of dance prevails. The dancers realise that dance is not about the competition but about finding who they are and who they are becoming.
Many dancers have grown up competing, whether this is on a regional, national or international level. Competitions can be inspiring but for many it is the opposite, with so many dancers vying for the top spot and consequently facing up to their flaws. Competitions can also limit the accessibility to dance artistry, with dancers trying to kick higher and turn faster rather than connect with the emotion and art of dance.
Like Air therefore serves to break the negative stigma that surrounds competitive dance, and shed light on the inspiration and artistry of it, especially for young and aspiring artists. Once this is realised, the message can be spread further and the individual enjoyment of dance will be prevalent once more. Some dance schools are now non-competitive, in order to relieve some of this pressure and avoid the stresses that competitions can put on children at a young age.
Like Air
Actress Kathryn McCormick, who has starred in both So You Think You Can Dance All-Star and Step Up Revolution has partnered with Amalgamation Pictures to create a documentary entitled Like Air, the newest dance production on the market. The film follows three teenage dancers who are deeply involved in the dance competition circuit, and tells the story of their fears, insecurities and desires that result from that particular dancing lifestyle.
Directed by Jake Viramontez, Like Air focuses on one dancer and her overbearing coach, another who battles a herniated disk in her back and one more who looks to herself to find the inspiration she needs. The three girls participate in DanceMakers Inc., a dance competition that tours to regional locations each year. This fierce environment and high pressure will not be unfamiliar to many dancers, however the art of dance prevails. The dancers realise that dance is not about the competition but about finding who they are and who they are becoming.
Many dancers have grown up competing, whether this is on a regional, national or international level. Competitions can be inspiring but for many it is the opposite, with so many dancers vying for the top spot and consequently facing up to their flaws. Competitions can also limit the accessibility to dance artistry, with dancers trying to kick higher and turn faster rather than connect with the emotion and art of dance.
Like Air therefore serves to break the negative stigma that surrounds competitive dance, and shed light on the inspiration and artistry of it, especially for young and aspiring artists. Once this is realised, the message can be spread further and the individual enjoyment of dance will be prevalent once more. Some dance schools are now non-competitive, in order to relieve some of this pressure and avoid the stresses that competitions can put on children at a young age.